UNESCO Biosphere Reserves

Water - a key element in UNESCO biosphere reserves. Experiences from a collaboration with Danone Waters Germany Educational, Scientificand Cultural Organization United Nations Experiences fromacollaborationof UNESCO biospherereserves Für dasLeben,fürdieZukunft Danone Waters GermanyandUNESCO Water -akeyelementin For life,forthefuture Programme the biospher Man and Edited bythe GermanCommission forUNESCO e Pour lavie,pourl’avenir Para lavida,paraelfuturo For life, for the future Para la vida, para el futuro Water - a key element in UNESCO biosphere reserves

Experiences from a collaboration of Danone Waters Germany and UNESCO

Pour la vie, pour l’avenir Für das Leben, für die Zukunft

Edited by the German Commission for UNESCO Water - a key element in UNESCO biosphere reserves Experiences from a collaboration of Danone Waters Germany and UNESCO

Publisher: German Commission for UNESCO (DUK), Colmantstrasse 15, 53115 Bonn, Germany

With financial support from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) and the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN)

Chief Editor: Dr. Lutz Möller (DUK)

With support from: Benjamin Hanke, Bernadette Zyla, Sonja Harms, Laura Lubinski (DUK)

The Chief Editor is responsible for the choice and the presentation of the facts contained in this book and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization.

Layout: DUK Print: druckbombe.de Print run: 2.000 ISBN: 978-3-940785-33-6

The German National Library registers this publication in the German National Bibliography. Detailed bibliographic data may be found on the Internet under http://dnb.d-nb.de.

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Cover picture: © Steve Wall (Flickr CC)

Bonn 2011. This publication is printed on chlorine-free bleached paper. Table of contents

Executive summary 4

What we have learnt: Partner statements 6

Biosphere reserves and water 10

The partnership 18

Summaries of projects funded 22 Biosphere reserves are model sites for sustainable development. Livelihoods often depend on water, such as in the biosphere reserve Heath and Pond Landscape of Upper Lusatia. (© Ralf M. Schreyer)

Executive summary

Using the water resources of our UNESCO is a key organization in the planet wisely is one of the central field of freshwater research and trai- challenges for sustainable develop- ning. Among UNESCO’s key assets ment – today and even more in the are its biosphere reserves as model years to come. This is not an „environ- sites for sustainable development. mental issue“ – first of all, managing They are particularly appropriate our water resources sustainably and places to test, evaluate and implement protecting water quality is crucial for innovative strategies in freshwater. human beings and society. In 2010, access to water of adequate quantity In order to facilitate new approaches and quality has been acknowledged as and also in order to mobilize finan- a human right. Yet, climate change is cial resources, the German biosphere and will increasingly be felt by human reserves have numerous partnerships beings mostly because water is beco- with the private sector. Over the last ming scarce; population growth and couple of years, projects have been rising living standards add to the stress supported by enterprises such as on our already scarce and precious Honda, Commerzbank, Merck, – and water resources. by Danone Waters Germany. 4 Danone Waters Germany is the subsi- taking sustainability seriously, and that diary of the water division of Danone, the cooperation builds on authentic a multinational company with leading corporate strategies, not on marketing. brands in dairy products, mineral water, baby and medical nutrition. Danone Waters has provided financial In 2008, Danone Waters Germany support so far to ten selected pro- introduced a new sub-brand, called jects in German biosphere reserves. “Volvic Landfrucht”, mineral water Several of these have only started in with a dash of fruit juice. A partner- early 2011; therefore the impact of the ship with German UNESCO biosphere cooperation is still unfolding. reserves, accompanying the launch of this sub-brand, was a straightforward The main part of this brochure consists choice. It allowed explaining to the of presenting these ten projects that German consumer the approach of have been funded over the last three the company to protect the mineral years – with a view to demonstrate water’s source in the French volcanic best practice in water management region of Volvic. Until today, the bott- in biosphere reserve to our partners les of “Volvic Landfrucht” explain on around the globe. The projects have their labels what UNESCO biosphere been chosen from open calls for reserves are, why they are important proposals and thus cover a wide range and which projects are supported by of approaches such as education, Danone Waters. nature conservation as well as testing innovative technical solutions related In April 2008, UNESCO, Danone to freshwater. Waters Germany and the German Commission for UNESCO establis- All of these projects have one thing hed a cooperation agreement for the in common: They are projects that benefit of German biosphere reserves, could hardly have been funded from until the end of 2010. Danone Waters government resources, because of le- Germany also agreed to make particu- gal restrictions or because of political lar efforts in corporate sustainability priorities; at the same time, these pro- during these three years. For example, jects rely on bringing together partners by 2010, all Volvic mineral water was that might not have cooperated under transported from France to Germany different circumstances. by railway instead of trucks. This cooperation also meets all conditions At any rate, the so far brief coope- that the German Commission for ration of UNESCO, Danone Waters UNESCO demands from private part- Germany and the German Commis- ners: That they adhere to the United sion for UNESCO has already had Nations Global Compact, that they an important impact on German have a convincing track record in UNESCO biosphere reserves. 5 The working group for the project at Elbe River Landscape biosphere reserve in Brandenburg, assembling many different partners to improve the water supply to a forest. (© Jochen Purps)

What we have learnt: Partner statements

Lutz Möller to embrace and enact ten principles German Commission for UNESCO in the fields of human rights, environ- Head of Science, Human Rights mental standards, labor standards, and the fight against corruption. From the first day, we have been enthusiastic about cooperating with Some people claim that the Global Danone Waters Germany. The coope- Compact is not enough. Indeed, it is ration has enabled exciting projects a first step only, but an important and and has reached out to milions of urgently needed first step. At the same consumers. At the same time, it is a time, the Global Compact prepares the real partnership with the corporate ground for more ambitious and maybe world, not a marketing instrument; one day binding corporate codes, the company has convincingly de- along entire supply chains. monstrated real commitment. Before we got started, some had re- Companies such as Danone Waters, servations about being associated to a that cooperate with us, participate in mineral water delivered from France to the ”Global Compact“ of the United Germany. Rebutting such reservations Nations. Thus they voluntarily agree through concrete action, Danone Wa- 6 ters has been improving its approach with the consumer that could not have to sustainability. Today, this mineral been achieved by different means. water is no more transported by “Volvic” and “Volvic Landfrucht” are trucks, but by train, and thus transport predominantly sold in urban retail emissions are considerably reduced. situations, where bottled water is the Danone Waters today also uses more only option to obtain drinking water recycled material in producing bottles - at train stations there is no compe- than three years ago. tition with water from the tab. I have personally seen several train passen- gers studying carefully the information on biosphere reserves on the labels of “Volvic Landfrucht”. No biosphere reserve can afford such massive public relations – corporate partners can be very effective to this end. A public survey about the opinions of the public at large on biosphere reserves, carried out by Danone, provided very helpful insights as well.

At the same time, we are very grateful to Danone Waters Germany for the concrete funds they have provided to We are very satisfied with how our German UNESCO biosphere reser- corporate partner has lived up to its ves. As will be described further in commitments; and we are very happy this publication, the projects that have been and are funded are special in about the other tangible results of the that they would most likely not have partnership. First of all, presenting the been funded from classical govern-

One Danone funded project improved water quality in the ment sources. Corporate funds are Wadden Sea with algae and mussels. (© MaRenate) excellently suited in order to enable “unusual processes” – an observation UNESCO biosphere reserves on the confirmed also from other private labels of “Volvic Landfrucht” pro- partnership experiences of the vides a platform of communication German Commission for UNESCO.

