Information system on nature-based greening measures (InB) and donor area register for Saxony-Anhalt

Grasslands with a high diversity of species and structures have become rare in the landscapes of Saxony-Anhalt, which also has a negative impact on the native wildlife. In the past, native habitats were also impaired or destroyed by the spread of alien species, and native species were displaced. Since March 1, 2020, the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG § 40 (1)) has therefore made the use of native seeds in the open countryside mandatory. Near-natural greening measures not only comply with this requirement of the BNatSchG and the principles of the European Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive (FFH), but also contribute to achieving the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Natural greening measures use only seeds and/or seed-rich soil and plant material from native species originating in the local area. These are adapted to the regional site conditions of the recipient area and thus increase the likelihood of successfully achieving the greening objective, guaranteeing the preservation of the floristic identity of natural areas, promoting biodiversity, and providing important ecosystem services such as increased erosion protection. Another positive aspect is that follow-up costs are lower than when using conventional standard seed mixtures (RSM) due to the high success rates in establishment, the very good engineering biology functionality, and, in some cases, lower maintenance costs.

Natural greening has played an important role for years in various construction and compensation measures, on low-yield agricultural land, and in nature conservation measures, and is used to create new or enhance existing high-quality habitats. As the extent of the loss of native insect life becomes more widely known, green spaces in public areas and private gardens are increasingly being greened in a natural way.

Project priorities

The Saxony-Anhalt donor area register is intended to simplify the localization of donor areas that are suitable for nature conservation and economic purposes for the direct harvesting of seed and plant material and for the collection of basic seed for regional propagation in Saxony-Anhalt, thereby promoting the use of seed from native sources in compensation and renaturation measures. The cross-state information system for near-natural greening measures (InB) provides comprehensive information on the planning and implementation of these measures.

Project region

Saxony-Anhalt

Further project details

• Information system on nature-based greening measures (InB)

  Uncertainties and lack of experience, excessive costs, more complex performance monitoring, and a lack of locally sourced material (both from wild plant propagation and direct harvesting, e.g., from meadow threshing or mown grass) are repeatedly cited as obstacles to the use of alternative greening methods.

  With the aim of imparting specialist knowledge on nature-based greening measures, the specialist information system InB was developed and published at www.spenderflaechenkataster.de. Here, findings and experiences from science and practice are presented in a clear and concise manner.

  The InB is designed to be transnational and serves as an introductory page to the topic of nature-based greening measures for potential users such as authorities, planning offices, municipalities, and interested private individuals. In addition to regularly updating and expanding the content, great importance is attached to user-friendliness and the ability to quickly find the available information.

  The internet platform provides an overview of various nature-based greening methods, information on their planning, implementation, maintenance, and development, as well as the associated costs and a summary of the legal framework. Furthermore, an extensive list of links to institutions and practitioners, as well as an up-to-date bibliography, offer comprehensive information resources.

  By sharing practical experience, e.g., through demonstration workshops for planners, approval authorities, municipalities, and implementers, reservations about nature-based greening methods should be reduced and errors in their application minimized.

  

  

  

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• Flyer for the information series on natural greening

  Here you will find our flyers from the information series on natural greening:

  1/5 Hintergrund und Planungsschritte

  2/5 Wiesendrusch

  3/5 Mahdgutübertrag

  4/5 Ansaat mit regional vermehrtem Saatgut und Ansaatverfahren

  5/5 Begrünungsmaßnahmen im kommunalen Raum

   

• Donor land registry Saxony-Anhalt

  The donor land register for Saxony-Anhalt manages areas that are potentially suitable for the production of native seeds from a nature conservation and economic perspective. Factors such as the degree of scrub encroachment, slope, relief, and accessibility are assessed for economic viability. Many of the areas included in the database have protected status, with the majority located in FFH and/or nature conservation areas. The inclusion of an area in the register does not explicitly imply permission to collect seeds or harvest it in any other way. Any harvesting requires the approval of the responsible nature conservation authorities and the land users. If necessary, compensation must be paid for loss of yield.

  Since 2006, more than 500 potential donor areas have been added to the database. These have been gradually reevaluated since 2017, as there is a risk that possible maintenance deficits could lead to an increase in grasses and woody plants, thereby displacing the target species. In 2023, for example, 75 areas that had been added to the donor area register in previous years were reevaluated. Some of these areas no longer meet the criteria for donor areas and will therefore be removed from the donor area database. The inspection and evaluation of the areas listed in the database and the inclusion of new areas will be continued on an ongoing basis. In the future, interested farmers will still be able to report suitable donor areas using an online form.

  Comprehensive search functions are available to users of the cadastre. Donor areas can be searched for using an overview map, an input mask, or a list. Available ecological and economic data is displayed in profiles. To view the exact geographical location, users must register free of charge.

• Workshops and training courses

  Demonstration workshops and training courses are important tools for planners, authorities, and implementers to break down prejudices regarding the use of native wild plants in greening measures and the planning and implementation of near-natural greening. These workshops provide an opportunity to answer open questions and facilitate contact between the various interest groups. Anhalt University of Applied Sciences therefore organizes regular workshops and excursions on various topics. For more information, visit: www.spenderflaechenkataster.de.

  

  

• Experiments on the germination capacity of meadow threshing

  From 2017 to 2022, germination tests were carried out on meadow threshing material as part of the project to investigate its germination capacity over the duration and type of storage. For this purpose, meadow threshing material from three different locations near Bernburg, Wulfen, and in the Südharz was stored in four different variants:

  (a) Cooling chamber, non-vacuumized

  (b) Cooling chamber, vacuumized

  (c) Barn, non-vacuumized

  (d) Barn, vacuumized

  The germination tests were conducted every six months in spring and fall and were completed in fall 2022. At that point, the seeds had been stored for five years. The scientific evaluation of the results is currently underway.

• Outlook

  The use of native species in renaturation and greening projects will continue to gain in importance. The necessary information is contained in the Information System on Near-Natural Greening Measures (InB), with the aim of continuously integrating new knowledge from research and practice. It is also important to inform land managers about the ecological and economic value of their species-rich grasslands in order to increase their willingness to maintain these areas, which are valuable for nature conservation, in good condition.

  In addition, there is a growing need for advice on the implementation of greening measures. In view of the importance of nature conservation and the topicality of near-natural greening methods, the project staff are available to provide expert advice on the planning, implementation, and monitoring of near-natural greening measures, as well as on preliminary discussions with land managers and the relevant nature conservation authorities. This is based on the constant updating and expansion of the donor area register and the maintenance of the information system for near-natural greening (InB).