Photo: C. Fischer

After focusing on such issues as dementia or projects for children and youth, the 2022/23 “Echo hilft!” donation campaign is turning its attention to nature conservation. Five projects from Southern Hesse pursuing compelling approaches are the focus of articles in the various local editions of the Echo Tageszeitung published by Echo Medien GmbH this year. Freundeskreis Eberstädter Streuobstwiesen e. V. aims to make the local recreation area fit for climate change. The Naturschutzscheune Reinheimer Teich working group wants to set up a permanent exhibition about this important nature conservation area. The environmental initiative Bauschheim has set itself the task of creating a habitat for endangered lizards. A “kindergarten corner” will be created at the Bergstrasse Nature Conservation Centre in Bensheim, and the Erbach-based association “Mein Baum in meiner Stadt” (My Tree in My Town) plans to make the Brudergrund wildlife park more visitor-friendly and barrier-free.

Before further donations are received from readers and companies in the region for these projects in the coming weeks, the Software AG Foundation has again pledged 5,000 euros in start-up aid per project. “Reinforcing the commitment of people who are dedicated to others has been our foundation business for more than 30 years”, says board member Peter Augustin. “That is why we know that, in addition to financial support, those who provide our society with services, mostly behind the scenes, and achieve great things in small organisations also need visibility and appreciation. And that is exactly what “Echo hilft!” provides in the form of its annual charity campaign, in which we were happy to be participating once again.” Peter Augustin is more than happy with the selection of projects: “We are very pleased that the initiatives receiving recognition in this round strive to preserve our environment for future generations without relying on purely conservationist protection measures that keep people out of their environment and instead strive to allow the public to genuinely experience nature and enter into a relationship with plants and wildlife.”