Launch of our new donation project for the planting of meadow orchards

With the support of an expert from the Siegen-Wittgenstein Biological Station, IR.on plans to plant up to 20 fruit trees in Burbach (Siegerland) to increase biodiversity and species diversity.

Cologne, 21 September 2023 - Due to climate change and the associated forest dieback, many animals are losing their habitat, including many insects, on whose pollination about 90% of all plants depend. One can speak of a twin crisis in climate change and species extinction, which are closely linked and require equally urgent countermeasures.

After IR.on carried out a reforestation project last year to reforest a small area of forest in the Siegerland region in order to counteract forest dieback, this year we would like to work for more biodiversity and species diversity by planting several orchards in Burbach (Siegerland).

Since the 1960s, a dramatic decline in meadow orchards has been measured. In 2020, the number of fruit trees in Germany was only 7.1 million, 60% less than in 1965. Yet orchard meadows are a valuable component of a species-rich cultural landscape. They are among the most species-rich biotopes in Central Europe and serve as habitats for more than 5,000 animal and plant species. They thus offer the best conditions for a high biodiversity and are very resilient at the same time.

Orchard meadows are very low-maintenance meadows, fields or pastures where tall fruit trees are loosely scattered. Due to the stock-like structure, the structural diversity and the absence of sprays, orchard meadows provide a habitat for many animals and plants, such as bumblebees, mice, birds and beetles. Moreover, orchards are considered Noah's Ark for old fruit varieties. A total of more than 2,500 fruit varieties are known. Despite all these positive characteristics, meadow orchards are severely threatened. They often have to give way to building areas, roads and weekend cottages.

Here a meadow orchard is created.

In order to preserve orchard meadows as an important habitat and valuable part of a species-rich cultural landscape, we are today launching our new donation project for the planting of orchard meadows together with the Stiftung Unternehmen Wald. Together with the support of our network, we would like to enable the planting of up to 20 fruit trees on two green spaces in Burbach (Siegerland) and thus contribute to more biodiversity and species diversity. The project is accompanied by the orchard educator Britta Hinkers from the Biological Station Siegen-Wittgenstein, who supports us with her knowledge and experience.

Orchard educator Britta Hinkers with Vera Kluck and Dominique Bausche from the IR.on team during a tour of the green spaces.

We appreciate your support for the project in the form of a donation under the following link. With every donation of 15 Euros you take over a sponsorship for 5 square metres of meadow orchard in Burbach (Siegerland). In the first step, we will collect a total of € 5,000 for up to 20 fruit trees including protection against browsing, in order to protect the trees from roe deer and red deer, as well as for the care by the orchard meadow educator. As with the last project, IR.on will again contribute a donation on behalf of its clients to support 500 square metres of orchard meadow.

We would be delighted if you would support this project together with us and thank you in advance for your commitment. Every donation and every square metre counts!

With your donation you support:

• The support of biodiversity
• The creation of a habitat for animals and plants
• The support of resilient orchards
• The preservation of original fruit varieties
• The charitable work of the Stiftung Unternehmen Wald
• The work of orchard educator Britta Hinkers
• The creation of an educational learning space for schools and day-care centers in the region.

For up-to-date information on the project, please follow us on LinkedIn.