PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
From a European perspective, the Bavarian Forest national park and Natura 2000 sites is of major importance for the preservation of biological diversity and has been identified as one of 30 hot spots of biological diversity in Germany. An important attraction for visitors, the national park is also of great significance for tourism. Despite the implementation of a consistent conservation strategy, however, there are problems in former land use areas that threaten valuable habitats and species. Particularly adversely affected are rivers and streams, bogs and the rare mountain pastures, known locally as the Schachten. The project area of 24 206 ha, along the Bavarian-Bohemian massif of the Moldanubian, covers most of the national park. It features extensive semi-natural woodland crossed by numerous mountainous rivers, bogs and small clearings.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE+Nationalpark BayWald projects overall objective was to make an important contribution to the Natura 2000 network by improving habitat connectivity and characteristic species in the Bavarian Forest national park in Germany. A key aim was to restore several rivers and streams, by establishing dynamic processes and removing obstacles that hinder the migration of aquatic fauna. Bog restoration, notably by restoring natural water tables was a second focal point. Innovative grazing regimes were also testedfor the conservation of pastures on woodland clearings (Schachten) and their typical habitats. The project targeted improvements in the conservation status of nine habitats listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive, three Annex II-listed species, as well as the habitats of the black stork (Ciconia nigra), a species in Annex I of the Birds Directive. A further aim was to raise awareness, and to gain support for Natura 2000 areas and of the need for conservation actions, among local people and visitors.
RESULTS
The LIFE+Nationalpark BayWald project successfully implemented a series of conservation actions that have provided immediate direct and quantitative conservation improvements in the Natura 2000 network in the Bavarian Forest national park in Germany. Most importantly, the project has improved or stabilised the conservation status of targeted habitats and species.
The project achieved its objectives of restoring mountain streams by removing migration barriers for aquatic organisms, including the bullhead (Cottus gobio) and European otter (Lutra lutra), re-activating dynamic stream processes, and restored bog habitats, especially their hydrology, by closing draining ditches and shrub removal. Grazing schemes were tested for conservation of former mountain pastures. In total, the project improved or stabilised the conservation status of nine habitats listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive, beneficial for numerous species listed in both the Habitats and Birds Directive. The project also raised awareness about the Natura 2000 network.
Specifically, the project prepared four comprehensive baseline studies; purchased and restored target habitats on 10.5 ha of land; revitalised 4.5 km of watercourses to enable the natural development of more than 6 km of streams; deconstructed more than 20 impassable culverts or replaced them with environmentally-friendly constructions thereby removing barriers to migration and movement of aquatic fauna; and improved hydrology and vegetation cover of three degraded peatlands on around 9 ha. The project rewetted 55 ha of bog forests; initiated conservation grazing management on two mountain pastures (Schachten); and conducted effective public relations and media work, as well as efficient dissemination of project results, including the use of a touring exhibition, information points, a film about water, and guided tours.
The rewetting of peatlands contributes to CO2 sequestration, which contributes to climate change mitigation, and to water retention, to help reduce flood risk. The sustainability of the achieved results is assured in the nationalpark. The project has a high relevance for the implementation of the EU Habitats Directive, Birds Directive, Water Framework Directive, Biodiversity Strategy 2020 and Clima Strategy 2050, as well as the Nationale Strategie zur biologischen Vielfalt and other EU and national policies. Two of the three main conservation activities conducted by the project - stream restoration and peatland / bog forests restoration - will deliver long-term environmental benefits. Stream restoration and peatland restoration actions are non-recurring measures that improve the naturalness of the habitats and do not require further management.
The third activity, the grazing of montane grassland, has been re-introduced as a 'test-phase' by the project into the national park. Based on the very satisfactory results of the pilot re-introduction of grazing on mountain pastures on the site 'Ruckowitzschachten', the park authority decided to install a second grazed area ('Hochschachten) before the end of the project and to continue the grazing after LIFE. This is a significant success, in terms of conserving rare grasslands and mountain hay meadows, that will also ensure the sustainability of the measure in the long-term.
Several methods of stream and peatland restoration possess a high degree of replicability and transferability into other comparable (montane) landscapes with habitats of adequate conservation importance both in Germany and in other EU Member States. The management tools and best practices demonstrated by the project can also be transferred to other relevant stakeholders and sites via the intensive networking activities established.
Several direct and indirect long-term economic and social benefits are expected, especially in the regional tourism sector. The project subcontracted studies to monitor socio-economic impacts of the project implementation. The results on added value chains show that 42% of the project funds remained in the region and 2.9 full job equivalents were created.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
