Wherever we gaze, natural habitat is vanishing. All of us are aware of the tragic destruction of rain forest, which not only creates, but also compounds global warming, as earth’s green lung is no longer available to inhale thermogenic carbon dioxide in the wonderful process of photosynthesis, which happens to exhale oxygen as an afterthought, in a way. Wetlands, on which countless animals and plants depend, are a second crucial environment that is disappearing at a dizzying pace. In the face of these losses, resignation, if not despair, is an understandable reaction. Fortunately, any restoration of life-giving spheres also restores a little glimmer of hope.
I have been heartened to learn of the success of several such projects during my previous sojourns in Germany. My roots lie in Rheinhessen, a region dominated by the Rhine River, as the name implies. Not far from the Rohrwiesen near the small town of Rheindürkheim (the topic of a previous post) lies a second sanctuary, called Eich-Gimbsheimer Altrhein (literally Old Rhine). A meandering stream for millennia, the Rhine was straightened in the 1820s, which left most of its loops to their own devices. Many dried up, but some, like the body of water in question, received sufficient quantities of water from the ground or skies, aided by occasional flooding of the stream. These inundations were subsequently prevented by the construction of a dam, and the marshes were drained and converted into arable land. The ground water level dropped further when wells were drilled to extract drinking water.
Happily, multi-pronged efforts in recent decades transformed the Old Rhine arm into a lake, and resurrected the adjacent wetlands. The 667 hectare area of this nature preserve forms part of the Natura 2000 network, an EU initiative that has as its goal the protection of threatened habitat, with its attendant plant and animal species. While it represents but a minuscule sliver of the surface of the earth, it has resulted in the flourishing of the local flora and fauna, and the provision of a way station for migratory birds. A 3.7 mile loop with several observation huts and towers circles and transects the parcel and affords glimpses of the Altrheinsee (Old Rhine Lake), of several water-filled gravel pits, of wetlands, of small pockets of swamp forest, and of the surrounding agricultural fields.
Because all my visits have happened in late autumn, I have yet to witness the full spectrum of vibrant life, and look forward to experiencing it in springtime. As modest as this haven might be, it nevertheless serves as an example of how we can save our planet, one baby step at a time.
To enlarge a photo, click on it. To read its caption, hover the cursor over it.
Click here for the German version/bitte hier für die deutsche Version klicken:
https://tanjaschimmel.wordpress.com/2018/12/11/zuruck-zur-natur/
Wetlands are prone to destruction and environmental disasters. Nice to read about Eich-Gimbsheimer Altrhein. Looks like it’s become a beautiful lake.
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Thank you, Otto. When these kinds of natural enclaves thrive, they hold so much life and hope.
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What a place. I found the tree fungus fascinating!
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Thank you, Valerie. I am always amazed by the variety and adaptability of plants and animals. Something or somebody will grow somewhere. 😊
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That looks like a really great place!
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‘exhale oxygen as an afterthought…’
great stuff!
Bring on the spring.
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Absolutely, bring it on! Thank you, Nick, as always.
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It looks beautiful and so peaceful there!
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I think so, too, and I can’t wait to go back there.
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In my opinion, human overpopulation is the biggest reason for many daunting problems. All of these people put incredible stress on resources, and cause enormous amounts of pollution. When I was a kid there were three billion people in the world. Now there are over seven billion.
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I agree with you, Neil, but we don’t seem to be willing or able to address the problem of overpopulation. So meanwhile, we HAVE to do something to keep the earth livable for all creatures.
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Did you see the photos of the Mandarin duck in Central Park, Tanja? Have you see one in real life?
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Hi Nirmala. The duck at Central Park made even the international news, Nirmala, as I learned from some German bloggers. I saw the news reports, too. Unfortunately, I have not yet seen one in real life, but hope to remedy this situation one of these days.
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Lovely post, Tanja. I love seeing or hearing about thriving wetlands. It’s pretty cool that humans choose to build them sometimes (sad when they choose to destroy way too many). City wetlands are magical places; I’m always amazed by the variety of birds they attract. 🙂
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Thank you, Myriam. It is truly inspiring to see how quickly birds find new habitat and how adaptable they are (or have to be, if they are to survive). Whatever little space we leave them, they will find and fill with their lovely presence. Thank goodness! 😊
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I guess they see new welcoming spaces when they fly overhead. Or maybe they hear about them from bird friends. Me too, I’m so glad they find these spaces! 🙂
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It is fascinating to ponder HOW they find out. There are still so many things we don’t know.
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So nice to see Nature getting back to being what it does best….being Nature. Wonderful place, Tanja, one I would much enjoy! 🙂
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I am sure you would feel right at home, there, Donna, though I doubt you would get to observe an osprey family longitudinally. 🙂
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😉
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It’s great to see some positive news regarding nature! What a beautiful place. I hope it will be protected for a long, long time.
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Thank you, Takami. Similar successful endeavors exist globally, and I hope that they will only grow.
Best wishes,
Tanja
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appreciate your effort , “save nature , save water , save life “
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Gorgeous pictures!
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Thank you, Diane. I appreciate your visit and comment.
Best,
Tanja
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It would be good indeed if your next visit is in the spring so you can report on any wildflowers that have spring up in the preserve.
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I plan to, and really hope it will work out. One of the information kiosks mentioned that some previously rare or even threatened species had reestablished themselves.
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Hooray for reestablishment. When I was a kid, the longest word in English was reputed to be antidisestablishmentarianism. Now, with respect to your preserve and others, we have to hope there’s no antireestablishmentarianism.
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I like it, Steve. If it is not a word, it should be one. My husband has always liked the fact that in German one could theoretically keep adding nouns and create one looooong compound word, but I think there are limits.
But you are right, we do not want antireestablishmentarianism.
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With respect to long German words:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/10095976/Germany-drops-its-longest-word-Rindfleischeti….html
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That link doesn’t seem to work. Try this one:
https://tinyurl.com/ybzpvndz
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Thank you for the link to this very interesting and entertaining article, Steve. I had missed the Rindfleisch… word, but am familar with the Donau… word. It is fun to create long compound nouns, I have to admit.
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Your photos are amazing!
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I am glad you like them. Thank you very much.
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Love these pictures and the serenity it conjures. Here too, the barn swallows who visit, have come to South Africa to find buildings in the place of their original reed homes. I see them closer to my home this year, as they have no place to go. 😔
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I would love to visit your home country one of these days, Kavitha, and see the swallows that fly all the way between Europe and South Africa. Amazing creatures, and I hope we humans will realize that we need them to survive, if we want to do the same.
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Amazing swallows.
I was so saddened.
People are so selfish.
They take but dont give back to Nature. 😒
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I loved pictures with every post, they are beautiful!!
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Tanja – An enjoyable and interesting post. I am happy to hear about projects like this and that they are a success. Your photos are quite beautiful. I hope that you get to visit it in spring. I am looking forward to more wonderful images! -Jill
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Thank goodness the news is not all bad, Jill. I also hope to make it back there this year, to see what it looks like when nature is out in full force. I do like some aspects of winter, but spring is my favorite season.
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Will look forward to that post and photos! 🙂
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