Wakker Prize, Birsstadt Association, Nature and Climate Awareness
7 July 2024
The Swiss Heritage Association (Schweizer Heimatschutz) awarded the Wakkerpreis 2024 to the (Verein) Birsstadt AssociationThe cooperation of the municipalities of Aesch, Arlesheim, Birsfelden, Duggingen, Grellingen, Muttenz, Münchenstein, Pfeffingen and Reinach (canton of Basel-Landschaft) and Dornach (canton of Solothurn) shows that challenges in agglomerations can be dealt with through municipal and cantonal cooperation.
The award ceremony on 22 June in Arlesheim by the President of the National Council, Eric Nussbaumer
De Birs in de 18e eeuw. Foto J. Meyer, Staatsarchiv Basel-Landschaft
The last bridge before the Birs enters the Rhine
Development in the 19th and 20th centuries strongly influenced the landscape in the Birs Valley. Industrial, service and trading companies established themselves in the valley, once characterised by agriculture. Residential areas expanded, and cars and railways crisscrossed the Birs region.
Thus, the Birs Valley became an important part of the Basel agglomeration. After 2000, the municipalities decided to collaborate to manage this process. Pilot projects between different municipalities, such as the “Birspark Landschaft”, highlighted the potential for more cooperation. Landscape, settlement, mobility and climate adaptation strategies are negotiated, developed, realised and presented.
The Birs and the Nepomukbrücke in Dornach
De Birs near Birsfelden
Under the association’s umbrella, the industrial character is enhanced while maintaining residential quality, architectural heritage is cherished, and the natural environment is restored or adapted to suit the circumstances.
The Reinacher Heide and the Widenacker
Together with the Widenacker, the Reinacher Heide is a natural oasis on the Birs. Over 600 plant species and countless animal species live here. In the past, the area was characterised by flooding and alternating between wet and dry habitats.
The Forum Würth Arlesheim stands along the Birs, and the current exhibition Waldeslust can be seen ‘live’ in the Rheinacher Heide.
The village stream is part of the territory of the beaver family. Beavers build small dams in the stream. However, groundwater in this drinking water protection zone should not be polluted by stream flooding, and building is not allowed here anyway. However, the beaver is a protected animal.
This conflict can be countered by laying pipes along the stream to drain excess water. This way, the water level can be kept at a certain level, and at the same time, the beaver can continue to build dams.
Protecting trees is also part of this coexistence.
Swiss Ranger Yannick Bucher
After the Birs correction in the 19th century, the groundwater level sank several metres. A dry heathland, a wet floodplain landscape, and its trees on the Birs came into being. (The nearby Forum Würth Arlesheim currently shows the Waldlust exhibition).
Thanks to establishing the groundwater protection zone (1932) and the nature reserve (1974), the Widenacker and the Rheinacher Heide and its valuable flora and fauna developed in this constantly growing agglomeration.
Primeo Energie Cosmos
As everywhere in the country, great attention is being paid to the relationship between people, nature, and the climate at the local, regional, and national levels. Business and citizens’ initiatives also play an essential role along the Birs.
For example, the company Primeo Energie has created the Primeo Energie Kosmos, an experience and science centre for climate and energy.
Conclusion
The Wakker Prize awardWakker Prize award particularly emphasises the concept of coexistence between humans and nature. The Reinacherheide demonstrates the coexistence of animals, the beaver, and humans at the micro level.
The Primeo Energie Kosmos project along the Birs is one of many examples of the commitment and active participation of citizens and companies.
The Birs, the beaver, the wolf, the Rhone, the Rhine, (rock) avalanches, rockfalls, earthquakes, the coming and going of the seas, glaciers and climate change are nothing new on this planet.
Humankind, however, is a latecomer who has gained the upper hand, especially since 1800, with a twenty-fold increase in population, gigantic settlement areas and the colonisation and use of uninhabited regions until 200 years ago.
Nature is doing what it has always done, and flora and fauna are adapting, which is called evolution, starting with viruses, bacteria and microbes. Switzerland may also have to return valleys and riverbeds to nature, just as polders in the Netherlands (have to) become wetlands again.
(Source and further information: Schweizer Heimatschutz)
