From 14 to 20 April, around 38,000 young members of the Austrian Fire Service Youth will transform the country into a colourful bee paradise - with one important goal: to preserve biodiversity and protect against natural disasters.
Seeds that create life
Each participant receives a packet of conservation seed, which is enough for 2 square metres of flowering area. This adds up to over 70,000 m² of new bee pasture - an ecological powerhouse! In addition, each youth fire brigade group can choose from five creative nature projects such as building nesting aids, a bee drinking trough or a visit to a local beekeeper. The groups are supported with an activity manual, explanatory videos and an online quiz.
Flowering areas against floods and drought
What does this have to do with disaster prevention? Quite a lot.
"Earthworms loosen the soil, improve water retention and thus actively contribute to mitigating natural disasters such as floods or extreme droughts,"
explains BeeWild initiator Manfred Hohensinner. Bee pastures promote precisely these soil animals - by a factor of three to four! This not only creates habitats for insects, but also healthy soils that are better able to absorb and store water.
Award for creativity
In addition to the ecological impact, the project week also offers an incentive for creative realisation: videos and photos of the activities can be posted under the hashtags #beewild, #seidabei, #feuerwehrjugend and #naturschutzistcool. The best projects will be honoured - first in the federal states, then throughout Austria. The award ceremony for the Fire Service Youth Week will take place on 23 August 2025 at the big Fire Service Youth Competition in Weiz - together with the sporting awards for the best youth groups.
Weiz as the venue for the kick-off and conclusion
At the start of the project, an initial area of 250 m² was sown in Weiz - with the support of BeeWild biologist Kathrin Grobbauer, Mayor Ingo Reisinger and committed fire brigade officials.
"I am delighted that we have been able to sow the first square metres of bee pasture in the town of Weiz for the Austrian Fire Service Youth Week,"
said Reisinger.
#schongenial when thousands of young people work together to protect nature and prevent disasters.
