Lippe district now has a ranger – keeping an eye on nature!

Lippe district now has a ranger – keeping an eye on nature!

Nature in the Lippe district is getting a new guardian: Thomas Junghöfer has been working as a full-time ranger since the beginning of June and looks after the region's nature reserves. He is not only a face of landscape conservation, but also an important contact for citizens and visitors in the Senne, in the Teutoburg Forest and on the banks of the Weser. His distinctive hat, similar to that of the Canadian Mounties, will help him be quickly recognized. This reports Radio Lippe.

But what exactly does a ranger do? Junghöfer has a variety of tasks. In addition to maintaining the landscape, he is also responsible for species protection and works closely with foresters, volunteer nature conservation officers and the municipal public order service. The ranger is a real nature police officer who can punish administrative offenses on site, which is all the more important in times of increasing misconduct, such as trash being left behind and information boards being damaged. Junghöfer wants to make people aware of how important intact nature is for everyone. The head of the lower nature conservation authority, Daniel Telaar, emphasizes the importance of providing information about penalties in order to effectively draw attention to misconduct.

Educational work in nature

Junghöfer will focus more on educational work. His goal is to inspire people about the beauty of nature and to treat it more consciously. The website of the Lippe district highlights that it is becoming increasingly important to carry out public relations work to minimize misconduct.

Another important concern of the ranger is the promotion of biodiversity. In collaboration with experts, Junghöfer will always keep an eye on compliance with nature conservation measures. It plays a key role in maintaining natural diversity and the integrity of habitats. The topic therefore always remains current and of great importance for everyone in the Lippe district and beyond.

A job with passion

The work of a ranger is not just a “job”, but a profession that requires a lot of passion. These “green” oriented professions, such as those in, among others, Federal Nature Watch Association also includes activities in national parks, biosphere reserves and nature parks. Rangers must have training as certified nature and landscape conservation officers and have a scientific qualification profile. This means they are ideally equipped to be active both as environmental educators and as landscape managers.

Thomas Junghöfer has a clear vision: Through his presence in nature, he wants to combine both practical protection of the environment and active environmental education. The interaction of education and practical measures will be crucial in sustainably preserving the beauty and diversity of the Lippe district and preserving it for future generations.