Supporting commitment – a matter of honor for Schuster!
Without voluntary work, many things would fall by the wayside - including the protection of local waters. Schuster employee Benjamin Haugg is a committed member of the Schongau District Fishing Association and is committed to preserving the habitats and biodiversity around the Lech. An important nature conservation project that Schuster actively supports.
Many of our Schuster employees are involved in voluntary work - be it with the voluntary fire department, sports clubs or nature conservation. They are also given time off work for this. Schuster Managing Director Jürgen Dommer knows what an important purpose voluntary work fulfills.
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One of these volunteers is Benjamin Haugg. When he's not on the road for Schuster's technical sales department, he reminds us that nature conservation begins on our doorstep. More precisely, in the water.
With his fishing club of almost 500 members, the passionate angler is committed to the renaturation of the Lech, which is considered the lifeline of the Alpine foothills. Over the millennia, the Lech has developed from one of the largest wild river landscapes to the most heavily developed river system in Europe. Rising temperatures, the increase in hydropower turbines and the resulting arrival of invasive species are also threatening the local flora and fauna.
Benjamin Haugg also receives support for the project from his Schuster management, who have recognized its importance. "Trees and bees... many people do that, and so do we. But large-scale renaturation is a new and sensible thing to do. After all, the Lech is an impressive river and stands for home!" says Jürgen Dommer.
One focus of the regional water protection project is the creation and maintenance of gravel banks, which are essential as spawning grounds to preserve species such as the huchen, grayling and brown trout. Unfortunately, more and more hydropower plants are causing the riverbed to silt up. Without the stony bottoms, however, the fish can no longer reproduce, hide from predators or find food.
This change not only affects animals below the surface of the water. Aquatic insects are also losing their protective habitat, which means that birds and bats are losing their usual food sources. Fewer insects also means fewer fertilized plants and fruits. This is because around 75 percent of crops are dependent on animal pollinators. And water quality also suffers without the cleansing action of insects, which decompose the leaves, for example. As a result, the entire Lech ecosystem could collapse.
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Fortunately, thanks to the courageous intervention of the Schongau District Fishing Association, a lot has already been achieved for the renaturation of the Lech. Schuster Maschinenbau is grateful to be able to contribute to the preservation of flora and fauna for future generations. So here our drive to "Move the Standard" means looking below the (water) surface and exceptionally becomes "Preserve the Standard".