7 The biosphere reserve Heath and Pond Landscape of Upper Lusatia (© Ralf M. Schreyer)

Thomas Schaaf issues: based on a competitive bidding UNESCO, Programme process, the most promising propo- “Man and the Biosphere” (MAB) sals are selected for their value in Chief of Section “Ecological Scien- sustainably managing water resources ces and Biodiversity” in biosphere reserves of Germany. The financial support is a welcome Biosphere reserves are considered contribution to further improve sus- as sites of excellence where new and tainable human-water-environment optimal practices to manage nature relationships. And the publicizing and human activities are tested and of successful practices can lead to demonstrated. Such excellence replications not only in Germany, but needs to be validated following strict in biosphere reserves the world over. criteria, rewarded for its merits and UNESCO MAB commends Danone publicized for the larger society. Waters Germany for its vision on this The agreement between Danone scheme. Given its tremendous success, Waters Germany and UNESCO, in we hope that similar arrangements can particular its MAB Programme that be implemented in other parts of the has created the biosphere reserve world – for the benefit of people and concept, is precisely addressing these the environment. 8 Siegfried Demuth groundwater sources are now endemic UNESCO, International Hydro- in some of the largest and most pro- logical Programme (IHP) ductive aquifers in the world; and pol- Chief of Section “Hydrological Pro- lution has dramatically impacted the cesses and Climate” aquatic habitat in many of the world’s prized water bodies. UNESCO’s IHP Unprecedented population growth, a is very grateful to Danone Waters changing climate, rapid urbanization, Germany for their continuous support expansion of infrastructure, migration, for environmental projects that take land conversion and pollution translate care for people’s well-being. into changes in the fluxes, pathways and stores of water – from rapidly Tom Albold melting glaciers to the decline of Danone Waters Germany groundwater due to overexploitation. Chief Executive Officer

Sustainable commitment is in the heart of Danone’s philosophy and in our DNA for more than 40 years. For us at Danone Waters Germany, it is a real pleasure and a naturalness to continue this tradition with valuable partners, such as UNESCO and the MAB Programme. As a natural mineral water company with sources in big nature reserves, the provision and protection of water and nature resources has always been at the core of our actions. The clear link to water is the key for all our sustainability programs and we were more than pleased to accompany The project “Water education in primary schools“ (© Biosphärenreservat Spreewald) the launch of our new product with the support of innovative water projects in The quality and quantity of freshwa- German biosphere reserves. We highly ter from rivers, lakes, groundwater, appreciate the way this partnership soil moisture, and ice is under stress has evolved over the years and how around the world. Water pollution is a all parties are working hand in hand serious global problem which impacts to continuously create new ideas. It the health of freshwater systems is a fruitful ongoing dialogue which and the people who rely on them for also challenges us as a company to see water. Many major rivers no longer things from different angles and to get consistently make it to the ocean; new inspiration for our environmental hundreds of meters of decline in fossil objectives. 9 Agriculture accounts for 70 percent of global freshwater consumption, through irrigation. (Flickr CC John Curley)

Biosphere reserves and water

“Announce to them how water must industrialized world, for example, be shared among them; have much more impact on global each will have his own special time water resources through their food to drink.” (Qur’an, sura 54) consumption than by turning on the tap. In most regions of Central Europe The general principle seems to for example, water is not scarce and be easy enough: Water is one and “virtual water” is imported hidden in maybe the essential element of life food and cloth, frequently from water- for each and every one of us, and scarce regions. thus, each and every one of us has to protect it. For a long time, children On a global average, 70 percent of around the world have learnt to be freshwater is used in agriculture. For careful to turn off the tap; strict example, producing a kilogram of legal rules regulate water-intensive beef requires about 10,000 liters of activities such as washing one’s car water. Too much agricultural areas in or watering the garden. However, in water-scare countries serve to produce today’s globalized world, our impact feeding stuff for animals that end up on water resources is not always as on the European plate. This means we simple and direct. Citizens of the have to learn afresh what we should 10 do to protect water. In most places we important impacts of climate change need different and new approaches to on mankind and the environment are freshwater – and climate change will and will be through water. More and require us to change our approaches more people suffer from water-related over time. extremes and disasters such as floods, tropical storms and droughts. Scarce water From a global perspective, water is Water shortages are defined by an not scarce, neither for a population availability of less than 1000 cubic of 7 nor for 9 billion people. Yet, meters per person per year - coun- populations do not settle or propagate tries as Kuwait already live on less mainly according to water availability. than 100 cubic meters today. Where Therefore, while water resources on water is already scarce, people use our planet are estimated to account virtually all water from the rivers for for some 1.5 billion cubic meters – in agriculture, domestic homes, tourism the seas, as ground water, in a frozen and industry. River ecosystems often state or in the atmosphere - only some get completely destroyed by removing 3 percent of it is fresh water, which in water in massive amounts. In many turn is distributed very unevenly over places, fossil aquifers are tapped, i.e. the world (actually, most of it is stored groundwater resources that can be in the ice of the polar regions). Thus, used only once. About 1.2 billion peo- in practical terms, water is scarce and ple do not have access to clean drin- by the day will become an ever more king water today, although water – and precious commodity. sanitation – has been acknowledged as a human right by a resolution of the Apart from satisfying basic human UN Human Rights Council in 2010. needs, water also serves as the most By the year 2025, predictions say that important input factor for agriculture, water shortage will increase by 50 as an energy source in reservoirs, as a percent in developing countries and route of transport and as an input fac- by 18 percent in developed countries, tor for industry and virtually all power both because of population growth and stations through cooling. People have of the consequences of human deve- always been settling along water sour- lopment: 1.8 billion people will live in ces. Nowadays, overpopulation and areas of water scarcity. changed consumption habits impair the supply situation in many places, Availability of water is becoming one such as North Africa and the Middle of the key challenges for sustainable East, Central Asia, parts of South development. UNESCO’s 3rd World Asia or the South-West of the USA. Water Development Report of 2009 Further population growth and climate points out: “There is enough water for change will contribute to a change everyone. The problem we face today for the worse in the future. The most is mainly one of governance: equitably 11 sharing this water while ensuring the sustainability of natural ecosystems.” In large parts of Africa, for example, there is enough rain but insufficient institutions of bringing this water to the people. Because water does not respect human-drawn borders, it requires global coordination. This is where the United Nations and UNESCO come into play.

How UNESCO is responding The United Nations Decade “Water for Life” (2005-2015) is the current framework promoting efforts to fulfil international commitments on water- related development goals of the Agenda 21, the Millennium Decla- ration, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation of the World Summit for Sustainable Development. One key goal is that decision-makers around the world implement the principle of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in practice. it is a global standard, considering the entire water cycle and taking the IWRM is a participatory approach of ecosystems into account. policy formulation, targeting water supply and water demand at the same UNESCO and its intergovernmental time. IWRM aims to assemble all scientific programmes contribute to water users to take decisions together the international water agenda through and to set up common goals. Today many different mechanisms, especially through research and trainings. UNESCO’s intergovernmental freshwater research programme IHP has improved our knowledge and our management capacities for more than 35 years now. UNESCO publishes United Nations International the World Water Development Report Educational, Scientific and Hydrological every three years within the frame- Cultural Organization Programme work of UN-Water, an alliance of the more than 25 UN agencies active in 12 the field of freshwater. The triennial biosphere reserves, are model regions report provides solid evidence for for sustainable development. In a wide developing effective approaches to variety of landscapes, they promote water issues. the development, test and deployment of new forms of land use, innovative The UNESCO Institute for Water Edu- energy concepts, preservation of cation (IHE) in Delft in the Nether- cultural landscapes and of sustainable lands is the globally leading training economic structures – all of these in institute in this field. More than 20 coordination with the local population. UNESCO institutes, several UNESCO chairs and more than 150 IHP nati- Model regions for water management onal committees contribute to new In many cases, the ecosystems within knowledge and promote international biosphere reserves are closely con- cooperation. The German IHP national nected to the availability and quality committee has made central contribu- of certain water sources; especially in tions to UNESCO’s efforts in the field these cases, the local population and of freshwater already for more than the administrative structures in charge 35 years now. UNESCO has helped have long-standing experiences in to promote many innovative research water management. For example, it approaches, including ecohydrology, is obvious that biosphere reserves in conflict prevention through water marine or coastal areas and on islands cooperation and IWRM. have to deal with particular water issues –as those in deserts, drylands or At the same time, the UNESCO in river landscapes. Programme “Man and the Biosphere” (MAB) with its World Network of Yet there are many other biosphere Biosphere Reserves has great signifi- reserves whose very close relationship cance in the field of water. MAB aims to water is identifiable only at second to conserve ecosystems by providing sight. Besides establishing the global opportunities to local communities for World Network of Biosphere Reserves, using natural resources sustainably. the MAB Programme also aims to MAB‘s key instruments, the UNESCO build and strengthen specific partnership networks between biosphere reserves in similar ecosystems and with similar challenges, in order to intensify exchange of information and cooperation. For example, the Integra- ted Biodiversity Strategies for Islands United Nations Man and and Coastal Areas project established Educational, Scientific and the Biosphere a network of island biosphere reserves Cultural Organization Programme around the Eastern Atlantic, called REDBIOS. 13 In biosphere reserves situated in drylands, water plays a particularly important role. A woman in Mali (Flickr CC World Bank Photo Collection)

