1 01:00:11,167 --> 01:00:12,867 FINN AND THE EU 2 01:00:13,000 --> 01:00:15,967 THE EU AND CONSERVATION - WITH JUNIOR RANGERS AT GÜLPER SEE \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N 3 01:00:16,100 --> 01:00:18,567 Hello. We are Helena, Matilda and Karla. 4 01:00:18,700 --> 01:00:22,667 Today we're in the nature reserve at the Gülper See lake in Brandenburg. 5 01:00:23,700 --> 01:00:27,533 We'll be interviewing the Junior Rangers of the Westhavelland Nature Park. 6 01:00:27,667 --> 01:00:31,167 We'll be speaking to them about conservation in Europe. 7 01:00:31,300 --> 01:00:32,300 Come on! 8 01:00:44,367 --> 01:00:48,600 The nature reserve at Gülper See attracts birds like a magnet. 9 01:00:48,733 --> 01:00:52,133 Up to 100,000 birds stop off here on their journeys. 10 01:00:52,967 --> 01:00:55,867 Or they live and breed here throughout the year. 11 01:00:58,200 --> 01:01:00,767 We're meeting the Junior Rangers in the car park. 12 01:01:02,033 --> 01:01:03,633 They make sure that all is well 13 01:01:03,767 --> 01:01:06,500 with the wildlife and plants in the nature reserve. 14 01:01:06,633 --> 01:01:10,700 Junior Rangers are sort of the next generation of adult rangers. 15 01:01:10,833 --> 01:01:13,133 Rangers belong to the Ranger Association, 16 01:01:13,267 --> 01:01:15,367 so they look after nature. 17 01:01:19,767 --> 01:01:23,533 An important job of the Ranger Association is observing birds. 18 01:01:25,867 --> 01:01:28,167 Because Gülper See is closed to the public, 19 01:01:28,300 --> 01:01:31,133 the Junior Rangers take us to the observation tower. 20 01:01:35,000 --> 01:01:38,800 From here we have the best view in the whole nature reserve. 21 01:01:39,833 --> 01:01:42,233 Recognising birds from this distance 22 01:01:42,367 --> 01:01:45,067 is not at all easy in spite of the great view. 23 01:01:47,667 --> 01:01:51,567 But the Junior Rangers are really well equipped and know their way around. 24 01:01:52,733 --> 01:01:55,600 That's a bunch of greylag geese. \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N 25 01:01:55,733 --> 01:01:57,900 They swim around in the water \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N 26 01:01:58,033 --> 01:02:01,100 and then dive down to get some algae or whatever. \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N 27 01:02:04,200 --> 01:02:08,500 The white ones must be ducks. 28 01:02:08,633 --> 01:02:12,033 But most of them are probably greylag geese. 29 01:02:12,167 --> 01:02:15,167 So, they'll probably be greylag geese. 30 01:02:17,567 --> 01:02:20,167 To identify birds correctly requires practice. 31 01:02:21,167 --> 01:02:25,367 The rangers often figure out together what is the correct species of bird. 32 01:02:26,567 --> 01:02:30,233 Heike Rothe is in charge of the Junior Rangers in Westhavelland. \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N 33 01:02:31,367 --> 01:02:32,700 We asked Heike \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N 34 01:02:32,833 --> 01:02:36,467 what Gülper See in Brandenburg actually has to do with the EU. \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N 35 01:02:37,567 --> 01:02:40,533 Throughout Europe there is a network of protected areas 36 01:02:40,667 --> 01:02:43,600 which is called "Natura 2000". 37 01:02:43,733 --> 01:02:46,100 Throughout Europe, whether it's Germany 38 01:02:46,233 --> 01:02:49,633 or Belgium, France, Spain and so on, 39 01:02:49,767 --> 01:02:51,967 there are protected areas 40 01:02:52,100 --> 01:02:56,500 that have been designated for different wildlife species or habitats. 41 01:02:56,633 --> 01:03:00,933 For example, here we are at Gülper See in a European protected area. 42 01:03:01,067 --> 01:03:04,000 This is because of its significance for birdlife. 43 01:03:04,133 --> 01:03:06,567 So, it's very important for Europe. 44 01:03:06,700 --> 01:03:08,733 For all migratory birds, for example, 45 01:03:08,867 --> 01:03:12,433 which come this way or stop off here in spring and summer. 46 01:03:15,200 --> 01:03:19,600 The rangers set up a particularly good telescope, a so-called spotting scope. 47 01:03:20,633 --> 01:03:23,767 With this they can not only observe the many birds better, 48 01:03:23,900 --> 01:03:25,667 but also count them better. 49 01:03:25,800 --> 01:03:29,200 This is actually an important job of the Ranger Association. 50 01:03:30,233 --> 01:03:34,433 The protection of migratory birds requires more than one country. 