Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
Hedgehog habitats have been disappearing, as well as food sources, pushing them to take bigger risks, Source: City of Leuven
According to local research, the hedgehog population had been halved between 2008 and 2018
Recently, the Belgian city of Leuven issued a plea to citizens to stop using their robotic lawnmowers at night - in order to protect local wildlife. According to the official statement, many of these lawnmowers lack motion or collision sensors and pose a serious risk to small hedgehogs foraging for food in the dark hours.
The campaign was provoked by research from Ghent University and Natuurpunt, a Flemish environmental organisation. According to the research, the number of hedgehogs has halved between 2008 and 2018.
The research attributes this decline to a number of factors, such as the disappearance of suitable hedgehog habitats and food sources. However, another factor exacerbating the situation is that the small habitats they do have are increasingly dangerous.
Hedgehogs are the most frequently reported roadkill casualties in the region for the last ten years. At the same time, Thomas Van Oppens, Leuven Alderman for Animal Welfare, explains that the little creatures suffer a horrific fate far too often while trying to find food in people’s gardens at night.
He was quoted in a press release, saying: “This is why we call on people from Leuven to only use their robotic lawnmowers during the day. That makes a big difference.”
Natuurpunt has decided to support Leuven’s campaign with extra expertise, as they have been advocating for the same goal for two years now. They have already laid out some tips on what to do to make lawns a safe place for hedgehogs and other small animals.
According to their advice, one of the best practices is to turn on robotic lawnmowers during the day, after making sure that there are no animals camping on the lawn. If there are, people can just use a kitchen mitten to remove them safely.
Furthermore, they also recommend lawnmowers with a low front edge, no more than 4.5 cm and a collision censor, so they can change course before they bump into something.
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
The building will then serve as the site for a new museum dedicated to Finnish-Russian relations
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
In addition, the federal government has launched the National Week of Action against Bicycle Theft to raise awareness of the issue and the new solution
The facility will replace the need to have water supplied by tankers from Valencia
Modern traffic lights do more than regulate the flow of vehicles at crossroads, they also collect enormous amounts of data
Experimenting with public transport provision in Germany is clearly in a state of creative fervour
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
It also set the standards for a better European parking card for people with disabilities
The benefit will last until the Dutch parliament adopts the transgender law
Experimenting with public transport provision in Germany is clearly in a state of creative fervour
It also set the standards for a better European parking card for people with disabilities
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team