Entry #10: Bavarian Forest National Park Junior Rangers and their Information Desks about the capercaillie

Organisation: Junior Ranger Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald e.V. 

Website: http://www.junior-ranger.com/junior-rangers/

Dates: all year

Place: different places in- and outside our protected area, international (e.g. Poland, Czech Republic, etc.)

Description of the activity:

At our information desks we have several different ways of sharing the information about the capercaillie with the visitors. We have maps, showing the habitat of the capercaillie, stuffed capercaillies to present their features, a phone and a speaker box to present the sounds the animals make. Additionally we use kinetic sand and a stamp that is fashioned after the footprint of a capercaillie to teach people how to recognise the footprints they find in the park.

What was the environmental problem:

The capercaillie is an endangered species (red list species) in our protected area. Unfortunately, not many people know about how sensitive they react to disturbance. Especially in winter, this lack of information can lead to numerous dead capercaillies. Through this information desks we try to raise awareness among cross-country skiers and hikers so they stay out of the animal’s habitat.

The result of the activity:

We succeeded in raising awareness and as a result of the many information desks that we have throughout the year less hikers and cross-country skiers leave the trails. This leads to considerably less disturbance for the animals.

Environmental challenge accepted - Public vote

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