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Saxon field hamster under protection: 12.2 million euros for the future!
Northern Saxony is starting the EU-funded LIFE project to strengthen the field hamster population with 12.2 million euros.
Saxon field hamster under protection: 12.2 million euros for the future!
An important step for the protection of field hamsters in Germany has now been officially taken. The Saxon State Office for the Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG) has concluded a funding agreement with the EU for the “LIFE4HamsterSaxony” project in order to strengthen the threatened population of these small rodents. l-iz.de reports that ... This sets a total budget of 12.2 million euros over six years, with the EU covering 75 percent of the costs.
A central partner in this project is the Leipzig Zoo, which makes a significant contribution to the conservation of field hamsters through its breeding programs. Among other things, agricultural measures are planned in northwest Saxony that are intended to promote hamster-friendly cultures in order to mitigate negative climate impacts. With a well-thought-out network of core, development and connecting areas, the aim is to sustainably establish and spread the European hamster population.
Innovative approaches to supporting the European hamster
But what does the project actually mean for the future of field hamsters? The LfULG emphasizes the involvement of farms and the population in implementation. In addition, a new practical guide for field hamster protection was published by the German Wildlife Foundation, which aims to stop the acute decline in field hamster populations. German Wildlife Foundation reports that ...
The challenge of protecting remaining European hamster populations is complicated by the lack of current distribution data. In this context, effective monitoring of populations and their habitats is considered essential. The guide also contains valuable information for farmers to promote the habitat of the European hamster through targeted agricultural measures.
A nationwide guide for field hamster protection
A comprehensive solution is also being worked on as part of the “Feldhamster4Future” project. bfn.de informs that ... The aim is to develop a uniform guideline for the protection of field hamsters throughout Germany. This guide is intended to provide the central basis for comprehensive conservation breeding and reintroduction projects.
Overall, Germany is considered to have a particularly responsible role in the global conservation of the European hamster, which is classified as “threatened with extinction”. With a financial volume of 188,276.34 euros, this nationwide project is supported by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and is scheduled to be implemented between October 2024 and the end of 2025.
By combining local efforts and nationwide strategies, a sustainable future could be created for the European hamster in Germany. It remains to be hoped that the measures will bear fruit and that these charming rodents will soon be scurrying through the fields of our landscape in greater numbers again.