Improvement of the conservation status of species-rich open land habitat types on fragmented/residual areas in need of care and establishment of a nature conservation performance review system

The vast majority of endangered open habitat types (LRT) listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive (FFH-RL) depend on extensive agricultural use. These primarily include the various types of dry grasslands dependent on use (e.g., LRT 6210(*), 6240*), lowland hay meadows (LRT 6510), species-rich wet grasslands (e.g., LRT 6410, 6440) and montane mountain meadows (LRT 6230*, 6520) as well as naturally small-scale special sites such as inland salt marshes (LRT 1340*) or heavy metal grasslands (LRT 6130), which are also dependent on maintenance interventions at least periodically. These habitats usually have a high species diversity (flora, fauna), but at the same time also a high proportion of endangered species. The reasons for their endangerment are, on the one hand, intensification of use on more productive sites, but currently, above all, abandonment of use on marginal sites.

For larger contiguous areas with open land LRT, concepts have recently been developed for Saxony-Anhalt that can ensure the long-term preservation of open land. Examples include extensive grazing projects with robust megaherbivores on former military land in the Oranienbaumer Heide and in the “Toten Tälern”, as well as precursor projects with goat grazing in the Unteren Saaltal, which are also being continued here.

However, endangered open-land habitats and the habitats of rare plant and animal species are often extremely small in size today. In many cases, these are relics of formerly large-scale occurrences that now only exist as isolated fragments or remnant areas (e.g., dry grassland fragments in the middle of scrub growth).

A large proportion of these fragmented/residual areas, which are extremely valuable in terms of nature conservation, are located in Natura 2000 areas. Nevertheless, many of these areas have been lying fallow for several decades or have only recently been taken out of use for socio-economic reasons. Specific site characteristics often make management difficult on marginal sites (e.g., terrain relief, high groundwater level, isolated location, lack of initial restoration).

Nevertheless, these small areas often still contain very species-rich remnants of open land habitat types and populations of rare plant and animal species. New solutions regarding use and financing must be developed promptly for these fragmented/residual areas, which are very valuable in terms of nature conservation. Since biodiversity in open land is concentrated in these small areas, solving the “fragmented/residual area problem” is of central importance for the preservation of biodiversity in Saxony-Anhalt.

Project priorities

Subproject A

Link to further information

Subproject B

The main objective of subproject B was to initially use three model regions (the districts of Börde, Harz, and Wittenberg), to identify an area of species-rich fragmented/residual areas (focus on botanical species protection) based on existing data and in close cooperation with regional authorities (Landesamt für Umweltschutz, Unteren Naturschutzbehörden (lower nature conservation authorities)) and local experts (e.g., Arbeitskreis Heimische Orchideen Sachsen-Anhalt, Botanischer Verein Sachsen-Anhalt). In the course of the project work, the proposed area was extended to cover the entire federal state.

As part of plausibility checks, it was necessary to adjust area boundaries, carry out follow-up mapping of species and habitat types, and examine management difficulties.

In addition, subproject B involved researching maintenance recommendations for habitat and biotope types in open land, as well as the costs of suitable landscape maintenance measures, developing sample profiles for the maintenance of priority areas, and initiating and implementing selected maintenance projects on priority maintenance areas in the model regions.

Project region

Landkreise Börde, Harz, Wittenberg

Further project details