The non-partisan initiative "Upper Austria blossoms" was launched by Upper Austria's Environment Minister Rudi Anschober in spring 2019. Experts have developed a package of measures that can be supported with the petition "Save the bees - for the protection of soils and biodiversity" at www.ooebluehtauf.at. There are already 16,000 signatories and many prominent voices, including sustainability expert Werner Lampert, are supporting the initiative. 36 Upper Austrian municipalities with 150,000 inhabitants have adopted the corresponding resolution. The aim is to make the necessary solutions for the future visible and to form broad social alliances for their implementation.
Mr.Anschober, you are the initiator of the petition for the protection of soils and biodiversity in Austria. What was your personal motivation to stand up for biodiversity? Was there a special experience?
Ultimately, the scientific figures, which could not be more dramatic, have certainly contributed to this. First and foremost, the Krefeld study, which has attracted a great deal of attention and shows a decline in insect biomass in Germany of over 80 percent in the last 30 years - in nature reserves! Since 1980, more than every second field bird in Europe has disappeared, and up to 80 percent of our meadow butterflies are acutely endangered. What an impoverished world we would be leaving behind for future generations - action must be taken.
Wheredo you feel the loss of biodiversity most strongly?
I would like to turn this around: where do you feel biodiversity most strongly and how rare has it become? A flower meadow that hums and buzzes, a colorful flowering border along the roadside - the everyday beauty of diversity in our environment has become rare.
Currentstudies suggest that insect populations in particular have declined in recent decades. What do you think is the reason for this?
There is a whole mosaic of causes for the death of bees, wild bees, butterflies and many other insects - and subsequently birds. One major factor, alongside the intensification of agricultural use and the use of pesticides, soil consumption and light pollution, is the impoverishment of landscapes and gardens. And it is becoming increasingly clear that the disappearance of bees and insects in general is endangering the entire ecosystem and our livelihoods; we are in a downward spiral that we must break.
Austria is still the EU leader insoil sealing. Every day, 12 hectares are built on. What sensible measures could politicians take to drastically reduce land loss?
Soil consumption is one of the biggest environmental challenges in Europe. If we carry on like this, we will destroy our livelihoods. Soil functions and public areas for soil protection must be included in legislation, brownfields and vacant sites must be used and overall, we need strategic land management with specific target values. One thing is certain: to stop the extinction of insects, we must stop the loss of soil.
At theClimate Kirtag in Vienna, Arnold Schwarzenegger said that people should not wait for politics. With your projects, you are also motivating each individual to take action. Where can we all pull the lever?
Everyone can make a contribution to environmental protection and the preservation of biodiversity, by gardening without pesticides, by planting a flower meadow in the garden, by sustainable consumption and buying organic products and finally by being aware that the destruction of biodiversity also harms humans. These are often very simple steps, knowledge is the prerequisite.
Theinfluence of home gardens and balconies is often underestimated, what tips do you have for owners of open spaces?
An insect-friendly garden can often be implemented in a short space of time with simple measures. Anyone can create a habitat for insects and birds with a wild shrub bed, a deadwood corner or simply a "wild corner" with nettles, goutweed and thistles in the garden. A small strip of wild flowers is a good start. We humans also benefit from this: the small beneficial insects help us to control unwanted insects and keep our plants in the garden healthy. Even a small city balcony can be transformed into a flowering, natural garden that insects love to visit. A nesting aid or a pot of flowering herbs can be created in the smallest of spaces.
Whatis your personal goal for the next few years with regard to biodiversity?
With "Upper Austria blossoms", I would like to show what we are doing without, what changes we are accepting through negligent handling of our soil, nature and land. We must finally begin to stand up for our environment and biodiversity together and on a broad scale. Bee-friendly school gardens are being discussed in schools, bee-friendly communities are becoming more and more common in Upper Austria, or let's think of the dozens of community gardens that garden pesticide-free and our organic farmers who cultivate their fields without environmental toxins - there are so many wonderful pioneers that need to be brought to the fore.
Areyou optimistic? Will humanity prevent the sixth mass extinction?
Only through great efforts will it be possible to avert this global catastrophe, but yes, I am optimistic. The response to the petition has been remarkable and there has been a lot of constructive feedback from the public, the scientific community and local authorities. The common tenor is that something is finally being done and that action must finally be taken! That makes me feel very positive.
About Rudi Anschober
Rudi Anschober (born 1960) is an Upper Austrian Green politician and has been the Upper Austrian provincial councillor for integration, environment, climate and consumer protection since 2003. He trained as a primary school teacher and worked for several years as a journalist for various media outlets before finally entering politics through his strong commitment against the construction of the Temelin nuclear power plant.
