Humus per la Biosfera
Environmental Education, Humus producing measures, and Public Relations in Sicily
The foundation Manfred-Hermsen-Stiftung initiated a two-year climate protection project in late summer 2021, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of its EUKI programme. The implementation will be carried out with our long-term partner Giacche Verdi Bronte accompanied by the University of Catania and will involve volunteers and students. Around the topic of humus as a carbon store, we carry out environmental education and awareness campaigns, and scientifically accompanied field studies.
Photo documentary on the project
News
August 2024: Environmental education in Sicily
Humus project extension reaches another 1,500 children
Due to popular demand for further environmental education from the schools participating in the Humus project, we extended our project with Giacche Verdi Bronte by seven months until the end of July 2024. The focus here was on environmental education, reaching 1,512 schoolchildren and 74 teachers in 6 schools on Etna. We continued our composting activities and soil life experiences with the children and taught them with an extended PowerPoint presentation previously developed by our nine new young ESK volunteers and ERASMUS interns.
Background
For the small-scale river valleys of Mount Etna in Sicily, which represent an important ecocorridor between three nature parks for the wildcat and other species, we are planning to establish a biosphere reserve together with 27 municipalities and other stakeholders. The existing network, which includes around 100 farms, will be involved in this project.
Project activities
We are testing and communicating humus building on farms and gardens through the return of organic matter to the soils and specific farming practices that sequester carbon and enrich the biodiversity and fertility of the soil. Together with scientists and farmers, we implement good practices for climate and biodiversity friendly organic agriculture on our own experimental sites, contributing to Sicily's strategic plan for the new agricultural policy (CAP).
Within a campaign to raise awareness of the value of humus, we advise authorities on the establishment of a regional composting system for organic waste. Environmental education reaches approximately 3,000 school children and their families. In two steps, lessons take place in the school classroom and composting sites are established in schoolyards. Through public relations, we encourage households to compost their own organic waste.
Volunteers and interns from (mostly European) foreign countries take part in all activities - as helpers, students and creative contributors, who will carry new insights and experiences as multipliers back to their home countries.
Publication
Video Tutorials from our practical experiences:
- Production of Biochar (Kon-Tiki)
- Terra Preta
- Sustainable pruning
Analysis and Suggestions for decision makers
Further Information
In May 2023, a television team from the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation “Bayerischer Rundfunk”) accompanied our project activities. They have been made aware of our voluntary programme by our long-standing partner of the European Solidarity Corps / ERASMUS +.Their interest was not so much in nature conservation as in the personal development opportunities that young people gain while doing a voluntary service abroad. Here you can see the film report that was shown on June 5th:
Europe Report "Sicily off the beaten track - Where young volunteers experience adventure" [in German and Italian]
Here you can read our Project Studies.
'This project is part of the European Climate Initiative (EUKI). EUKI is a project financing instrument by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The EUKI competition for project ideas is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. It is the overarching goal of the EUKI to foster climate cooperation within the European Union (EU) in order to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.