Project

Strengthening remnant occurrences of the sandy silver snake (Jurinea cyanoides) in the northern Harz foreland and along the Saale river and managing other occurrences in Saxony-Anhalt

Listed in Appendices II and IV of the Habitats Directive, the sandy silverside (Jurinea cyanoides) is highly endangered and in decline in Germany and Saxony-Anhalt. The 19 current occurrences in Saxony-Anhalt are offset by at least 46 extinct ones. The silver-bordered clefthoof prefers continental dry sandy grasslands. Threats include abandonment, nitrogen input via the air and the closing of the vegetation cover by highly competitive grasses.

In previous projects, populations were strengthened and reintroduced at various locations in Saxony-Anhalt: at two sites on the Elbe (dry sandy grassland north of Gödnitz / old hay-drying site in Steckby), the habitat was restored by removing trees and topsoil inversion. The populations with few individuals were enhanced by introducing seeds. At the two sites Mühlberg (Steckby, Elbe region) and Weinberg Ost (Blankenburg, northern Harz foreland), reintroductions were carried out using native seed, and in the Oranienbaumer Heide (Elbe region) reintroductions were carried out at two sites. The current project is continuing to monitor the success of the above-mentioned populations and in some cases is carrying out follow-up maintenance.

Further population strengthening and reintroduction measures are currently being carried out at several sites in the northern Harz foreland and on a dry sandy grassland north of Gerwisch near Magdeburg
In addition, maintenance by mowing is being carried out at other sand lizard sites or efforts are being made to initiate grazing.

Furthermore, the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences and the Teufelsmauer conservation garden in cooperation with the Förderverein Teufelsmauer e.V.

The project "Strengthening remnant populations of the sandy silverside (Jurinea cyanoides) in the northern Harz foreland and on the Saale and managing other populations in Saxony-Anhalt" is funded by EAFRD Saxony-Anhalt; funding period 2014-2020.

Further information on the project:
https://www.offenlandinfo.de/projekte/aktuelle-projekte/staerkung-von-restvorkommen-der-sand-silberscharte-jurinea-cyanoides-im-nordharzvorland-und-an-der-saale-sowie-betreuung-weiterer-vorkommen-in-sachsen-anhalt/