Minister Schauvliege chats to a school in Lanaken from Japan
On 25 October 2010, pupils of the 4th year Technical Secondary Education of the state secondary school Alicebourg in Lanaken were invited to talk about biodiversity with Joke Schauvliege, Flemish Minister for Environment, Nature and Culture. This was done via a chat session, as the minister was in Japan, where she is expressing the European point of view on Biodiversity at the UN summit as the chairwoman of the EU Environment Council.
The pupils based their questions about biodiversity on their own practical experiences, as Campus Alicebourg had laid out a 2,000 m² butterfly garden in 2010 on the occasion of the international year of biodiversity. They had planted butterfly bushes and turned grassland into meadowland at the school’s domain. The pupils are being taught about butterflies and, more specifically, about the Mazarine Blue, which is threatened with extinction.
How do 193 countries come to a decision at a UN summit?
During the chat session, each pupil in turn typed a question that was immediately answered by Joke Schauvliege. They could see but not hear each other via the webcam. Physics and chemistry teacher and Environment at School (MOS) representative Johanna Lowist steered everything in the right direction. The pupils were well prepared with specific and topical questions. For instance, Sabrina asked how 193 countries can come to a decision at a UN summit and which countries would be obstructive. The minister explained that the participants organise themselves in groups with a common point of view such as the EU, the African countries, the Latin American countries, etc. Some countries want to connect everything so it’s possible to conclude partial agreements. Financing is a major point of discussion. The developing countries want financial help but the EU is already the main provider of money and technical support.
Can biodiversity and a major increase of the world’s population go together, wondered a pupil. Joke Schauvliege replied: “This is having a positive result in areas where we take the initiative to protect species, also in urbanised areas. We must learn from this. Some areas have to be protected from human pressure – for instance, by ensuring that less space is taken up by buildings and monocultures. We need nature for the health and recreation of the people living in densely populated places. We must therefore take the increase of the population into account”.
Biodiversity in Flanders
Biodiversity in Flanders was also dealt with. A pupil asked about a concrete example to clarify the use of biodiversity for the economy. Wildlife crossing, replied the minister: “It’s better to immediately pay attention to a wildlife crossing when laying a major road. This is possible by connecting wildlife areas under the road. Otherwise, species will lose their biotope. They will then become extinct. Restoring their biotope afterwards costs a lot more money and effort than laying it immediately.”
The final unavoidable question was what the minister herself is doing about the loss of biodiversity. Joke Schauvliege: “I planted wild flowers in my garden that are good for insects. I never use spray in the garden and do not buy exotic plants that don’t belong here. I’ve also laid out a small vegetable garden with forgotten vegetables and herbs.”
The chat session concluded with these tips. The pupils also invited the minister to visit their butterfly garden.