Another example is ASPAC, the management can greatly be improved Asia-Pacific Cooperation for the by integrating hydrological and Sustainable Use of Renewable Natu- ecological approaches. The biosphere ral Resources in Biosphere Reserves reserve’s “water evaluation and plan- and similar Managed Areas, which ning model” makes groundwater use also supports research on national sustainable through spatial planning strategies for biodiversity protection and land-use regulations. in coastal areas and brings forward technology transfer and trainings. The joint work plan between the For dryland biosphere reserves, the UNESCO MAB Programme and the project Sustainable Management of UN Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar) Marginal Drylands (SUMAMAD) is is another example of how biosphere of major importance. It assembles reserves can contribute to improving scientists from 10 countries to water management. Some 100 of support combating desertification by the 580 biosphere reserves include sharing knowledge on sustainably wetlands. The biosphere reserve Pan- managing arid areas, rehabilitating tanal in Western Brazil, for example, degraded areas, and educating youth. was created only for the purpose of conserving the unique subtropical Yet another example, the biosphere river floodplain and its biodiversity, reserve Oasis du Sud Marocain in endangered by the earlier creation Morocco plays an important role in of 26 large reservoirs and the Porto buffering the advance of the Sahara Primavera dam. Pantanal is one of the desert. The Hassan Dakhil dam con- world’s most extensive wetland com- trols the downstream water release, plexes and internationally known for therefore the population needs to its abundance in species. Today, the use groundwater in order to meet its biosphere reserve is clearly of benefit water needs; however, ground water to local populations whose income is 14 based on fisheries and tourism. The decades. Different methods must be partnership of MAB and Ramsar pools deployed and tested for each region, resources and streamlines national and their continued applicability must reporting. be constantly reviewed.

Such a dynamic approach including constant review, monitoring and testing is especially suited to be promoted by biosphere reserves. At the outset of each new management strategy, there is need to explore, defi- ne and explain sub-optimal water management procedures – often caused by previous human intervention in the natural ecosystems – by scientific research, ensued by educational measures targeting the population at large. Then, a participatory dialogue has to involve stakeholders into defining possible solutions. After that, appropriate measures can be develo-

A wetland in Japan (Flickr CC mtsn) ped and finally implemented in the model region, in full cooperation with Another example of a partnership the local community, policy makers within the World Network of Bio- and other stakeholders and taking into sphere Reserves, concerning similar account all relevant interests. water-related ecosystems, is that of the German Elbe River Landscape, This is carried out in an exemplary the Russian Great Volzhsko-Kamsky way in two very large-scale nature biosphere reserve on the banks of the conservation projects implemented river Volga, and the Lower Lobau in German biosphere reserves. One biosphere reserve along the Danube in is implemented in the Elbe River Austria. The partners regularly discuss Landscape, more specifically on the joint challenges and exchange good “Lenzen floodplain meadow of the practice strategies. Elbe”. It addresses flood protection and nature conservation at the same There cannot be a one-size-fits-all time by relocating the dike near the solution for water management village Lenzen over several years. valid for all these diverse areas that Thus retention areas are re-created, obviously face different problems. allowing flooding dynamics to In a dynamic world, there can also develop without interferences. hardly be “ideal” solutions, stable over Additionally, natural meadowlands 15 This brief overview is to underline the potential of biosphere reserves as model regions in the field of modern water management, and their significance as nodes in a network of mutual exchange. Through combining nature conservation with sustainable use and addressing ecosystem services in innovative ways, the results of scientific research can be optimally tested in pilot projects with advantages to all parties. In a further step, the projects can be adopted in other areas, within the World Network of Biosphere Reserves or beyond.

Elbe floodlands (Flickr CC Danny Sotzny) In the years to come, biosphere reserves can contribute even more to the are restored. The opposite problem, two main global challenges for water water scarcity, is addressed in the availability and water quality: climate “Water Edge Project” in the Spree- change and demographic trends. wald biosphere reserve. Until 2013 Practices for mitigation or adaptation some 12 million Euros will be spent to climate change have main impacts on manifold measures to optimize the on water resources, and vice versa water balance of the area which has methods of water management can been largely influenced by measures largely affect the climate. Biosphere of hydrological flood protection in reserves already offer various insights the 1930’s, by pumping down ground on water-related issues such as flood water in the course of brown coal control, storm protection, water production in Lusatia in the 1960’s, purification and access which will be and finally by creating a new lake further developed all over the world. district nearby. In the framework of the project, obsolete water manage- In this endeavour, biosphere reserves ment constructions have been remo- will have to cooperate much more ved, lakes reconnected and fen areas than today also with new partners, revitalised to maintain biodiversity including the private sector. The and improve the capacity of the land- partnership between Danone Waters scape to store water. Both projects Germany and the German biosphere are special in that the close contact to reserves offers important positive local stakeholders and municipalities lessons.

is a high priority. Right: Spreewald biosphere reserve (Flickr CC Michael Bertulat (photo at the top), Flickr CC mab6266) 16

The partnership

Danone is a multinational company Danone has made excellent experi- with leading brands in dairy pro- ences in recent years in cooperating ducts, mineral water, baby and medi- with international organizations such cal nutrition. Danone offers several as UNICEF, the Grameen Foundati- mineral water brands, of which on, Ramsar and IUCN as part of their “Evian” and “Volvic” are known refocused sustainability approach. best. Taken together, Danone Waters Thus, a partnership with German has a market share of 8.5 percent of UNESCO biosphere reserves was a the global market for mineral water. straightforward choice, accompanying the launch of the new sub-brand. For several years now, the mine- From the perspective of Danone ral water market in industrialized Waters, partnering with German countries such as Germany has di- biosphere reserves should allow versified. Mineral water brands also explaining to the German consumer offer sub-brands that combine water the corporate approach to protect the with dashes of tea, juice or syrup in mineral water’s source in the French response to changed consumption volcanic region of Volvic. UNESCO patterns. Danone Waters Germany biosphere reserves combine sustai- launched “Volvic Landfrucht” in nable use and conservation, therefore 2008, a mineral water with a dash of they are a much more obvious partner fruit juice. than classical nature protection areas. 18 In concrete terms, this “explanation” ship was established. And in fact, by was achieved in a twofold way. The 2010, all Volvic mineral water was labels of the bottles “Volvic Land- transported from France to Germa- frucht” explained the approach of ny by rail instead of by trucks. Also UNESCO biosphere reserves, thereby from the point of view of the German underlining as well the approach of Commission for UNESCO this factor Danone Waters near the Volvic source underlined the clear commitment re- in France. At the same time, Danone quired from its private partners. Such Waters provided financial support to commitment can be shown through selected projects in selected German participation in the UN Global Com- biosphere reserves. These projects pact and by a track record in concrete made the approach and specific cha- corporate sustainability measures. racteristics of the biosphere reserves – and of Danone Waters – even more comprehensible and they were closer to the consumer also in geographic terms. Thus, consumers could learn about many different ways that water quality today is and must be protected, beyond the knowledge that the consumers will already have from their school education. And this new knowledge could immediately be translated back to an area close to home. Danone Waters entered this partnership after surveying the consumers’ opinion on UNESCO and biosphere reserves.

