Firefighter youth planting seeds for the future: 7 hectares of bee pastures for fewer natural disasters

Under the motto "Protecting what matters: people and nature," the Austrian Federal Firefighter Association (ÖBFV) has teamed up with BeeWild, a biodiversity and conservation initiative, and the Jane Goodall Institute Austria (JGI) to host the Firefighter Youth Week 2025.

Austrian firefighters are not only devoted to protecting communities from fires and other hazards but are increasingly focusing on preserving nature and the environment to help prevent natural disasters.

Bee pastures support soil life, tripling or even quadrupling earthworm populations. This improves water infiltration and enables healthy soils to play a vital role in disaster prevention during heavy rainfall events.

Austria is home to 4,448 volunteer fire departments with approximately 38,000 youth and children’s firefighter members. This strong community forms the backbone of the Firefighter Youth Week 2025.

During this project week, held from April 14–20, 2025, young participants will be encouraged to engage in species conservation activities:

Each youth firefighter will receive a seed packet to plant 2m² of bee pasture, totalling over 70,000m² across Austria.
Firefighter youth groups can choose from five conservation activities to implement in their local communities:
- Building nesting aids from natural materials.
- Constructing insect-friendly rock castles.
- Creating bee watering stations.
- Providing shelter using deadwood.
- Visiting a local beekeeper.

Supported by BeeWild and Jane Goodall Institute Austria experts, instructional handbooks and explanatory videos have been created to guide youth supervisors and participants. An online quiz introducing the topic has also been developed. Resources are available at BeeWild.

Manfred Hohensinner, the founder of BeeWild, highlighted the project’s importance:

"Firefighter Youth Week 2025 makes a strong statement for nature conservation and biodiversity. Every square meter of bee pasture, nesting aid, and conscious action contributes to creating valuable habitats and stabilizing the ecological balance. Healthy soil is the foundation for food production and a resilient environment—earthworms loosen the soil, enhance water retention, and actively help mitigate natural disasters like flooding or extreme droughts. Acting together today ensures both the protection of our environment and the future of generations to come."

Awards and Recognition

Youth firefighter groups are encouraged to share videos of their activities on social media using hashtags like #beewild, #seidabei, #feuerwehrjugend, and #naturschutzistcool.

Creative projects will be evaluated by a jury, with regional winners and three national winners (1st to 3rd place) receiving monetary awards for their firefighter youth funds.

Double Award Ceremony in Weiz 2025

On August 23, 2025, Austria’s top firefighter youth competition groups will gather in Weiz, Styria, to participate in obstacle and relay races. During the award ceremony, winners from Firefighter Youth Week will also be announced, making it a dual celebration.

Mario Leitner, Styrian Special Commissioner for Firefighter Youth, and Johann Maier-Paar, Regional Fire Commandant of Weiz, emphasized the week’s potential to raise environmental awareness:

"This initiative offers young people the chance to engage in hands-on conservation work, develop an appreciation for BeeWild activities, and contribute to reducing future natural disasters."

Initial Success in Weiz

The project launched in Weiz, where 250m² of bee pasture was planted alongside the planned 7 hectares. Local firefighters, BeeWild biologist Kathrin Grobbauer, Weiz mayor Ingo Reisinger, and fire officials collaborated on the effort.

Mayor Ingo Reisinger expressed pride in kickstarting the initiative: "Planting the first square meters of bee pastures in Weiz highlights our region’s commitment to biodiversity. This park will serve as a reminder to residents and visitors of the importance of species conservation."

Fire Chief Christian Lechner is eager to see the results: "We look forward to observing the development of this area in the coming months during the award ceremony."

Photos for reporting on Firefighter Youth Week 2025 are available for free with proper credit.

Photo credit: diemosbachers

Image caption: Group photo below:

From left to right: Kathrin Grobbauer, Christian Lechner, Mario Leitner, Johann Maier-Paar, Ingo Reisinger, and five youth members of FF Weiz.

For inquiries, feel free to reach out.

Kind regards,

Andreas Rieger, MA Brandrat

From left to right: Kathrin Grobbauer, Christian Lechner, Mario Leitner, Johann Maier-Paar, Ingo Reisinger, and five youth members of FF Weiz.

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