Did you know? Catkins are protected by law.

Did you know? Catkins are protected by law.

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The pussy willow is one of the most important harbingers of spring and an important symbol of Easter. The pussy willow plays an important role for the awakening animal world. Its furry flowers serve as a vital source of food for many insects. For this reason, pussy willows are protected in Austria and Germany.

 

The goat willow, with its nectar- and pollen-rich furry catkins, is one of the most important sources of food for bees and other pollen collectors in early spring. Many insect species, such as the caterpillars of more than 30 different butterfly species and many beetle and sawfly species, as well as wild bees, depend on the goat willow. Unfortunately, goat willows are becoming increasingly rare in nature, which is why they are strictly protected.

 

Brief profile

Like all willow species, the plants are either male or female. The male willows can be recognized by their yellowish catkins. The female catkins are greenish and somewhat less conspicuous. Bees first fly to the male flowers and then, loaded with pollen, to the female ones. Willow blossoms provide bees with up to 70% of their annual pollen requirement and are therefore essential.

Willow trees grow up to 20 meters tall, are undemanding, and are considered pioneer trees. They grow up to an altitude of 1,500 meters.

 

Overview of protective regulations

In Germany, according to Section 39 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act(BNatSchG), NO branches may be cut or broken off between March 1 and September 30—regardless of whether they grow in your own garden or in the wild. This period is considered a closed season for tree, hedge, and shrub pruning, during which clearing and massive pruning are prohibited. Violations are punishable by fines of several thousand euros.

(7) The administrative offense may be punished with a fine of up to fifty thousand euros, and in other cases with a fine of up to ten thousand euros.

 

In Austria, palm willows are protected by law from February 1 to April 30. During this period, a maximum of three branches with a length of no more than 50 cm may be cut per person per day. Repeated violations of this regulation are punishable by fines of up to €7,620.

Leave catkins where they are and plant them yourself

Unfortunately, in nature, one often sees completely mutilated specimens with torn-off branch stumps and damaged bark due to human greed. If the damage is too severe, willow trees die. We therefore urge you to leave the catkins alone.

We can contribute to the reintroduction of the goat willow by planting it in our gardens and on our balconies. It is generally very easy to grow, but needs a sunny to semi-shaded location.

Furthermore, the goat willow can also be easily propagated using cuttings in moist soil.

Sustainable Travel Episode 12: Altmühltal Nature Park – Jurassic rocks, solar villages, and gentle cycling holidays

Sustainable Travel Episode 12: Altmühltal Nature Park – Jurassic rocks, solar villages, and gentle cycling holidays

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A region that shows how slowing down works economically

The Altmühltal valley in Bavaria is not a place of extremes – and that is precisely its strength. Gentle Jura hills, bright limestone cliffs, meandering rivers, and small towns with medieval centers characterize this landscape. For decades, the region has deliberately focused on gentle tourism: cycling instead of through traffic, small guesthouses instead of large hotels, regional value creation instead of external investors.

The Altmühltal Nature Park is thus one of the earliest examples in Germany where sustainability was not "added on" after the fact, but was considered from the outset.

Getting there & mobility – a cycling region with backbone

Climate-friendly travel is easy via Eichstätt, Riedenburg or Gunzenhausen – all well connected by train and regional bus.

Locally, the region is consistently committed to environmentally friendly transportation:

the well-known Altmühltal Cycle Route connects almost the entire valley.

dense networks of cycling, hiking, and themed trails

Bicycle transport on regional trains

E-bike rental in almost every major town

Leisure buses with bicycle trailers during the season

The result: many guests spend a whole week traveling exclusively by bike, bus, and on foot—without compromising on comfort.

Accommodation – small-scale, regionally based

You won't find any large hotels in the Altmühltal valley. Instead, family-run establishments, organic guesthouses, and vacation apartments dominate, often in listed buildings or modern wooden structures.

Typical for the region:

Inns with environmental certification

Farms with direct marketing

Small organic hotels with solar thermal energy and regional breakfasts

Tent and nature campsites along the Altmühl

Many businesses work with local bakers, butchers, and vegetable farms—staying overnight here automatically means participating in regional cycles.

Activities – outdoors, peaceful, effective

The Altmühltal is one of the most diverse outdoor regions in southern Germany—but without the noise and crowds:

Cycling along the Altmühl River, through juniper heaths and rocky landscapes

Hiking to natural monuments such as the Twelve Apostles Altmühltal

Canoe trips on the gently flowing Altmühl River

Collecting fossils in former quarries

Nature tours to dry grasslands, orchid meadows, and Jurassic biotopes

Noteworthy: Many offers are accompanied by trained nature guides—with a focus on biodiversity, geology, and climate adaptation, not on the event character.

