Whitsun floods take a toll on the environment.

Nature and Surroundings - Whitsun floods take a toll on the environment.

Heavy rains during Pentecost led to serious damage in Saarland, reports the Nature Conservation Association (Nabu). The flooding negatively impacted numerous bird species, from those nesting low on bushes to eagles perching in riverbank caves. According to a statement by the Lebach-based Nabu branch, thousands of eagles' nests were left abandoned. The flood submerged around 120 kilometers of riverbanks along the Nied, Blies, and Saar, and disrupted habitats for birds, and insects that live on the ground or in caves. To address these problems, the association is currently prioritizing riverbank cleanup efforts in the most heavily polluted areas.

Apart from the bird species, underwater creatures conserve the forests along the banks, like ants, wild bees, field mice, and hedgehogs, also suffered. Initial losses among storks have also been noted in the Bliestal. The wetness and cooling hinder the offspring of meadow nesters, storks, and raptors.

In addition, debris from flood-carried waste has become stuck in tree branches and trees. Efforts are underway to clean up the rivers in areas affected by the flood. Communities along the upper Saar and Nied have initiated trash collection, and private initiatives are also involved in this clean-up.

Concerns have also arisen regarding possible pollution from Heizoil, pesticides, heavy metals, or chemicals being carried by the water. This could contaminate the soil, posing a potential risk to agricultural land.

Nabu urges promoting long-term strategies like rewilding wetlands and improving water retention in the landscape to better handle such disasters in the future. "Renaturated wetlands are a valuable flood protection for people in the region," the statement reiterates.

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1. The Lebach branch of NABU is actively involved in cleaning up the heavily polluted riverbanks affected by the flood, as numerous animal habitats have been disrupted.
2. The Environment Agency in Saarland, in collaboration with NABU, should monitor and examine the water in Lebach and other flood-affected areas to detect any potential pollution from Heizoil, pesticides, heavy metals, or chemicals.
3. To safeguard the local ecosystem and prevent similar environmental damage in the future, NABU advocates for the expansion of nature conservation initiatives, such as rewilding wetlands in Lebach, Saarland, and improving water retention in the landscape.

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