Changemaker #nature: Öko Campus Wien brings biodiversity to the Altes AKH university campus

The „Aufblühen – Biodiverser Campus Uni Wien“ project aims to increase the diversity of plants, insects and vertebrates on the University Campus Altes AKH and safeguard urban habitats. It also aims to raise awareness of biodiversity and encourage people to take action. "We are delighted that more life is returning to the university campus with the support of the Austrian Biodiversity Fund. This area is a place of encounter and knowledge transfer. This is exactly what biodiversity needs: to be seen and felt and to be aware of the need to preserve biodiversity. Because diversity is the basis of our existence and a provision for the future," emphasizes Gabriele Obermayr, overall coordinator of the Austrian Biodiversity Fund at the Ministry of Climate Protection. "Aufblühen" is supported by Blühendes Österreich and the Biodiversity Fund with a total of almost €10,000 as part of Changemaker #nature.

The Öko Campus Wien association aims to pass on knowledge about biodiversity and practical nature conservation skills to students, university members, young participants in the children's university, local residents and all other interested parties. The aim is to achieve an impact beyond the boundaries of the campus and encourage visitors to contribute to the protection of biodiversity on their own doorstep. "Urban nature has so much potential: the campus is an important local recreation area and biodiversity area in one - we want to exploit this potential and take concrete measures to improve the habitat for species that live here. The aim is to draw attention to the inconspicuous. Here on campus, we can reach a broad public and create awareness and improvements for urban, local biodiversity," emphasize Thomas Holzer and Isa Klebinger, who planted the hedge on campus together with Andrea, Julian, Judith, Kristina, Dylan, Alex and Simon.

Protecting urban biodiversity together

When you think of nature, the first things that come to mind are colorful meadows and forests in a rural setting. However, the Öko Campus Wien project is about addressing and preserving urban biodiversity in the heart of Vienna and having a positive impact on the local species community. BILLA wholeheartedly supports this approach, as Sales Director Hamed Mohseni emphasizes: "The project "Aufblühen! - Biodiverse Campus University of Vienna" combines nature and awareness raising to sustainably protect and promote the local species community. As a sponsor of Changemaker #nature by Blühendes Österreich, it is a matter close to our hearts at BILLA to encourage young people to get involved in biodiversity and climate protection. We support the project to raise awareness of biodiversity and promote the diversity of plants, insects and vertebrates on the Vienna campus. Together, we are pursuing the goal of protecting and preserving local biodiversity and raising awareness of species conservation in the heart of the city of Vienna."

Öko Campus Wien creates near-natural habitats with flowering areas, natural hedges and deadwood and protects endangered species that occur in the city and are particularly sensitive to anthropogenic influences, such as various bat species. Interactive nature education tailored to different target groups, scythe mowing and high-profile events and maintenance work in the middle of the city are also planned.

"Many different interests come together on campus - Öko Campus Wien ensures that local biodiversity is not neglected. The project brings nature conservation interests into the design of this versatile public green space in Vienna. I am delighted that we are able to support such a valuable initiative by young people with Changemaker #nature," says Ronald Würflinger, Secretary General of Blühendes Österreich.

Protected animals & plants

Semi-arid grasslands and so-called "Gstettn" are part of the project area. There are also many valuable open soils in the area where insects breed. The following flora and fauna benefit from the measures:

• Plants: scabious knapweed, spring hungerflower, common viper's bugloss, common thistle and many other native wild perennials

• Insects: Hoverflies, grasshoppers, wild bees, butterflies, beetles and much more.

• Bats: alpine bat, bicolored bat, white-edged bat, greater noctule bat, broad-winged bat, hoary bat

• Reptiles: Aesculapian snake

Join in & spread the word

Anyone can support the Öko Campus Wien association and the Aufblühen project by taking part in maintenance activities and workshops directly on site. You can also become a member of the association and/or make a financial contribution with donations.

By young people for young people

Changemaker #nature is providing a total of 300,000 euros for biodiversity projects, which will be awarded in three calls in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Young people are actively involved in the selection process: the honorary jury consists exclusively of people aged 14 to 27. In addition, the funded project partners are supported by experts with coaching and mentoring. Changemaker #nature brings together young actors from rural and urban areas. By integrating and involving young people, the initiative also supports diversity of opinion and contributes to education about democratic processes. The winners not only receive financial support, but are also supported with workshops, network meetings and media work as part of the Changemaker #nature Academy.

Changemaker #nature is supported by the Biodiversity Fund of the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology.

***About Blühendes Österreich - BILLA non-profit private foundation***

The BILLA Foundation Blühendes Österreich is committed to nature conservation and biodiversity in Austria. The foundation is a non-profit organization that is on the list of charitable organizations. Partner and co-founder of Blühendes Österreich is the bird conservation organization BirdLife Austria. Since 2015, Blühendes Österreich has been supporting around 300 farmers, nature conservation organizations, municipalities, NGOs and civil society initiatives that protect our habitats, animals and plants through responsible agriculture and valuable nature conservation projects. To date, 1,100 hectares of valuable biotopes have already been protected. The website bluehendesoesterreich.at is the strongest digital platform for nature tourism and nature content. In the nature experience portal, Blühendes Österreich bundles around 100 organizations with thousands of nature events per year. The citizen science app "Schmetterlinge Österreichs" is one of the largest nature observation apps in the German-speaking world with over 50,000 downloads and the corresponding desktop version. https://www.bluehendesoesterreich.at/

 
***About Öko Campus Wien***

Since 2021, the Öko Campus Wien association has been developing various measures to protect the campus and beyond:

• Bird nesting boxes (self-built)

• Mowing adjustments and scythe mowing

• Bat protection, wild bee protection

• Habitat protection

• Habitat architecture on campus for bats, owls and swifts

• Monitoring, inspections, mapping, surveys

• Educational formats and workshops

• Citizen science offers and research

• Political work on the topic of biodiversity

• Biodiversity mainstreaming approaches

• Projects on the topic of art and ecology

The focus is on promoting local biodiversity, and political work is also carried out on the topics in committees, for example in the Biodiversity Working Group of the Alliance of Sustainable Universities and the Biodiversity Working Group of the University of Vienna. The Öko Campus Wien association is also a member of the University Initiatives for Biodiversity (HIB) network. Since 2023, the work of the Öko Campus Wien association has also been researched as a case study in an EU-wide project: Co-creating Biodiversity in Urban Areas. As part of research and biodiversity promotion, the association enters into various collaborations with other people and institutions in order to achieve its goals: University of Vienna, CampusXsus, Natural History Museum Vienna, Med Uni Vienna, KFFÖ (Bat Life Europe), Gartenpolylog, Nature Friends Internationale, Carla Lo, ÖH Uni Vienna, to name just a few partners.

Links to Öko Campus Wien

Homepage: https://oekocampuswien.com/aktuelles/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oekocampuswien/

Discover the campus with us: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/oeko-campus-wien