Ahead of the cooperation agreement UNESCO Headquarters was a partner established in April 2008 until the end from the outset, especially because of 2010, the German biosphere reser- of the directives adopted by the ves and the German MAB national UNESCO General Conference in committee had been closely involved 2007, governing the use of UNESCO’s to seek their consent to the proposed name, acronym and logo. The bottle cooperation. A factor that contributed labels under consideration indeed had particularly much to the unanimous the UNESCO MAB logo on them agreement of these partners was that which is only possible if a contract is Danone Waters contractually agreed established directly with UNESCO. to make particular efforts to advance Thus, the partnership agreement corporate sustainability during the signed in 2008 between Danone three years for which the partner- Waters Germany GmbH, UNESCO 19 and the German Commission for From the first call for proposals in UNESCO brought together three 2008, four projects were successful: partners with varying perspectives • In the Wadden Sea of Lower but with joint objectives: to promote Saxony integrated aquaculture biosphere reserves and to support has been tested. the most innovative approaches to • In the Elbe River Landscape in water management within them. The Brandenburg the water balance overall objective was to safeguard of a forest has been improved. and improve the quality of water and • In Upper Lusatia, a bog has water bodies for future generations. been rehabilitated. • In the Elbe River Landscape in How projects were selected Lower Saxony a low-impact me- In three subsequent competitive calls thod of removing invasive plant for proposals (2008, 2009 and 2010), species has been tested. the 15 German UNESCO biosphere reserves were invited to submit In the second call for proposals in project proposals. Each year, up to 10 2009, three projects were successful: proposals have been submitted. An • In Schorfheide-Chorin, integ- independent jury selected the best rated, sustainable pond aqua- 3 or 4 project proposals. The jury culture has been established. was composed of one representa- • In the Spreewald the herbal tive from the MAB Secretariat of garden adjacent to the biosphere UNESCO, one representative of the reserve information center has Secretariat of UNESCO’s freshwater been equipped with a cistern. programme IHP and two members of • To the Elbe River Landscape in the German MAB national commit- Brandenburg additional funds tee; its chairperson and the chair- have been granted in a follow-up person of the permanent working project for restoring a forest. group of German biosphere reserves (a ministry official). The calls for In the third call for proposals in 2010, proposals were based on a straight- three projects were successful: forward, short application form. The • In Schorfheide-Chorin, a solar jury assessed the project proposals research and training vessel on according to ten weighted criteria a major lake receives equipment which were known to applicants. for experiments and analysis. • In the Elbe River Landscape in Ten projects in six German UNESCO Lower Saxony, horses support biosphere reserves have been sup- ecologically sustainable forestry ported through the partnership so far. for groundwater protection. The overall financial contribution of • In the Spreewald, Education for Danone Waters Germany exceeds Sustainable Development on 300,000 Euro. water is implemented. 20 Additional elements of the partnership under the patronage of Chancellor After three years of cooperation, Angela Merkel and the then Federal information on biosphere reserves Minister for the Environment Sigmar has been spread to consumers on Gabriel. The pavilion of some 600 more than 10 million labels of the square meters was located centrally product “Volvic Landfrucht”. Thus the in the exhibition and was operated for public awareness for this important more than five months. It presented UNESCO programme has considerab- the World Network and focussed on ly increased. During 2008, the labels topics such as climate change and focused on presenting general aspects sustainable consumption. The pavilion of the biosphere reserves. From 2009 attracted more than 1 million visitors. onwards, there was more and more Danone Waters funded additional pro- focus on individual, tangible projects. motional material, especially printing Communicating together with and some 100,000 copies of a “Biosphere through private partners is an indis- journal” distributed for free to visitors. pensible means of communication for publicly funded institutions such as Danone Waters Germany also orga- the biosphere reserves. Scarce public nized holiday trips and youth camps in funds do not allow massive communi- German biosphere reserves. In 2008, cations with consumers. family trips to the Schaalsee biosphere reserve with a week-long excursion and activity programme on water were the prizes of a raffle on websites addressing young families. In 2009, students could apply for taking part in a youth camp organized in the biosphere reserve Wadden Sea of Lower Saxony. Another valuable contribution of Danone Waters was making available a quantitative consumer survey on the public profile of UNESCO biosphere reserves.

The pavilion of the German UNESCO biosphere reserves By early 2011, the partnership has (CC DUK/L. Möller) formally expired. Because of an Danone Waters Germany also sup- ongoing reform of the sustainability ported the permanent pavilion of the approach of Danone, it has so far not German UNESCO biosphere reserves been renewed. However, several of at the Federal Gardening Exhibition the ten projects have only started in in Schwerin in 2009. This pavilion early 2011; therefore the impact of the was the key event of the official cooperation is still unfolding. “German Year of Biosphere Reserves” 21 The Wadden Sea: a sensitive ecosystem (Flickr CC Gerrit Gragert)

Project summary Water purification and integrated aquaculture (2008) UNESCO biosphere reserve Wadden Sea of Lower Saxony

The UNESCO biosphere reserve species have their habitat in the Wad- The “Wadden Sea of Lower Saxony“ den Sea, the biomass is enormous: is one of three German biosphe- It is an important nursing ground for re reserves covering the German fish and an essential stepping stone, Wadden Sea (each biosphere reserve resting and feeding area for many is located in a different federal state). millions of birds every year. There are The Wadden Sea is a very large coas- also some ten thousand seals living in tal wetland formed by deposited sand the Wadden Sea and the surrounding and mud within the intertidal zone all waters. along the German North Sea coast. It has formed in the sheltered area There are hardly any people li- behind a series of protective islands. ving in the biosphere reserve in its While only few very specialized boundaries as of today; however, 22 many villages and some towns are visitor centers that inform tourists and directly adjacent. For five years locals about the sensitive ecosystem already, following a clear demand of the UNESCO biosphere reserve and from UNESCO and the German MAB World Heritage site Wadden Sea. national committee, the biosphere reserve administration has been nego- The role of water tiating with communities and districts in the biosphere reserve adjacent to the Wadden Sea to include The largest part of the biosphere them into the (so far very limited) reserve actually consists of the spe- transition area. The local economy of cialized ecosystem Wadden Sea, i.e. the coastal region strongly depends tidal flats and gullies, salt marshes, on tourism, agriculture and fisheries. dunes and beaches along the Lower A considerable part of the agricultural Saxon coast and most parts of the East land today is used on a near-organic Friesian Islands. The tidal dynamics basis. In the area, there are also many create extreme living conditions and diverse habitats, changing two times a day with the tide. Three rivers (Ems, Weser and Elbe) discharge into the area and form estuaries. Water and its dynamics therefore clearly are most relevant for shaping the landscape and the biosphere reserve at large.

The project: Objective The aim of the EU Water Framework Directive is to achieve a “good status“ of all European inland and coastal waters until 2015. For example, the nutrient load in river basins shall be reduced significantly. Also in coastal waters, additional measures to reduce nutrients need to be implemented. One possibility to remove dissolved and particulate nutrients from sea water is the use of organisms in integrated forms of aquaculture. Different macrophytes (algae) and invertebrates (filtered mussel species) may act as a sink for nutrients. Algae are able to remove up to 80 percent of the nutrients from the surrounding water and Habitat for birds and seals (Flickr CC Dolphfin) convert it into valuable biomass. 23 Algae in the North and Baltic Sea of nitrate or ammonium as well as have the added benefit that they grow phosphate in little time. three to four times faster than compa- rable land plants. The efficiency of the process is further improved by adding tanks The project sought to remove the containing blue mussels. They lite- nutrients from coastal water bodies in rally clear the water and thereby the an experimental pilot project fashion algae obtain better growth conditions through purely ecological means and since they require light for photosyn- thereby to approach one of the root thesis. With the turbidity removed by causes (nitrification) of low water the mussels, light penetrates deeper quality, in a sustainable way. The into the water column. Moreover, project tested a method, previously mussels are able to assimilate nutri- only tried out in the lab, for the first ents bound to particles and release time under real-life conditions them in a form that the algae may use. It was known from earlier research that such an integrated aquaculture can absorb sea water nutrients very effectively. The research intended to demonstrate that such a set-up can actually enhance the self-purification capacity of the Wadden Sea, under real-life conditions.

A ponton of a size of 4 by 6 meters with four tanks of 300 liters containing the culture tanks has been deployed in the Hooksmeer, a medium-size water body in the Jade Bay close to the lock at the village Hooksiel. It has been moored on land to poles and seaward to an anchor stone. Two The 4 tank ponton (© W. Schuster) tanks for the culture of algae were placed next to two mussel culture tanks. Two of them were interconnec- The project: Implementation ted respectively. Water from a depth The project’s principle in water of 1 meter in the Hooksmeer was treatment is cultivating marine macro first pumped into the tank containing algae in semi closed tank systems. mussels. Loaded with less suspen- The focus is on native algae of the ded matter, the water flows on to the North Sea and the Baltic that may subsequent tank with the algae that assimilate plenty of nitrogen in form remove the dissolved nutrients. 24 The experiment was conducted with brown algae and with red algae in parallel. Two times a day the pumps change the water in the tanks: Less charged with suspended load, the water from the mussel tanks is pumped over into the algae tanks. The algae absorb the dissolved nutrients, such that in the end the waste water has a reduced environmental impact. As stated before, the objective of the small-scale pilot project was to demonstrate the principle and the fundamental feasibility under real-life conditions.

The entire project was meticulously monitored and additional research carried out with a view to further improve the set-up. The experiment concluded that on average, 80 percent of nitrates and 89 percent of phospha- tes had been withdrawn. The algae may thereby really contribute to a better water quality – and at the same time they may be used for example as valuable biomass for energy production. In summary, there is a clear win- win-situation. In addition, the whole mechanism needs little maintenance. Algae and mussels assimilate sea water nutrients The pumps use solar power as energy (© MaRenate) resource.