51 01:03:34,567 --> 01:03:37,700 And Heike explained to us why that's the case. 52 01:03:37,833 --> 01:03:42,033 Are migratory birds a good example of European conservation? 53 01:03:42,167 --> 01:03:43,900 And if so, why? 54 01:03:44,033 --> 01:03:45,867 Birds don't recognise borders. 55 01:03:46,000 --> 01:03:49,800 Some breed in the far north, 56 01:03:49,933 --> 01:03:54,367 Siberia, on the tundra, or also in Sweden, Norway. 57 01:03:54,500 --> 01:03:58,933 For example, Norwegian geese, bean geese or greater white-fronted geese. 58 01:03:59,067 --> 01:04:03,467 They breed there and are now our guests here at the moment, 59 01:04:03,600 --> 01:04:06,733 and sometimes they then fly on towards Holland. 60 01:04:06,867 --> 01:04:10,000 There are no barriers or whatever anywhere. 61 01:04:10,133 --> 01:04:11,733 They just fly over there. 62 01:04:12,633 --> 01:04:17,000 Then here we see the stork, which is a classic example. 63 01:04:17,133 --> 01:04:20,933 It breeds here with us in summer, more or less, from April. 64 01:04:21,900 --> 01:04:25,333 And after breeding it flies off towards Africa 65 01:04:25,467 --> 01:04:28,167 and thus flies over half of Europe. 66 01:04:28,300 --> 01:04:30,633 Do they stand in the water or do they swim? 67 01:04:30,767 --> 01:04:32,300 They swim. 68 01:04:32,433 --> 01:04:35,133 It's a shallow lake which is just 2.5 metres deep 69 01:04:35,267 --> 01:04:37,767 at its deepest point, and also rather muddy. 70 01:04:37,900 --> 01:04:40,233 We also looked through the spotting scope. 71 01:04:40,367 --> 01:04:42,600 And film reporter Helena was able to help 72 01:04:42,733 --> 01:04:44,867 with the official counting of the birds. 73 01:04:45,000 --> 01:04:46,500 Like the older rangers. 74 01:04:48,167 --> 01:04:52,967 So, Helena, you'll count them all up now. 75 01:04:53,100 --> 01:04:55,300 So, you see that strip of land? 76 01:04:55,433 --> 01:04:59,967 You keep looking through the spotting scope at one species. 77 01:05:00,100 --> 01:05:04,067 You count one species after another until you've recorded all the species. 78 01:05:04,200 --> 01:05:08,233 I've just counted the cormorants. There were 250. You can write that down. 79 01:05:09,500 --> 01:05:11,833 Why is there a line here for "weather"? 80 01:05:12,967 --> 01:05:15,800 Yes, you always have to write down what the weather is, 81 01:05:15,933 --> 01:05:18,900 so that you know what the conditions were like on the day. 82 01:05:19,033 --> 01:05:23,633 So, if the weather was good and therefore there were more birds here, 83 01:05:23,767 --> 01:05:25,967 or fewer because the weather was bad. 84 01:05:26,100 --> 01:05:27,967 Ah, yes, I understand. 85 01:05:28,333 --> 01:05:32,200 Only if counting is done in the same way throughout Europe 86 01:05:32,333 --> 01:05:35,100 do we really know how well a species is doing. 87 01:05:35,233 --> 01:05:40,133 To make sure this works, the EU has established specific guidelines. 88 01:05:40,933 --> 01:05:43,000 What requirements has the EU set? 89 01:05:43,833 --> 01:05:49,067 Every six years, countries must report on stork numbers, for example. 90 01:05:49,200 --> 01:05:50,900 Have they risen or declined? 91 01:05:51,033 --> 01:05:53,633 It's exactly the same for beavers, otters, 92 01:05:53,767 --> 01:05:55,933 for all rare species, for wolves. 93 01:05:56,067 --> 01:05:59,500 People like us then have a period of six years 94 01:05:59,633 --> 01:06:04,433 to see how many breeding pairs of stork or crane there are. 95 01:06:04,567 --> 01:06:08,300 After so much bird-counting we've earned the right to a snack. 96 01:06:09,433 --> 01:06:11,233 At a picnic by the old mill 97 01:06:11,367 --> 01:06:15,133 we speak to the other children about life as a Junior Ranger. 98 01:06:17,133 --> 01:06:21,067 What do you find particularly good about your work as a Junior Ranger? 99 01:06:22,333 --> 01:06:27,433 What I find cool about working as a Junior Ranger \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N \N 100 01:06:28,233 --> 01:06:32,467 is that you're doing something in nature and you're outdoors. 101 01:06:32,600 --> 01:06:39,167 You're learning more about nature and also getting to see more wildlife. 102 01:06:39,300 --> 01:06:43,033 You're helping to protect nature, 103 01:06:43,167 --> 01:06:46,200 so trees and plants as well. 104 01:06:46,333 --> 01:06:47,767 And wildlife too. 105 01:06:49,033 --> 01:06:52,100 For example, those that are threatened with extinction. 