PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The Eurasian lynx (lynx lynx carpathicus) disappeared from the Rhineland-Palatinate area in the 18th century. Nowadays the closest population of lynx to the Pfälzerwald/Palatinate Forest is a French population in the southern Vosges.
Monitoring in the Pfälzerwald has periodically identified individual lynxes. These are expected to originate from the Vosges population and have shown no sign of establishing a resident population in the Pfälzerwald. A programme of reintroducing lynx in the Pfälzerwald is therefore considered important in order to re-establish a population of the species in its formerly natural range in the Palatinate Forest.
Around 90% of the project area is public land and the relevant authorities all indicate their support for the reintroduction of lynx. Other key stakeholders (including civil society groups and hunters) are also supportive.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE Luchs Pfälzerwald project’s main aim was to re-establish a lynx population in the Palatinate Forest. This would be achieved through a reintroduction programme involving the release of 20 lynx, (10 coming from Switzerland and 10 from Slovakia).
RESULTS
The LIFE Luchs Pfälzerwald project successfully re-established a lynx (Lynx lynx carpathicus) population in the Palatinate Forest in southwestern Germany. This was achieved through a reintroduction programme involving the release of 20 lynx (12 coming from Switzerland and 8 from Slovakia).
By the end of the project, at least 18 cubs were born. A reproducing lynx population has been established in the Palatinate Forest, which has already started to spread out into neighbouring areas. Migration to the Central Vosges was documented, and the birth of offspring was proven in the Northern Vosges in 2021. This newly-established population is expected to serve as a ‘stepping stone’, interlinking other lynx populations. Through these species conservation actions, the project implements the EU Habitats Directive.
Close cooperation was established between German and French stakeholders (especially hunters, shepherds and other livestock owners) through national and trans-boundary “lynx parliament meetings”. There was an increased acceptance of lynx among livestock owners, hunters and the public in the regions of Palatinate Forest, Alsace and Lorraine, as a result of a high level of stakeholder involvement, consultancy and assistance for livestock owners, and awareness-raising information campaigns.
The project team conducted scientific monitoring and evaluated the reintroduction actions via GPS tracking and VHF telemetry, photo trapping, genetic analysis and re-capture. They constructed a compound for injured lynx, and acquired additional funding to realise a second section for orphaned young lynx at Maßweiler in cooperation with Tierart e.V.
With agreement among stakeholders, the project contributed to the development of a management plan for the lynx in the Palatinate Forest. The project team completed and disseminated new “connectivity guidelines” in order to increase the permeability of traffic infrastructure at the level of land-use planning in the Palatinate Forest, as well as over a larger range, for example, in other low range mountains in Rhineland-Palatinate.
An educational programme called “Oeuil de lynx” reached 2 782 pupils at schools in France and Germany, accompanied by a brochure with educational materials (including a DVD) and other information materials. The project established a network of volunteers to help livestock breeders protect their animals, for example, by erecting fences. The beneficiaries also organised three international conferences, networking activities with experts on lynx and large carnivores, and represented the project in national and international committees.
The project team developed a “lynx trail”, of around 6 km with information boards, for hikers, and six geocaching routes at attractive spots, which by increasing visitor numbers can benefit the local economy.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