The Danone Waters cooperation pro- Contact: vided financial means of 25,000 Euro. Uwe Walter and Wolfgang Schuster Taken overall, the project proved to E-mail: be successful. Several local and spe- [email protected] cialized media covered the project. [email protected]

25 The forest Gadower Forst with the improved channels in the Elbe River Landscape (© Jochen Purps)

Project summary Improving water supply to a forest (2008 and 2009)

UNESCO biosphere reserve Elbe River Landscape in Brandenburg

The UNESCO biosphere reserve Elbe, from the city of Havelberg in The biosphere reserve extends along Sachsen-Anhalt in the East to Dömitz the Elbe River across five German in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the Länder (federal states), i.e. Sachsen- West, with an extension of some 10 Anhalt, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg- to 20 kilometers perpendicular to Vorpommern, Lower Saxony and the river. About 160,000 people are Schleswig-Holstein. In each of these living in the entire biosphere reserve, five federal states, a separate manage- some 31,000 in the Brandenburg part. ment authority or administration has been set up. The Brandenburg part of The biosphere reserve boasts some the biosphere reserve is of the size of of the largest contiguous floodplain 530 square kilometers and extends forests in Central Europe. Other more than 70 kilometers along the habitats are flooded grasslands, sand 26 dunes, sandy dry and oligotrophic The role of water grassland, coniferous and mixed The Elbe River Landscape is a near- forests and lowland marshlands. The natural river landscape with large flood biosphere reserve administration plains, sandy shores, inland dunes and takes care of a number of projects, brackish water. The new colonies of among them one of the largest “dike the Elbe beaver are just as famous as relocation” projects in all of Euro- the otter colonies and the considerable pe, close to the village of Lenzen. number of storks in summer. Actually, Following some devastating floods, the village of Rühstädt in Brandenburg especially the notorious flood in is a nationally known “stork village” 2002, the need to give more space to with the largest population of these the river has been widely acknow- birds in Germany. All these emblema- ledged. Within the recently accom- tic animals depend on habitats domina- plished Lenzen project, the dike was ted by water. relocated 1.2 kilometers backwards away from the river, adding new Since along the river the ground is floodplains of 4.2 square very sandy, small hydraulic changes have impacts over many square kilometres. The preservation of flood plains and care for the remaining alluvial forests are among the most important projects in the Elbe River Landscape.

The project: Objectives The project addressed a forest called “Gadower Forst” in the vicinity of Wittenberge and next to the Elbe – a mixture of fen forests of oak, horn- beam, and alder, exactly halfway between the cities of Berlin and Hamburg. The main objective of the The new dam (© Jochen Purps) project was to restore the water storage capacity of the moist forest ecosys- kilometers. Other projects of the ad- tems that serve as buffers for extreme ministration focus on the restoration climate events. A second objective of backwater lakes, management of was to improve the water quality of beaver populations and willow vege- the nearby waters, the rivers Löcknitz tation, floodplain forest development, and Elbe. Actually, two phases of the Education for Sustainable Develop- project have been financed by Danone ment and the promotion of tourism in Waters, in 2008 and in 2009, based on the Elbe River region. success in two calls for proposal. 27 The project area is situated on an The reason for the inadequate extensive sand terrace of the Elbe hydraulic measures of the past is the valley. In the direct vicinity, there are existence of large agricultural areas some 2 square kilometers of state- adjacent to the forests. The water ma- owned forest, destined to be a core nagement system has been optimized area of the biosphere reserve. Even in the past with the single objective to closer, there is a complex of some meet the needs of agriculture – thus 7 square kilometers of deciduous the system heavily impacted on the forest in private ownership. This water balance of the forests. Year is part of the transition area of the by year, this has lead to ecological biosphere reserve and hence an area damages such as trees dying from that should combine sustainable water shortage. More concretely, in use and nature-conserving forest 2006, several dams had been installed management. If the water dynamics and the corresponding channels only in this area were natural, they would flooded in spring, to support agricul- very much be directly linked to ture, but kept dry in winter seasons. the water level of the nearby Elbe, The unsatisfactory water management because of exchange of water in the limited the water storage capacity underground. Yet the water dynamics of the forests, which in turn affected has been fundamentally altered by water quality and also increased hydraulic installations – unfortunate- the frequency of water shortages or ly in very inadequate ways, from the floods. point of view of forestry. The project: Implementation In the first phase of the project (autumn 2008 until summer 2009), a thorough study of the situation and of potential solutions has been conducted. The study resulted in informative data which became the basis for subsequent discussions among all stakeholders and straightforward decision-making. The study also proposed a number of practical measures to improve the water supply of the “Elsbruch” forest. The results of the study have been discussed in a working group consisting of several stakeholders of local authorities, forest owners, etc. meeting several times. As immediate priority, the need The project underway at the “Elsbruch“ (© J. Purps) to install a small dam was identified. 28 This dam in fact decouples the water “Burg Lenzen” together with nature management systems of the forests rangers and the local chief fores- and the agricultural areas. The study, ter. The project has been visited by the meetings of the working group important delegations from Germany and the construction of the dam have and from abroad and it has even been been financed by Danone Waters with submitted as a candidate to a European 20,000 Euro in the first phase of the award. project.

Several other measures identified by the study were financed from state funds of the Land Brandenburg. Some additional measures, however, were not eligible to be financed by government sources because of specific water legislation and water rights. These additional measures have been implemented in the second phase of the project between September 2009 and April 2010. Another 7,000 Euro have been granted from the cooperation of Danone Waters and UNESCO.

These measures mainly consisted in The dam is inaugurated using Volvic water, together with positioning simple pipes with a large a local landlord (© Archiv: Biosphärenreservat Flussland- schaft Elbe-Brandenburg) diameter and a flexible end section in three pre-existing dams. Thus, in The valuable moist forest and with it t autumn and winter, water can now the core areas today can better exercise flow into the forest, while, by simply their water storage and filtering func- turning around the flexible end tions. This significantly contributes to sections, in spring and summer, water ecosystem functions and conserving can be prevented from flowing out of biodiversity in the complex. The the forest. involvement of many partners in the work has also led to an improved The quick, visible success in the first cooperation among stakeholders in the project phase persuaded partners as UNESCO biosphere reserve. well as the public. In the media, the project was highly appreciated and Contact: the role model character was praised. Jeanette Fischer, To further inform the public about the Manager of the biosphere reserve project, lectures, field trips and excur- E-mail: sions are organised by the biosphere jeanette.fischer@ reserve’s visitor information center lugv.brandenburg.de 29 Ponds at Guttau village in the biosphere reserve (© Matthias Höhne)

Project summary Revitalising a bog (2008)

UNESCO biosphere reserve Heath and Pond Landscape of Upper Lusatia

The UNESCO biosphere reserve Some 9,500 people live in the area, in Part of this biosphere reserve is one 60 villages. The Sorbs, Slavic settlers of Germany’s largest pond regions, who immigrated to this region in the about 80 kilometers to the north-east 6th century, have maintained their of Dresden. The “Heath and Pond traditional customs and language Landscape of Upper Lusatia“ is a until today. The key objective of this rather small biosphere reserve exten- biosphere reserve is to maintain its ding from Hoyerswerda in the North unique man-made landscape by using to Bautzen in the South and Niesky it sustainably through agriculture, fo- in the East. It features very diverse restry, fishery, tourism, and industry. habitats and a rich species diversity Involving the population is taken very in a small area. For instance, ponds seriously. Ambitious research and are located right next to sandy dunes. education programmes are in place. 30 The role of water for centuries have been raised in the The ponds represent about 9 percent ponds. A key project of the biosphere of the total area of the biosphere reserve during the most recent years reserve. They are man-made, laid out has been to increase the economic several centuries ago. Due to their value added in the region through age, due to their structure and due to transforming the pond fishery from extensive farming, they are particu- conventional carp aquaculture to orga- larly valuable, both ecologically and nic carp aquaculture. The organic carp culturally. The water dynamics of the is merchandised using the brand of ponds directly influences a large area: the biosphere reserve since 2008 with in the surroundings of the ponds, the great success, all across Germany. water levels vary substantially over the year, following the rhythm of the The project: Objective ponds being annually drained for har- Southerly adjacent to one of the largest vesting carp. Scientists largely agree ponds, there is a “transition moor” of that impacts of climate change are some 12,000 square meters. A “transi- already visible. Over the last years, tion moor” carries its name because it precipitation rates in the biosphere is a bog whose ecology and vegetation reserve fell distressingly. is actually a mixture of a bog and a fen. The transition moor is in the Fishery plays a big role in the region’s buffer zone of the biosphere reserve economy. It is mainly carps that and houses the largest occurrence of

A pond in the Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape (© Ralf M. Schreyer) 31 bog heather in the area and about sition moor would have degenerated 100 species listed on the national further; also more carbon dioxide Red List. The transition moor had would have been released. been affected by municipal waste water until the year 2000 and by the The project: Implementation fall of the water level every time the The means to implement the project adjacent pond had been drained. have been as straight-forward as the project objective: They mainly In terms of ecological function, the consisted in installing a wooden stand transition moor primarily serves as (height approximately 2.0 meter) water reservoir that conserves winter that can regulate the water table in the transition moor, independently of the water table of the nearby ponds. The run-off of the municipal waste water had been taken care of recently through separate measures. Thus, the transition moor and its water table were stabilized in terms of quantity and quality. Today the water level is sufficiently elevated all around the year preventing reed to grow and pine to settle in the transition moor.