106 01:06:52,233 --> 01:06:55,100 And we also usually meet 107 01:06:55,233 --> 01:06:59,667 once a year in Parey. 108 01:06:59,800 --> 01:07:02,667 They have a kind of stork camp there, 109 01:07:02,800 --> 01:07:06,167 and then we get around in any kind of vehicle. 110 01:07:06,300 --> 01:07:10,167 Then the storks are ringed. We're always allowed to join in. 111 01:07:10,667 --> 01:07:15,167 Or almost always, and I just think that's cool as well. 112 01:07:15,600 --> 01:07:18,567 Last winter 113 01:07:18,700 --> 01:07:25,233 we put some food in coconut shells 114 01:07:25,367 --> 01:07:28,200 for the birds. 115 01:07:28,333 --> 01:07:35,067 We mixed bird food together with coconut oil, 116 01:07:35,200 --> 01:07:39,133 so that the birds have something to eat in winter. 117 01:07:39,267 --> 01:07:42,433 And then we also cleaned their nest boxes. 118 01:07:42,567 --> 01:07:45,667 And in spring we always have a protective fence 119 01:07:45,800 --> 01:07:47,500 for amphibians in Parey. 120 01:07:47,633 --> 01:07:49,633 There's a major highway there. 121 01:07:49,767 --> 01:07:52,567 And so that frogs don't get run over, 122 01:07:52,700 --> 01:07:55,600 if they want to get from one side to the other, 123 01:07:55,733 --> 01:07:57,300 we have this fence. 124 01:07:57,433 --> 01:07:59,800 Buckets are dug into the ground. 125 01:07:59,933 --> 01:08:02,600 They have to be checked every morning 126 01:08:02,733 --> 01:08:04,867 to see if any frogs have fallen in. 127 01:08:05,533 --> 01:08:09,967 And we also check that as a group once a month. 128 01:08:10,100 --> 01:08:13,233 Conservation is a wonderful thing, 129 01:08:13,367 --> 01:08:17,033 because otherwise some wildlife species that are threatened 130 01:08:17,167 --> 01:08:20,533 will soon no longer be able to exist. 131 01:08:20,667 --> 01:08:24,633 And then we will no longer be able to eat some products 132 01:08:24,767 --> 01:08:29,467 like honey from the honey bee, for example, or apples or pears. 133 01:08:30,900 --> 01:08:34,367 If you just see what your work, 134 01:08:34,500 --> 01:08:36,200 your conservation work, 135 01:08:36,333 --> 01:08:38,600 means for wildlife, 136 01:08:38,733 --> 01:08:40,667 and what you then get as a result. 137 01:08:40,800 --> 01:08:43,367 How do I become a Junior Ranger? 138 01:08:44,333 --> 01:08:51,333 You can become a Junior Ranger if you call the leader of the group 139 01:08:51,467 --> 01:08:56,200 and ask if you can get involved, if there are any free places. 140 01:08:56,333 --> 01:09:02,000 And then you just go along to the next meeting 141 01:09:02,133 --> 01:09:03,800 and you just join in. 142 01:09:06,200 --> 01:09:10,433 How can children, who are not Junior Rangers, protect nature? 143 01:09:10,567 --> 01:09:15,200 Things like picking up rubbish, or for other wildlife... 144 01:09:15,333 --> 01:09:19,333 or creating a bee meadow especially for bees, for example. 145 01:09:19,467 --> 01:09:22,900 Planting trees as well, for example. 146 01:09:23,033 --> 01:09:27,167 Walking more, cycling and using public transport, 147 01:09:27,300 --> 01:09:30,467 definitely using the car less. 148 01:09:30,600 --> 01:09:33,033 You can also do your bit 149 01:09:33,167 --> 01:09:36,833 by creating sand patches 150 01:09:36,967 --> 01:09:39,100 or building stone walls. 151 01:09:39,233 --> 01:09:42,733 Or by not always having your garden spick-and-span 152 01:09:42,867 --> 01:09:46,267 or mowing your lawn to the exact millimetre. 153 01:09:46,400 --> 01:09:50,800 If it's not kept that tidy and instead is a bit disorderly, 154 01:09:50,933 --> 01:09:53,700 it is also better for wildlife. 155 01:09:53,833 --> 01:09:58,233 Or you can create a woodpile for wildlife to hide in. 156 01:09:58,367 --> 01:10:03,800 You should also follow the signs and rules here. 157 01:10:03,933 --> 01:10:07,633 So, don't go swimming, stick to the paths 158 01:10:07,767 --> 01:10:09,900 and don't run across the meadows. 159 01:10:10,033 --> 01:10:13,333 And don't let dogs run around freely either, 160 01:10:13,467 --> 01:10:18,600 because they chase away other creatures which don't then come back. 161 01:10:18,733 --> 01:10:21,300 That would be a pity for the area around the lake. 162 01:10:23,500 --> 01:10:25,967 That's the interview over now. 163 01:10:26,100 --> 01:10:29,067 Thank you for answering all our questions. 164 01:10:37,100 --> 01:10:39,800 FINN AND THE EU