Cuisine – Jura cuisine with provenance

The cuisine in the Altmühltal valley is simple, honest, and increasingly organic:

Lamb and beef from extensive pasture farming

Jura spelt, ancient grain varieties, and orchard products

Trout from natural pond farming

Herbs, honey, and cheese from small direct producers

More and more restaurants are cooking seasonally, consciously reducing meat portions, and working according to slow food principles. Here, enjoyment comes not from choice, but from quality.

Sustainability factor – an early model for gentle tourism

For decades, the nature park has pursued a clear mission statement:

Protection of the Jura rock landscape and dry grasslands

Support for smallholder farms

Visitor management instead of overuse

Expansion of renewable energies (many municipalities with solar and biomass concepts)

Environmental education through nature park centers and school programs

Particularly interesting: some places in the valley are considered "solar villages, " with above-average self-sufficiency in electricity production and municipal energy concepts—supported by citizen cooperatives rather than large corporations.

Conclusion – Quiet regions are strong regions

The Altmühltal valley proves that sustainability is not a program of sacrifice—it is a locational advantage. The region thrives on tranquility, landscape, and regional identity. This is precisely what makes it economically stable, attractive to tourists, and ecologically resilient.

Those who travel here will not experience spectacular superlatives—but something more lasting: a landscape that works. And a region that has understood that less often means more future.

Next episode:
Werdenfelser Land – Zugspitze, moors, and climate-conscious Alpine tourism
A Bavarian Alpine region that combines high mountains with moorland restoration, gentle mobility, and regional agriculture.

 

Harmful plasticizers found in children and adolescents

Harmful plasticizers found in children and adolescents

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The German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) recently published the results of a study of urine samples from children and adolescents taken in the spring and summer of 2025. In 92 percent of all samples, the breakdown product of a dangerous plasticizer was detected, which is banned in the EU due to its reproductive toxicity. The source of this is UV filters in sunscreens. From 2027, stricter maximum values for sunscreens will apply throughout the EU.

As early as 2024, the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) detected mono-n-hexyl phthalate (MnHexP) in the urine of adults. MnHexP is a degradation product of the plasticizer di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHexP), which is considered toxic to reproduction and is therefore not approved for use in the EU. The findings could be traced back to contamination of a UV filter in sunscreens. In addition to MnHexP, humans are exposed to other reproductive toxins, so every avoidable source should be eliminated.

 

"Based on the results from previous years, we were not surprised to find MnHexP in the urine samples from children and adolescents. What did surprise us, however, was the high proportion of contaminated samples and the sometimes very high concentrations."

Dirk Messner, President of the Federal Environment Agency

Almost all samples contaminated

Up to a value of 60 micrograms per liter (µg/L) of urine, no adverse health effects are to be expected. The Human Biomonitoring Commission at the UBA 2024 derived this value from the 2024 results. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has specified the tolerable daily intake for DnHexP as 63 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (µg/kg bw/d).

In the current ALISE (Aligned Study for Environmental Health) study of children and adolescents, 259 urine samples from children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years have been examined to date, taken between April and July 2025. MnHexP was found in 238 of the samples (92 percent). Two study participants exceeded the HBM-I value of 60 µg/L with 83 and 107 µg/L.

 

UV filters in sunscreens are the cause

Product tests on sunscreens, which were initiated immediately at the time, confirmed the suspicion, and a patent for the production of the UV filter diethylaminohydroxybenzoylhexyl benzoate (DHHB) clearly shows that the plasticizer DnHexP can be produced during the production of the UV filter. At the same time, the product investigations revealed that the concentration of the plasticizer in DHHB varies and that sunscreens with the UV filter but without contamination are also available on the market.

 

More and more countries are banning sun creams

Multiple loads possible

Di-n-hexyl phthalate is not the only substance harmful to reproduction to which humans are exposed. For example, in the latest UBA study on children and adolescents (GerES V, 2014–2017), the total exposure to reproductive toxins in plasticizers was above the tolerable intake level defined by the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) for the majority of participants, especially younger children. It is therefore important to eliminate avoidable sources of reproductive toxins and to keep important products such as sunscreen free of contaminants.

Ökotest: Food packaging contaminated with harmful substances

Messner says: "Children and young people have particularly sensitive skin. The use of sunscreen is and remains essential to minimize the risk of skin cancer."

We have already addressed the topic of sunscreen several times—here, for example, organic sunscreens compared to conventional ones:

The smell of summer

Start of Austria's largest wind farm in Neusiedl/Weiden

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A key project in Austria's energy transition is going into operation in Neusiedl am See and Weiden am See: with 23 wind turbines and a planned annual production of around 250 million kilowatt hours, the country's largest wind farm to date is being launched. The project marks a further step toward energy independence and decarbonization of the electricity supply.