All tasks, mainly consisting of building and installing the wooden stand, were accomplished by staff of the

A silted bog (© Ralf M. Schreyer) foundation supporting the biosphere reserve. The project also was helpful precipitation surplus and compen- in supporting environmental education sates summer rainfall deficits. by including young people in the im- Furthermore, substantial quantities plementation. Some 7,500 Euros have of nutrients and greenhouse gases been granted to the project. are absorbed. But the impacts from villages and from fisheries on the Contact: transition moor had been so severe Annett Hertweck, Manager of the that it could hardly fulfil its regula- “Foundation for the nature of the ting function appropriately. Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape” The project had a simple, straight- E-mail: forward objective: Restore the annett.hertweck@ ecological resilience of the transition foerderverein-oberlausitz.de moor. Without the project, the tran- 32 The wooden stand is installed and working (© Ralf M. Schreyer) 33 The river Elbe in Lower Saxony (© Biosphärenreservat Flusslandschaft Elbe)

Project summary Water quality and invasive species (2008)

UNESCO biosphere reserve Elbe River Landscape in Lower Saxony

The UNESCO biosphere reserve The Lower-Saxon part of the bio- With a surface of approximate- sphere reserve has a special diver- ly 3,500 square kilometres, the sity and a high density of rare and biosphere reserve is by far the endangered habitats, animal and plant largest (terrestrial) in Germany. species. About 250 bird and 1,300 “World Culture along wild shores” plant species have been detected. The is its tourism marketing claim. The beaver that had been extinct since Lower Saxon part of the biosphere 1819 has resettled along the Lower reserve accounts for roughly 15 Saxon Elbe in the 1990s; today, there percent of the area - that is 567 are now more than 500 beavers. The square kilometers along 95 kilome- Elbe in Lower Saxony has become a ters of the river between the cities new home for the otter as well. The of Schnackenburg and Lauenburg. biosphere reserve administration 34 has implemented several innovative The project: Objectives projects recently, among them an The Höhbeck near the municipality of initiative to generate more income Gartow is a hill, 77 meter high, next for the region through low-impact to the Elbe, standing visibly out from tourism and a project to reconcile the landscape. An only one kilometer the needs of nature conservation long creek called Thalmühlbach has with the impacts following from the its source near the top. Because of its increasing economic attractiveness of steep slope, the creek’s features are growing biofuels on agricultural land. quite special for this part of Germany.

The role of water Along the creek, especially near its The Elbe, with a length of 1094 mouth, a quite large patch of the in- kilometers from its source in the vasive species Reynoutria japonica or Bohemian Mountains to its mouth in “Japanese knotweed“ had developed. the North Sea near Cuxhaven is the An invasive species, also called neo- fourth largest river basin in Europe. phyte, is a plant species only recently In the Lower Saxon part of the Bio- introduced to an area – in contrast to an archaeophyte, a well-established species. The Japanese knotweed is able to rapidly spread in Germany under current Western European climatic conditions. It actually supplants much well-established and typical, diverse vegetation – in other places and here, on the banks of the Thalmühlbach. The neophyte changed the morpholo- gical bank structures, increasing ero- sion, and reducing the self-cleaning capacity of the water flow.

It was feared that the knotweed could The Elbe is home to rare species such as the beaver. quickly spread as well to other areas (Flickr CC twicepix) along the Elbe from this first place sphere Reserve, the tributaries Aland, of discovery. In typical approaches, Seeger, Jeetzel, Löcknitz and Sude removing the plant would effectively discharge into the Elbe. Thus, every- be done using chemical herbici- thing revolves around “water” here. des. However, using herbicides is The biosphere reserve intends to pre- particularly inappropriate adjacent to serve the beauty of the landscape for rivers and creeks. The project funded inhabitants and tourists and to protect by Danone Waters intended to test a the livelihood of many animals and different approach with less negative plants in and along the river. side effects on the environment. 35 The project: Implementation groups, of which the knotweed project The project consisted in removing is now a standard part. the knotweed mechanically and then deploying a black, opaque Contact: film for up to three years on the Klaus-Jürgen Steinhoff, area. By disabling photosynthesis biosphere reserve administration it was expected that the knotweed E-mail: is prevented from growing, and klaus-juergen.steinhoff@elbtalaue. will hopefully die off. The absolute niedersachsen.de obscuration of the subsurface is the only known alternative to herbicides to eliminate the knotweed in the long run. Since the plant roots spread up to one meter depth in the subsoil, other measures such as digging and ploughing are not sufficient.

At the same time, species of native trees such as elm, ash, etc. were planted in the area. They provide enough shade after the removal of the film. Afterwards, the area was planted with additional native shrubs. The project was funded with 14,500 Euro. In the long run, the experiences from this project could provide important insights into effective and environment- friendly management of neophyte species in floodplains. That is why the project can be a model for similar projects in other regions.

The project was accompanied by students from the University of Hamburg. A partner of the biosphere reserve, the information and event venue “Elbauenstation Pe- vesdorf”, run by the University of Hamburg, regularly organizes field On top: The Japanese knotweed, an invasive species (Flickr CC dankogreen); below: A black film prevents trips for students and interested the plants from regrowing (© Hartmut Christier) 36 Ponds are the habitat of many animal and plant species (Flickr CC Thomas Kohler)

Project summary Sustainable pond fisheries (2009)

UNESCO biosphere reserve Schorfheide-Chorin

The UNESCO biosphere reserve is widely famous for its medieval The biosphere reserve in the brick Gothic abbey. The area is northeast of Berlin has received its sparsely populated. Major sources of UNESCO designation in 1990. It income of the inhabitants are tourism, extends over an area of 1,292 square agriculture and fishery. kilometers. Its landscape is founded on ice age moraines and outwash A focus of activities of the biosphere plains; the area is naturally covered reserve is improving the marketing by forests, wealds, fens and lakes of regional products and services for – habitats for numerous species of both locals and tourists. A dedicated animals and plants. The Schorfheide logo certifies healthy and sustainably has been a hunting resort for several produced products and services. At the centuries; the municipality of Chorin same time, organic farming preserves 37 old and rare agricultural crops, ding the fish with corn, even organic potatoes, vegetables and fruits. corn, results in a significant nutrient In the biosphere reserve, organic load in the ponds. The nutrient-rich farming accounts for a 32 percent water that is drained once every year share of today’s agricultural area. from the ponds to catch the fish enters For comparison: In all of Germany, the adjacent river Welse and impacts this share is 6 percent. the quality of its ecosystem significantly. This 58 kilometers long river thus regularly becomes too trophic and contains too much sludge.

The project: Objectives The project funded by Danone Waters in 2009 in the biosphere reserve Schorfheide-Chorin has been about improving the fishery system of the pond situated right next to the Blumberger Mühle. The project was one crucial contribution to the first fully sustainable pond fishing solution in Germany and presents a prototype for economically breeding fish and at The river Welse becomes too trophic due to the the same time reducing the impact to feeding of fish in adjacent ponds. (Flickr CC Steffen Sameiske) adjacent river ecosystems. The State government of Brandenburg had set The role of water: Pond fishery aside funds to finance all mechanical Schorfheide-Chorin is one of the parts, all machinery and all building most arid parts of Germany, being work for the project, but could not situated in the transition of mariti- account for the scientific support and me and sub-continental climates. for public awareness measures. How- The biosphere reserve prides itself ever, it is only through documentation of a frequently visited central of the results and through public out- information center called Blumber- reach, that a stand-alone project like ger Mühle which is located in the this can be turned into a prototype middle of a pond landscape which that can reach out to an entire region in turn is part of a nature conserva- and beyond. tion area. The ponds are an important habitat for many bird species. The project: Implementation Half of the ponds in the biosphere Through state-funded installations, reserve are also used for fishing, the water in the pond today is filtered according to organic production once the pond is emptied with the aim principles. At the same time, fee- of keeping the nutrients within. 38 Filtering and pumping the water ted by the biosphere reserve. In the requires energy that is provided by a information center, a learning module turbine situated where fresh water is “Water and me” has been created. entering the pond. Thus the installa- Around nearby ponds, information tion does not require outside energy, panels explaining the project have creating a closed cycle both in terms been set up. There are about 35,000 of nutrients and energy. visitors annually to the information center, who usually also visit the pond The add-on project funded by Danone landscape and will thus be informed Waters added scientific evaluation and about the project. supervision to this stand-alone project. Thus, learnings and best practice may 22,000 Euro have been provided to be derived from the planning and the the academic study and evaluation. implementation in order for such an The first stage consisted in assessing in-stallation to become the prototype the original state of nutrient-stress in for similar sustainable pond aquacultu- the ponds. A scientific symposium res in Germany and, therefore, have a and extensive public relations have high multiplicative effect. Informative been funded as well, to ensure the best meetings in other German pond land- possible outreach. scapes have been held with a view to raise awareness for this new solution. Contact: Jörg Kienast, Manager of the visitor The results of the project are also information center Blumberger Mühle used for activities in Education for E-mail: Sustainable Development implemen- [email protected]

