Citizens — Bees — Biodiversity: Commitment with added value

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Citizens — Bees — Biodiversity (BBB) builds on the experiences of the project “Blühendes Bodenseeland”. The project has shown that with the help of the volunteer “flower ambassadors” trained in the project, various measures can be initiated to improve the living conditions of flower-visiting insects and that the commitment of the flower ambassadors has a high potential for mobilisation for further civic engagement: Flower-seeking insects are sympathetic bearers and at the latest with the reporting on bee death, a high need for tendering is established in the awareness of the general population. The commitment of the flower ambassadors focuses on the implementation of measures in the immediate living environment, especially in the settlement area: the installation of nesting aids or the installation of flowering areas in the public or private sector give the feeling of pragmatic effectiveness of one’s own commitment and the measures often have an added value beyond ecological appreciation (flower aspects). BBB further expands the approach of Blüh Ambassadors. For this purpose, further flower ambassadors are to be educated and in specialisation modules the (new and existing) flower ambassadors can acquire knowledge for their commitment in specific areas (e.g. agriculture, green roofs, pedagogy or companies). The important goal is to establish a stable network of flower ambassadors to promote exchange, motivation and public relations (including network meetings, newsletters, intranet, web portal, knowledge pool and information exchange). Furthermore, BBB wants to offer flower ambassadors support to initiate measures to protect flower-visiting insects. Thus, low-threshold applications (e.g. by passing on their own experiences to garden owners within the framework of “flower days”) are to be created. Flower ambassadors will be included as much as possible in all project components: Children are enthusiastic about bee, butterfly & co on at least 60 short-term environmental education activities. At least six educational institutions are implemented together with children and pedagogical staff (e.g. construction of insect hotels, planting of flowering areas, planting hedges). The experience of these pedagogical activities is passed on via an information package and multiplier training. By initiating so-called “bee deals”, as many actors within a municipality should agree to implement their own activities to promote flower-visiting insects. In an extensive practical course, knowledge and experience on green roofs will be taught, the installation of at least three green roofs as instigation projects is to be initiated. Under the slogan “Business for Bees”, companies in the sense of corporate citizenship are encouraged to civic engagement for flower-seeking insects and initiate corresponding implementation measures on company premises. The specialist as well as the general public will be informed about the topics and activities of the project (e.g. Internet portal, flower ambassador congresses, dialogue events with beekeepers and farmers, press work).

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