Out of the concrete canal with Egon the fish – ReBioClim project releases animated film - Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development

“Stream bed stories – near-natural watercourse development in Dresden” is the title of an animated film produced as part of the EU ReBioClim project. In it, Egon the fish explains why the restoration of streams and rivers in densely populated urban areas is important and what benefits it brings for biodiversity, climate adaptation and quality of life.

Egon the fish from the animated film “Stream bed stories” gives a thumbs-up. — Egon the fish is the main character in the animated film “Stream bed stories”. (Illustration: klimpa.com)

Everyone benefits from the near-natural design of water bodies in densely built-up urban areas – the creatures in and around the stream or river, as well as the people who live there. The animated film “Stream bed stories” (in German: Bachbettgeschichten) makes this clear. The film is aimed at children and adults alike. It illustrates how near-natural watercourse development works in cities and the wide range of positive effects it has.

The main character is Egon, a small fish, through whose eyes the audience experiences the drawbacks of straightened and concreted waterways. It becomes clear why it is important to restore streams and rivers, for example by removing concrete from the stream bed and replanting the banks.

The film “Stream bed stories” was produced as part of the ReBioClim project. It was developed by the Environmental Office of the City of Dresden. The production of the three-minute animated video was entrusted to the creative studio Klimpa, run by the illustrator duo Max Mörtl and Robert Löbel.

The film (in German only) can be viewed on the City of Dresden’s YouTube channel.

The ReBioClim Project

The EU-funded ReBioClim project focuses on the restoration of urban streams to promote biodiversity and climate adaptation and to improve the quality of life in cities. The aim is to engage various stakeholders in the issue, to increase knowledge and appreciation of near-natural watercourse development in cities, and to implement concrete measures in collaboration with the local population. In Dresden, two sections of the Geberbach stream in the Prohlis and Nickern districts are being redesigned as part of the project. Other streams being renaturalised as part of this cross-border project flow through the cities of Jablonec nad Nisou in the Czech Republic, Poznań in Poland and Senica in Slovakia.

ReBioClim is funded by the EU under the Interreg Central Europe Programme.

Scientific contact at the IOER

Dr. Ralf-Uwe Syrbe, e-mail: r.syrbeioer@ioer.de
Dr. Henriette John, e-mail: h.johnioer@ioer.de

Back