In the Blumberger Mühle information center, visitors can learn about the project. (© NABU BIZ Blumberger Mühle) 39 The river Spree (Flickr CC Stefan Fussan)

Project summary Harvesting rain water (2009)

UNESCO biosphere reserve Spreewald

The UNESCO biosphere reserve area. A patchwork of alder forests and The biosphere reserve Spree- meadows on wetlands are characteris- wald is situated 100 kilometers tic for the region, however, also fields south-east of Berlin in the region and pine forests on sandy dry areas of Lower Lusatia. The landscape can be found here. of the area, of a size of 475 square kilometers, was shaped during the The traditions and lifestyles of the ice age. It is known for its tradi- population are closely connected to tional irrigation system of small the water meadow landscape. About rivers and channels, in its entirety 50,000 people live in the biosphere re- some 1,500 kilometers long. These serve. Some of them are descendants watercourses and thus water as of the first settlers in the Spreewald an element dominate an extensive region, the Slavic tribes of the Sorbs. 40 Until today, they have preserved their mented in the Spreewald biosphere traditional language, customs and reserve, the “Spreewald Water Edge clothing. The inhabitants’ income very Project”, which shall optimize the much depends on tourism. Tourists en- water balance of the area by manifold joy exploring the Spreewald channels measures on which local stakeholders in punts or canoes. Other important and municipalities have agreed be- sources of income for the locals are forehand. Nevertheless, the residents agriculture, forestry and fishery. must urgently reduce their water use and find new ways of saving water. The role of water In terms of precipitation, the Spree- The project: Objectives wald is one of the most arid areas of The project supported by Danone Germany (only 530 millimeters of Waters in 2009 constructed a cistern annual precipitation). Climate change system for a herbal garden in the will further reduce rainfall and thus “Schlossberghof Burg”. This is one endanger the water supply of the of the information centers of the entire region. Until today, most inha- biosphere reserve, situated nearby a historical palace and surrounded by a lush garden of some 4,000 square meters. The garden contains more than 600 medicinal plants and spices. It preserves wild and historic crops for generations to come. It serves as one of the main assets of Education for Sustainable Development of the biosphere reserve and each year welco- mes some 10,000 visitors.

The project at one of the central sites of the biosphere reserve intends to demonstrate to each visitor that every individual person may and must con- Falling water tables in Spreewald lakes can have different reasons. (Flickr CC Torben) tribute to avoiding water shortages. The irrigation system demonstrates to bitants have covered their water needs all visitors who might have a garden from the river Spree, the channels, or at home, how a cistern in practice can the nearby lakes in summer, when pre- work to retain rainwater. The main cipitation is usually very low – which objective therefore is communication. will not be possible anymore in the At the same time the project tangibly future because frequent low tides are improves water quality in the Spree expected. One of the largest German channels because the garden itself was nature conservation projects is imple- a considerable consumer of water. 41 With less water withdrawn for the reserve administration in cooperation needs of human beings and gar- with the regional water distribution dens, more water is flowing in the company organised an event “Ef- Spree channels instead of standing; ficient use of water”. This event was thus, more water is available for visited by some 100 stakeholders. the needs of ecosystems. Moreover, potential surplus from the cistern Contact: will be channelled into the natural Susanne Leber, staff member of the water system. All this in turn leads biosphere reserve administration to more oxygen inside the water E-mail: system which improves living [email protected] conditions and supports species diversity.

The project: Implementation While cisterns are commonplace installations in many parts of the world, they are not frequently found in Germany. Thus the principle must be re-explained to the general public: Rainwater is captured in the cistern on the roof of the information centre and stored in a waterproof receptacle. It is then used for irrigation of the herbal garden, through an elabo- rate network of pipes and valves. 20,600 Euro of funding was spent for the cistern in the herbal garden and for accompanying measures.

Even more important than con- structing the cistern was closely cooperating with all local stakeholders to maximise the multiplicative effect and reaching out to the population. To achieve publicity, the biosphere reserve tour guides explain the cistern project in detail during their tours of the herbal garden. On World Water Day 2010, the 22nd of March, the biosphere Installing the cisterns (© Biosphärenreservat Spreewald) 42 Lake Werbellin, a popular tourist destination (Flickr CC smee)

Project summary Solar-driven research vessel on Lake Werbellin (2010)

UNESCO biosphere reserve Schorfheide-Chorin

The UNESCO biosphere reserve can be found. The forest “Grumsiner The biosphere reserve Schorfheide- Forst” in the biosphere reserve is part Chorin is at 75 kilometers north-east of of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Berlin in the federal state of Branden- “Ancient Beech Forests of Germany”, burg. In the area, all geo-morphologi- inscribed in 2011. cal features of the postglacial lowlands of northern Germany can be found. Some 32,000 people inhabit the bio- The vegetation of the bio-sphere reser- sphere reserve. The region is one of ve is close to its natural potential en- the least populated areas of Germany compassing mixed beech forests, oak- and has a high unemployment rate. beech forests, pine-oak forests, and dry The biosphere reserve administration sub-continental grasslands. Apart from has introduced a “regional brand” forests, many lakes, swamps and bogs which has become the undisputed 43 quality trademark for products and ple at a time will be launched on the services from the biosphere reserve Werbellinsee in 2011. The 18 meter such as food, catering, hoteliers long catamaran is a floating labo- and retail. Awarding the brand is ratory and cutting-edge in terms of based on criteria such as regional sustainable construction. As an educa- origin, quality standards and tion vessel, it will address issues such low-impact production methods. as water quality, water use and the diversity of nature in the waterbody of the Werbellinsee. All specialized issues will be embedded in a broad concept of Education for Sustainable Development.

The vessel is made from recycled aluminum and is powered by solar energy that drives a battery and two The regional brand of the biosphere reserve electric motors, each with about 7 kW. The solar panel is located on The role of water the roof. Under best conditions, the While the area is one of the most vessel will be able to operate up to arid in Germany, its impressive 8 hours. The vessel is also resource- landscape is dotted with some 240 efficient in other aspects, thanks to lakes and thousands of bogs. In the its closed water systems on board, last few centuries most bogs have low energy consuming movement been gradually drained; nowadays, and to the non-toxic paint applied to rehabilitation efforts are made. its exterior. In addition to standard Still, there is considerable need to equipment, there is low-energy LED sensitize the youth as well as the lighting and facilities to visualize the population at large for the signifi- energy cycle in the ship. cance of protecting water resources. The four lakes in the biosphere The vessel can be used by school reserve, the Lake Werbellin (Wer- classes of all ages, university students bellinsee), the Grimnitzsee, the and adults. The equipment used for Parsteinsee and the Uckersee, are each excursion is tailored to the age not only ecologically valuable, they and specific needs of the student are also important “communication groups. A modular design allows easy tools” since they are popular tourist and quick replacement of compo- destinations. nents. State of the art equipment for analyzing and evaluating water and The project: Objectives sediment samples (microscopes, A research and education/training chemical analysis equipment, etc.) are vessel that can serve up to 50 peo- on board. There will a glass-bottom 44 to observe what is happening under in Germany. It will have an impact as the water surface. The vessel will be best practice far beyond the region. operated on the Werbellinsee for at Partners such as the German Associa- least the next 12 years. Sponsoring tion for Solar Energy will promote the and funds from a federal economic project through nationwide dissemina- stimulus package add up to more than tion of information. 300,000 Euro for the solar vessel. The biosphere reserve management in The project: Implementation cooperation with its support associa- The project funding of Danone Waters tion is accountable for implementing complements the already financed the project in its entirety. The funds “hardware” of the boat and the edu- from Danone Waters contribute to cational “software” through auxiliary launching the vessel – in total a far technical equipment that optimally more extensive project – through complements the range of equipment technology additions worth 31,250 available on board: equipment for wa- Euro. The project will impart know- ter analysis, digital microscopes, ledge about the causes of change in binoculars for students, storage contai- the aquatic environment and will help ners, visualization devices, an under- to develop skills to protect water and water camera with video transmission water bodies. and a sonar.

