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Dresden / Chemnitz (dpa / sn) – Identify meadow flowers, watch bats hunting, read traces of wild animals in the forest: Hundreds of children and young people are involved as young nature guardians in Saxony. And according to experts, the lockdown during the corona pandemic has increased the trend towards leisure activities in nature. There are currently 50 such nature guard groups in Saxony with around 750 young people, as the State Foundation for Nature and Environment informed the German Press Agency at the request of the German Press Agency. On this Saturday they invite you to a Saxony-wide day of action with taster offers at numerous locations.
According to a federal study, young people’s interest in nature is growing. In a representative survey of 14 to 17-year-olds, more than half said that nature had become more important to them during the Corona crisis. Just as many stated that they were now more often outside in nature. And many want to get to know animals and plants better: Around 60 percent of young people would like to know the names of animal and plant species.
The Junge Naturwächter (JuNa) program for people between the ages of 7 and 18 has officially existed in the Free State since 2017. The aim is to attract young people to nature conservation, explained Andrea Gößl from the state foundation. A program with basic courses and practical modules was developed for this purpose. “Most JuNas are looking for a meaningful leisure activity outdoors in nature, where they can do something good for nature and the environment with their hands.” That is also a compensation for hours of sitting and listening in school.
According to Gößl, modern media also play a role in the training of the young generation of conservationists, such as apps for identifying plants and animals. Such apps are valuable tools, also for documenting observations. However, the young people learned to question the results critically – for example with the help of analog means of determination, she emphasized. In addition, it is about joint activities such as clearing ponds, building amphibian fences and insect hotels or identifying birds.
Environment Minister Wolfram Günther (Greens) praised the work of the young nature guards. They did an important job for the preservation of biodiversity and habitats. To get to know and understand nature and to exchange ideas about it is one of the most appealing and interesting things that children and young people could do, explained Günther.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210703-99-244297 / 2
Source: DPA
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