Geltinger Birk

1 - We humans shape the Earth. We build huge cities and wide roads. We farm the land, using only certain species of animals and plants. We create parks and gardens with the plants we like and destroy those we don’t. 2 - As a result, many wild plants and animals have become rare or are threatened with extinction. There are only a few areas where plants and animals are specially protected. We call them nature reserves. 3 - Special rules apply in these areas. For example, you must not pick or cut plants, or catch and take away animals. Often, you may only use certain paths, and dogs must be kept on a leash. You must not light fires, swim or camp, and you must not make noise. And, of course, you must not leave litter or other waste behind. 4 - This is how we protect the habitats of the plants and animals that live there. Above all, they should be able to reproduce undisturbed. At the end of 2017, Germany had 8,833 nature reserves. They cover 6.3 percent of the country’s land area. So, out of every 100 square meters, we leave just over 6 to nature and use the other 94 to meet our needs. 5 - One of these nature reserves is Geltinger Birk on the Baltic Sea in Schleswig-Holstein. It covers 773 hectares, about one third of which is below sea level. It is named after the small town of Gelting, near the city of Flensburg in northern Germany. 6 - Geltinger Birk is an important place for birds to nest. Others find a quiet resting place here as migratory birds, with plenty of food available. Around 200 species have been counted, including white-tailed eagles, several kinds of geese, redshanks, herons, terns and ducks. 7 - Rare plants grow here, including sea kale and sea holly. Water areas alternate with salt marshes, and there are dunes and seagrass meadows. Various grasses grow here, some of which are flooded by seawater. 8 - Grass, shrubs and young trees must also be kept short in nature reserves, or everything would soon become overgrown. At Geltinger Birk, sheep and ponies graze to do this job. The ponies at Geltinger Birk belong to the Konik breed. The word is Polish for “small horse.” These little horses are very hardy, can get by on sparse food and often live to an advanced age. They live outdoors all year round. They are only occasionally rounded up so their hooves can be cared for or they can be treated for worms.