The project will exemplarily link Contact: “modern, smart technology” to educa- Uwe Graumann, deputy manager of ting about the importance of water for the biosphere reserve human beings and the ecosystem. The E-mail: solar research vessel is a true “first” [email protected]

Model of the solar research vessel (© ALV 2011) 45 The Elbe river near Hitzacker in the biosphere reserve (Flickr CC HydaspisChaos)

Project summary Forest conversion using horses (2010)

UNESCO biosphere reserve Elbe River Landscape in Lower Saxony

The UNESCO biosphere reserve recent years, combining interests of The different parts of Germany’s nature conservation and farmers, con- largest biosphere reserve are sists in introducing a “migratory bird administrated separately in each of management” in order to minimize the five federal states across which conflicts and preserve the Elbe River it extends. The biosphere reserve Landscape as a bird resting area. in Lower Saxony is especially important for swans and geese that The biosphere reserve is also an use it as a resting and wintering important cultural landscape, compri- area. Yet, many farmers consider sing a World Heritage site (“Garden the birds to be a threat to their crop Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz”) and yields. An important project of the several habitats of the EU network of administration of Lower Saxony in protected areas “Natura 2000”. 46 The role of water endangered species such as the otter Needless to say that water is the or the kingfisher. Important parts of defining feature of the landscape the valley are covered by near-natural in a fluvial biosphere reserve. The vegetation but one quite long stretch floodplains are regularly flooded in along the creek had been planted winter and spring, while the sandy many years ago with coniferous forest shores often fall dry in late summer. not adapted to the site. This forest For centuries dikes have protected exerted stresses on soil and groundwa- the natural and cultural landscape of ter and negatively affected biodiver- meadows, fields and settlements in sity. In terms of water quality, it was the river area.The Elbe, its tributaries particularly problematic that an area and a branching network of surface very suitable for groundwater recharge waters create a characteristic mosaic and water purification does not fulfill of valuable habitats along the lowland such functions adequately, as a conse- river. quence of an unsuited vegetation. The project intends to convert the forest into site-specific vegetation especially along the banks such that the ecosystem functions can be exercised again: groundwater and surface water protection, habitat conservation for typical lowland and riverine species. What makes this project special is that the project reaches these objectives through methods that have themselves a very low environmental impact and create economic added value.

The project: Implementation The Elbe River Landscape is an important wintering area The project restored the natural vege- for swans and geese (Flickr CC Kinga) tation on the banks of the “Ventschau- er Mühlenbach”. As groundwater is The project: Objectives very near to the surface in the area, The area concerned by this project in this has been done with particular care the Lower-Saxon part of the bio- and by an unusual measure: the trees sphere reserve is a creek valley in the cut down from the pine forest were “Hoher Drawehn”, a hilly landscape transported out of the area by horses. with heights and quite steep slopes, This minimized soil compaction and at least for Northern Germany. The environmental pollution. The pine fo- creek “Ventschauer Mühlenbach”, rest will be replaced (the project is still its banks and an adjacent natural being implemented) by an alder and forest are habitats for many rare and ash tree alluvial forest. The project 47 is carried out building on traditio- start-up company provided the horses nal skills of the inhabitants of the and was responsible for animal-kee- biosphere reserve and is also in this ping. Parts of the funds are used for regard a model for future manage- public relation materials. The project ment measures. has already had TV coverage. The owner of the land is committed to maintain the newly developed The project can also be a pilot for forest according to the project future nature conservation measures objectives for a minimum period of at sensitive locations (especially as 20 years. Parallel to the proposed regards groundwater) and also for project, a water development plan integrating residents, relying on their is underway for the valley. Setting traditional proficiencies. Involving up and implementing the process local inhabitants will safeguard main- involved all stakeholders, with the tenance in the long run. support of the biosphere reserve management, providing the best Contact: conceivable framework for the over- Ortrun Schwarzer, staff member of all project objectives. the biosphere reserve administration E-mail: Funding of 24,750 Euro has been ortrun.schwarzer@elbtalaue. provided to the project. A local niedersachsen.de

With the help of horses, trees can be transported with low environmental impact. (© Klaus Mayhack) 48 A school boy active in the project (© Biosphärenreservat Spreewald)

Project summary Water education in primary schools (2010)

UNESCO biosphere reserve Spreewald

The UNESCO biosphere reserve At the same time, 50,000 people The Spreewald has been designated inhabit the biosphere reserve and the as UNESCO biosphere reserve in region attracts more than four million 1991. Its characteristic is its park-like tourists a year. This makes it the most landscape interspersed with numerous important tourist region in the federal streams and brooks. Despite centuries state of Brandenburg. Nature tourism of human influence and cultivation is thus a major economic pillar of the of the landscape, it is still a largely biosphere reserve and the tourism natural floodplain habitat, and thus infrastructure includes hundreds of rich in flora and fauna. The whole kilometers of trails for cycling, wal- area is hardly dissected by streets and king, and riding. Tourism also helps sustains various rare species such as promoting the marketing of regional storks, otters and dragonflies. products. The biosphere reserve is 49 Germany‘s leading eco-farming is not well known so far in the public region, with almost three-quarters at large and efforts to communicate of agricultural land being tilled the significance of water must be according to organic standards. The intensified; it is especially young pickled Spreewald gherkin is an em- generations that need to be sensitized blematic dish of the region, famous for using water sustainably. all across Germany. The project: Objectives The role of water The project “Klasse - klares Wasser” The biosphere reserve is one of (the translation is ambiguous by the few regions in Germany where intention: “Clear water in class” or climate change will definitely lead “Terrific – clear water”) supported by to greater water scarcity. Economi- Danone Waters in 2010 communicates cal use of water is the key to future the topic “water” in a new exemplary good water quality. Only flowing way based on high-quality didactics. water provides living space for the It started in spring 2011 with a group species currently inhabiting it. of fourth form students of the 3rd Water scarcity will lead to standing Elementary School of the city of Lübbenau. The idea is that issues related to water and its preciousness can be communicated very easily to kids of that age because they are very eager to try things out and thereby create awareness for a sustainable way of living in general.

The project: Implementation In a first step during the school year 2010/11, students work in a project group and in interdisciplinary classes for 14 days. Three teaching modules (“Water is everywhere”, “Water locally and globally”, “Water Two boys experimenting with water (© Biosphärenreservat Spreewald) knowledge”) are intended to raise awareness and develop skills and water and to the decline of the cur- competencies of the students. In order rent species diversity. Therefore, a to intensify the students‘ knowledge, plan for sustainable consumption of different measures are taken, such water has been set up – formulated as studies on the personal consump- collectively by the local authorities tion of water, street surveys, online and important user groups. Never- research, preparing presentations or theless, the necessity to save water drafting visualizations of water use in 50 school. Field trips to model projects The project is also supported by pub- will be organized as well; one of lic relations activities of the biosphere these projects is the cistern system in reserve. Coverage in the local media Burg, financed in 2009 from funds was given from the start. provided by Danone Waters; another field trip heads for the water purifica- This project on Education for Sustai- tion plant of the city of Lübbenau. nable Development in the biosphere reserve Spreewald is funded with Modules 2 and 3 of the course will 37,700 Euro from the cooperation be carried out during school year with Danone Waters. The means were 2011/12. After that, there will also be and will be used mainly to purchase an information exchange with other equipment, to design and print a schools, including teacher trainings. workbook, to compensate the teaching personnel and to produce PR material. The project brings together many The project is an excellent example different partners from the region for innovative Education for Sustaina- and is intended to have effects over ble Development. several years. The responsibility for implementation is with the biosphere Contact: reserve administration in collaborati- Eugen Nowak, on with the local citizens’ foundation. head manager of the biosphere reserve The primary school‘s project group E-mail: “Young Reporters” will regularly [email protected] report on the progress of the project.

Educational, Scientificand Cultural Organization United Nations as modelregionsforsustainabledevelopment. collaboration canleadtotangiblebenefitsinUNESCObiosphere reserves- replicated inbiospherereservesworldwide.Italsodemonstrates how aprivatesector sustainable fishery. Thisbrochurepresentssuccessfulpracticesthatmightbe German biospherereserves,onissuessuchaseducation,natureconservation or Danone Waters hasprovidedfinancialsupporttotenselectedprojectsin established acooperationforthebenefitofGermanbiospherereserves in2008. UNESCO, Danone Waters GermanyandtheGermanCommissionforUNESCO Programme the biospher Man and e ISBN: 978-3-940785-33-6

Water - a key element in UNESCO biosphere reserves. Experiences from a collaboration with Danone Waters Germany