Nature conservation in the city

CODE: ijgd 16007

Work:

Nature conservation in the city? You might think that there is no room for nature in the city between concrete and tarmac. But if you take a closer look, you are often amazed at what lives there. Where people work, dwell and live, small nature conservation gems are hidden.
Forests located directly in and around cities have a special role to play. Not only do they serve as green lungs for the city, they are also heavily used by visitors who come there to relax. Climate change, storms, beetles and drought are changing the face of the forest. To continue creating good conditions for the future, you will help the team from the Environment Department in Gifhorn to implement environmental protection measures in the district forest. The aim is to avoid damaging the soil with large machines. Working hand in hand, you will remove tree species such as spruce and black cherry, which leave no room for oak trees.

You will then plant young oak trees and build fences to protect the plants from animals (especially deer). To improve the water balance in the forest, a ditch will also be filled in so that valuable water can no longer simply flow out of the forest unused. The rivers that flow through the urban area are also special habitats that are very important for biotope networking. Unfortunately, flooding and careless people mean that rubbish repeatedly ends up in the water, which can also be dangerous for other areas. So, into the boats! One day, you will remove rubbish from the water and embankments along the river. Staff from the Environment Department will supervise and assist you in this work. Your programme will also include an information day about wildlife in near-natural watercourses and a discovery tour into the hidden world of bats.

Accomodation and food

You will stay at the youth hostel in the city center, which has shared bedrooms, a group room, and a well-equipped kitchen. Right next door, the neighboring youth center “Die Grille” offers leisure activities such as an internet café and table soccer, cozy seating areas, and a beautiful outdoor area for relaxing. Shopping facilities are just a few minutes' walk away.

You will cook together. Money for food will be provided. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please state any intolerances during registration.

Location and leisure

A playground and a football pitch are available directly on site. The surrounding area invites you to go hiking, cycling and canoeing. You can meet young people at the youth centre and spend time there at events and concerts in the evenings. Other leisure activities are swimming, bowling or canoeing. The mill museum and the castle museum are well worth a visit. On Fridays there are sports activities such as football and climbing in the neighbouring sports hall. At the weekend, it is worth visiting the ‘Gifhorn International’ cultural festival on 12 September in the town centre and taking a trip to Hanover, Wolfsburg or Braunschweig.

https://www.landkreis-gifhorn.de/Unser-Landkreis/Freizeit-und-Tourismus/
https://www.visit-hannover.com/
https://www.wolfsburg-erleben.de/en/discover-wolfsburg/sights-experiences/experiences-a-z
https://www.hanse.org/en/tourist/braunschweig

Project hosted by

The ijgd has been organising volunteer service programmes since 1949. We are an independent, non-profit association for international youth work, a recognised independent youth welfare organisation, and one of the largest and oldest workcamp organisations in Germany. Each year, we assist around 5,000 young people into volunteer work in Germany and abroad. We give them the opportunity to be creative, act in solidarity, take responsibility for themselves, and discover their own true potential and strengths. Our principles Ecological learning, voluntary contribution, self-organisation, social development, intercultural learning, gender equality, anti-racism/anti-discrimination and political education.
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Project hosts are the Department of Environment and Department of youth work of the District Gifhorn

Directions to meeting point

Meeting point and time: at the train station in Gifhorn. A minibus will be waiting there at 16:30 and 18:30 to take you to the accommodation

Additional comments

Please note: INTERNATIONAL volunteers under 18 who apply for this camp have to pay a special teenage fee of 150€ to ijgd (more information after your regsitration)