Conservationists help local authorities to maintain bodies of water

The German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) wants to help municipalities in the lignite regions affected by structural change to maintain their watercourses. The association announced in Chemnitz on Thursday that the "Living Banks" project will support them in meeting EU requirements until autumn 2026. According to the European Water Framework Directive, all bodies of water should be in good condition by 2027. According to BUND, this currently applies to just seven percent of Saxony's water bodies.

"The project focuses on the near-natural development of small rivers and streams, for the maintenance of which the municipalities are responsible. The consolidation of agricultural land in the 1950s and 1960s turned many watercourses into linear ditches free of woody vegetation. They transport water quickly out of the landscape like highways and hardly fulfill any ecological function," it said. BUND is planning various events on this topic and also offers training courses. Using software, local authorities will also be able to independently plan the development of their watercourses.

Seminars will also focus on the natural reinforcement and planting of banks. The resulting riparian trees and shrubs have a cooling, protective effect on the watercourse and its surroundings. This could prevent streams from overheating or drying out. Riparian trees and shrubs would also reduce inputs of pesticides and fertilizers, for example. Near-natural streams are not only important habitats for many plant and animal species. They also improve water retention during heavy rainfall and are used for local recreation.

"We are delighted to support municipalities in regions undergoing structural change in upgrading water bodies with this new project. The financial situation of local authorities is sometimes strained, but the renaturation of water bodies is more urgent than ever," emphasized Almut Gaisbauer, Co-Managing Director of BUND Saxony. The project is specifically intended for municipalities in the districts of Leipzig, North Saxony, Görlitz and Bautzen as well as for the city of Leipzig.