Project

Instruments for the maintenance of species-rich fragmentation areas

The majority of endangered open land habitat types (LRT) are dependent on extensive Agriculture (e.g. LRT 6240* Subpannonian dry steppe grasslands, LRT 6510 Nutrient-poor lowland meadows). These habitats usually have a high species richness (flora, fauna) as well as a high proportion of endangered species. The reasons for the endangerment are, on the one hand, intensification of use on more productive areas and, on the other hand, currently especially abandonment of use on marginal sites. In addition, the individual areas of endangered open land habitats are nowadays often very small. In many cases, these are relicts of former large-scale occurrences. Many of these fragmented/residual areas have been lying fallow for decades or have only recently been taken out of use for socio-economic reasons, e.g. because specific area characteristics make cultivation difficult (e.g. steep terrain, isolated location). However, these small areas often still contain species-rich remnants of open land habitats. There is therefore an urgent need for action to preserve populations of endangered species. Solving the problem of fragmented/remnant areas is therefore of central importance for the conservation of biodiversity in Saxony-Anhalt.

The project is divided into two sub-projects:

Part A: Credits from ongoing maintenance measures (goat and mixed grazing) on small areas with species-rich xerothermic grasslands using the example of the Lower Saale Valley and knowledge transfer to state-wide practice (including the realization of a book project, practical guide). Among other things, realization of book project practical guide to goat grazing, implementation of supra-regional workshop).

As part of the sub-project, the monitoring of success on existing goat grazing areas in the Lower Saale Valley is to be continued. Due to many years of abandonment, these areas were characterized by considerable maintenance deficits (grassing, matting, especially scrub encroachment) before grazing began, which meant that the existing habitat type areas were already significantly degraded and there was a risk of local extinction of populations of rare species. Although there have been positive developments with regard to the reduction of woody plants on goat pastures in the Lower Saale Valley, many woody plants still have a high potential for regeneration (mainly through root sprouts). Monitoring is also necessary because rotational goat grazing is increasingly being used to graze overgrown xerothermic sites, but there are still doubts as to whether the typical species, especially those of conservation value, will benefit in the long term. Furthermore, there is a considerable lack of knowledge regarding the suitability of other robust livestock breeds (e.g. Fjord horses, Highland Cattles), which can be used in combination with goat grazing on deeper and less sloping sites.

Part B: Restoration and maintenance of species-rich open land habitats on fragmented/rest areas in need of maintenance in three model regions (Börde, Harz, Wittenberg districts).

As part of this sub-project, an area pool of species-rich fragmented/rest areas is to be identified and evaluated on the basis of existing data (e.g. LRT cadastre, management planning) in close cooperation with regional authorities (LAU, UNB) and experts (e.g. Saxony-Anhalt Botanical Society). In addition, selected maintenance projects are to be initiated and implemented on priority maintenance areas in the model regions.

The project "Improvement of the conservation status of species-rich open land habitats on fragmented/rest areas in need of maintenance and establishment of a nature conservation success monitoring system" is funded by EAFRD Saxony-Anhalt; funding period 2014-2020.

Project duration: 02/2017 - 09/2020 (FKZ: 407.1.8-60128/630116000009)

Landesverwaltungsamt Sachsen-Anhalt
Europa-ELER
Landesportal Sachsen-Anhalt

Further information at:
http://www.offenlandinfo.de/projekte/aktuelle-projekte/verbesserung-des-erhaltungszustands-von-artenreichen-offenland-lebensraumtypen-auf-pflegebeduerftigen-splitter-restflaechen-und-aufbau-einer-naturschutzfachlichen-erfolgskontrolle/