PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
On sandy river terraces in a great bend of the River Main, near the Bavarian town of Volkach, is a tiny patch of habitat of a kind threatened with disappearance throughout the EU: dry, sandy, steppic grassland, or, in scientific terminology, xeric sand calcareous grasslands (Koelerion glaucae). This is a sparse, natural grassland, cris-crossed by lichens and scattered with isolated twisted pines. Exceptionally important is the presence of the characteristic species for this habitat type, the plant Jurinea cyanoides, a priority species under the Habitats Directive. This is the only site in Bavaria where it occurs. The grasslands are mainly surrounded by arable land, where asparagus is grown on the poor soils, pinewoods and orchards. The grassland relicts were threatened by their small surface area - only a few hectares - which makes genetic impoverishment and greater sensitivity to disturbance a real menace, as well as by plans to quarry sand in the vicinity, which would mean that areas potentially suitable for expansion were lost.
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this project was to increase the available habitats for Jurinea cyanoides so to ensure the survival of this species and to increase the population size. The most suitable and urgent measure to achieve this end was the purchase of surrounding properties, as land lease gives no long-term guarantees. The project focused on two small core areas, both partly nature reserves: the "Astheimer Dürringswasen" and the "Sandgrasheiden am Elgersheimer Hof". The nature reserves were surrounded by orchards, asparagus fields and other cropland, but this land was suitable for the development of xeric sand calcareous grasslands and the strengthening of the population of the target species. Hence sections of arable or horticultural land were to be bought (6 ha). Depending on its condition, each section acquired would either be left to natural succession, or mowed, ploughed or scoriated to accelerate the leaching of nutrients and then in some cases sowed with Jurinea seed. In certain places sand could also be deposited on the land. Public access was to be kept restricted: as few visitors as possible and leaving the land alone, was the motto.
RESULTS
There were two subsites: Fahr-Elgersheim and Astheimer Dürringwasen. The project began with studies to refine management options: use of genetic finger-printing to clarify the taxonomic status of central European Jurinea cyanoides vis-à-vis Russian specimens; soil analysis to determine nutrient and mineral levels and monitor the success of actions to reduce nutrients; analysis of invertebrates associated with Jurinea cyanoides and its habitat and the establishment of permanent monitoring plots to track evolution of vegetation in function of actions. It obtained new land for recolonisation of Jurinea through purchase (6.4 ha) in an area with intense competition for land from the agricultural sector (Aparagus cultures, fruit tree plantation, vineyards) and gravel industry. A rural land consolidation procedure was used: land was bought where sellers could be found and then swapped against the required sections of land via the consolidation procedure. In this way enclaves and bridgeheads for Jurinea could be created, many of them adjoining the pre-existing nature reserve. On the land acquired, actions were undertaken for the improvement of the soil and general habitat conditions to ensure re-establishment and long-term survival of the species: • Remove objects like fences and huts • Increase the proportion of bare, steppe-type land by clearing hedges and bushes, mowing tall grass and pruning or felling fruit trees • Reduce the level of nutrients in the soil (especially in former asparagus fields) by a system of crop cycling (sunflowers, linseed, flax, rye) • Improve soil structure by ploughing and /or adding sand • Boost natural recolonisation by Jurinea cyanoides by sowing its seeds over the treated land The long-term management of sections where Jurinea has established itself is by mowing. Monitoring of project actions’ success started during the project and will continue afterwards. An appropriate public awareness campaign for what might be considered a plant species with a low conservation profile was carried out. A mobile exhibition toured the municipalities affected by the project – notably the felling of tall old fruit trees needed to be explained to the local inhabitants. Excursions were held for inhabitants and foresters (maintenance of forest clearings is important for Jurinea conservation locally). 4 information panels were set up. The project made a start to network with other plant conservationists in Central Europe (production of a trilingual brochure German, French, English, laying contacts with authorities in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Sachsen-Anhalt, Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Niederösterreich and Poland, visiting sites where Jurinea occurs in other parts of Germany). Local authorities initiated the conservation measures for this endangered plant species around 1990, but it was only with LIFE-Nature support that significant advances could be made to reach the long-term conservation objectives. First results at the end of the LIFE project were very encouraging: where they had been sown manually, the Jurinea seeds germinated very successfully and the local range of the plant has been steadily expanding. Where there was no sowing, colonisation will take longer but individual specimens were already turning up by the end of the project. Through the creation of the new habitat for Jurinea, the project made the Volkach area a stronghold for this species in the European Union. LIFE-Nature focused much local attention on the presence and conservation needs of this species, thereby ensuring the long-term management of the Natura 2000 sites around Volkach. Local farmers were involved and benefited indirectly as they were paid for the biotope measures they were contracted to do on both project sub-sites. The strategies and techniques used could serve as a model for other projects that target point endemics or endangered species with geographically restricted populations. The project also illustrated the need to take the taxonomic issues into consideration when dealing with conservation projects of disjunct (geographically isolated) species. Indeed, until now, the question whether the German-Czech populations belong to the same species as the Russian and Asiatic populations is not yet solved. A very important side effect was the agreement between the competent authorities and the local gravel industry. The project initiated talks between these stakeholders and at the end, the gravel industry accepted to refrain from extending its quarrying area inside the core areas of Jurinea cyanoides. A spin-off of this agreement is the landscape protection and an increased value of the area for local recreation.