 

Dimension and effect

With an expected electricity production of 250 million kilowatt hours per year, the wind farm can theoretically supply tens of thousands of households with renewable energy. At the same time, it avoids significant amounts of CO₂ emissions that would be generated by fossil fuel-based power generation. In times of volatile energy prices and geopolitical uncertainties, the plant also strengthens regional security of supply.

The scale of the project underscores that the expansion of renewable energies in Austria is no longer being considered on a pilot basis, but is being planned on an industrial scale. Twenty-three modern wind turbines combine performance, efficiency, and grid stability—and send a clear signal for further expansion in Burgenland and beyond.

 

Signal for the energy transition

The location in Neusiedl/Weiden was chosen strategically: Burgenland has been a pioneer in wind energy for years and already covers a large part of its electricity needs from renewable sources. The new wind farm reinforces this position and shows that large-scale projects are compatible with regional value creation.

The launch of this project makes it clear that the energy transition is not just a political goal, but is being implemented in concrete terms—with infrastructure, investment, and long-term planning. Austria's largest wind farm is thus exemplary for the next phase of the transformation: scalable, powerful, and regionally anchored.

El Prix 2026: Electric cars undergo cold weather testing in Norway

El Prix 2026: Electric cars undergo cold weather testing in Norway

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In January 2026, ÖAMTC once again took part in "El Prix," the world's largest range test for electric vehicles under exceptionally harsh winter conditions. This practical test is conducted twice a year by the Norwegian Automobile Club (NAF). In temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius, on snow-covered roads and in icy winds, 24 electric cars were pushed to their limits this January. The effects on the range of electric cars were tested.

 

El Prix is the world's largest practical test for the range and charging of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The Norwegian Automobile Federation (NAF) has been conducting El Prix twice a year since 2020, once in the summer and once in the winter. The actual range of the vehicles is determined and compared with the official WLTP ranges.

A 450-kilometer route was chosen for the current test, which included a mix of city, country roads, and highways, as well as inclines. The test started in Oslo at minus 8 degrees Celsius, passed through Lilleholm, and continued north through several rural areas in a wide arc around Rondane National Park, where the temperature was minus 31 degrees Celsius. The vehicles were driven until all of them experienced a loss of power and could no longer maintain the required speed.

 

 

Effects of cold weather on range and charging capacity

With record temperatures of up to minus 31 degrees Celsius, the significant impact of low temperatures on the range of electric cars became apparent: no vehicle came close to the specified WLTP values. The highest deviations from the specified range were almost 46 percent, for example in the Opel Grandland and Lucid Air Grand Touring, and the lowest were just under 30 percent – in the MG S6 and Hyundai Inster. On average, the deviation was just under 38 percent below the WLTP range," summarizes ÖAMTC technician Florian Merker.

 

The models with the greatest deviations were usually also the models with the highest range specifications (WLTP).

The American Lucid Air Grand Touring achieved 520 kilometers in real-world testing out of a range of 960 kilometers.
The Mercedes CLA 350 4Matic AWD achieved the second-longest range. The 85-kWh electric vehicle achieved 421 kilometers instead of the 709 kilometers specified by WLTP, which corresponds to a reduction of 41 percent.
In third place was the Audi A6 Sportback E-Tron Quattro with a 95 kWh battery, which achieved 402 kilometers compared to 653 WLTP kilometers, a reduction of 38 percent.
In fourth place was the BMW iX with 388 kilometers driven and a decrease of 39.5% compared to the WLTP range.
The Opel Grandland achieved 262 kilometers driven in the real-world test compared to 484 WLTP kilometers, representing the largest loss of range.

Graphic ©️ÖAMTC

However, fears of insufficient range are unfounded.

The actual mileage ranged from 224 kilometers (Suzuki eVitara) to 520 kilometers (Lucid Air Grand Touring). "The data shows how important good route planning and the availability of charging stations are for electric car drivers in winter—especially at very low temperatures," emphasizes the ÖAMTC technician. This is also confirmed by the charging test carried out in parallel.

Conclusion: The availability of charging stations, charging speed, and consumption efficiency are more important than range.

When charging, 13 of the 24 vehicles tested reached the desired charge level of 80 percent in less than 30 minutes. Six vehicles even reached 80 percent faster than specified by the manufacturer.

"This charging test showed how important a well-tempered battery is for charging an electric vehicle. Despite temperatures of minus ten degrees Celsius at the charging stations, the vehicles tested performed well," explains Merker.

According to the experience of the ÖAMTC, charging speed, consumption efficiency, and availability of charging stations will be more important in the future than the maximum range of an electric vehicle.

 

Test as a preview for possible new models in Europe

Another interesting aspect of "El Prix" is that Norway has many vehicle models that have not yet made it onto the Austrian market but were included in the test, such as the Chinese models Changan Deepal S05, KGM Musso, Xpeng X9, and Zeekr 7X. "For ÖAMTC, this provides a good preview of which manufacturers are planning to enter the European market in the near future," says Merker.