How can the biodiversity on your doorstep become a true experience of nature? On June 13, 2009, around 80 experts considered this question for 24 hours, using the example of “Wildtierland“ near Strasbourg (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) – this year’s main venue for the GEO Day of Biodiversity. In doing so, they documented about 1,800 species in the area, which spans more than 1,000 acres.

The unusual fungi findings prove that amply structured forests and clean, unspoilt waters can contribute to an increase in the occurrence of endangered species. A total of 188 species were found here, six of which were found for the first time in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. According to the experts, the detection of myxomicete Physarum citrinum was particularly remarkable. Other outstanding identifications include those of sac fungi Gloetinia juncorum, Miladina lechitina, Pachyella babingtonii, Mollisia pilosa, and Cyathicula starbaeckii, because Miladina lechitina, Pachyella babingtonii and Basidiomycet Mycena renati (which belongs to the mycena family) are endangered throughout Germany. In addition, the identification of Psathyrella dunarum was a first for Germany.

Ninety-six bird species were detected in total. The black tern (Chlidonias niger), a species which is in danger of extinction in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, was sighted several times. Around 20 percent of the entire national population breed in Wildtierland. The severely endangered wryneck (Jynx torquilla) and the endangered green woodpecker (Picus viridis) were also documented.