Conserving and developing pastures (habitat types 4030, (*)6212, *6230, 6510, 8220, 8230) of the “Wetterauer Trockeninsel”

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The nutrient-poor grasslands of Germany’s middle Hesse were traditionally grazed and mowed by livestock farmers but changes in agricultural practices have altered the nature of these once species-rich grassland habitats. Reduced grazing pressures and abandonment of grassland management methods has led to an overgrowth of bushes and general deterioration of the nutrient-poor grassland habitats. This has led to a decline in characteristic plant species, some of which are now rare and endangered.

Efforts have already been made to address the decline in a limited number of areas, but more comprehensive interventions are required to strengthen the conservation status of priority plant species in the project area.

OBJECTIVES

This project aims at safeguarding the long-term conservation, development and restoration of species-rich grassland and rock habitats in the Wetterauer Trockeninsel area. Project actions will cover the following six Annex 1 habitats: habitat code 4030 - European dry heaths (3.1 ha in the project area); *6212 - Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (27.1 ha); *6230 - Species-rich Nardus grasslands, on siliceous substrates in submountain areas (3.2 ha); 6510 - Lowland hay meadows (235.8 ha); 8220 - Siliceous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation (0.3 ha); and 8230 - Siliceous rock with pioneer vegetation of the Sedo-Scleranthion (2.1 ha). All of these habitats depend on traditional land use practices, especially sheep grazing and mowing.

Expected results:

Restoring, enlarging and recovering extensively used pastures with high ecological value;

Facilitating appropriate land use methods by providing basic livestock infrastructure, opening up transhumance routes and introducing higher-yield pastures in carefully co-ordinated locations;

Increasing awareness about the dependency of local wildlife on specific land use practices and introducing initiatives to promote demand for associated products that help create biodiversity benefits; and ultimately

Achieving a long-term sustainable solution to appropriate land use in these important habitats, particularly in terms of maintaining necessary grazing pressures from sheep flocks.

Lessons learnt during the project will be disseminated widely to ensure knowledge transfer about such approaches to EU species conservation.