A Protected Areas Project in Natura 2000 Districts in the National Park Contents

Introduction 03 The Project Area 04 - 05 Low Mountain Range Streams 06 - 09 Deciduous Woodlands 10 - 13 Open Land 14 - 15 Stone Crayfish Colonisation 16 - 17 Habitat Protection is Species Protection 18 - 19 Looking to the Future 20 - 21 Public Relations Work 22 - 23 Project Overview 24 - 25 Contact 26

Publisher’s Details Picture credits: A. Au: 39 Publisher: C. Burg: 10 T. Dietsche: 11,31 Biologische Station StädteRegion e.V. B. Eiseler: 6,7,9,15 Zweifaller Straße 162, 52224 Stolberg, M. Ernst: 29 EU Environment: 40 H. Glader: 30,32,37,38 Phone: 02402-126170 Dr. H. Groß: 8 E-Mail: [email protected] C. Heer: 1 M. Höller: 26,27 Website: www.bs-aachen.de J. Janssen, signatur umweltmedien: 41 Dr. T. Kasielke: 22 Editor: Anika Poetschke N. Kolster: 25,36 Text: Bettina Krebs, Julian Mauerhof, Dr. H. Körber: 33 J. Mauerhof: 17 Anika Poetschke. Marietta Schmitz A. Olligschläger: 28 Dr. A. Pardey: 2,3,4,5,12,13, 24 Graphics: Cosmolog, www.cosmolog.de cover pages front and back Printed by: Schlömer & Partner GmbH H. Pützler, www.puetzler.de: 34 S. Reicheneder: 35 Last amended: January 2017 Dr. M. Röös: 16,19,20 M. Schulze: 18 A. Simantke: 42,43,44,45 Further information D. Sommerfeld: 14 www.wald-wasser-wildnis.de/en/ S. Wilden: 21

© Nationalparkforstamt Eifel im Landesbetrieb Wald und Holz Nordrhein-Westfalen & Biologische Station StädteRegion Aachen e.V. 2 LIFE+ ‘Woodlands – Water – Wilderness’: A Project on the Optimisation of FFH habitats in the

The title of this LIFE+ project refers to its core themes and objectives: improving woodland and water ha- bitats in three protected areas of European signifi- cance, so-called Natura 2000 districts, from January 2011 to March 2017. The areas are located in the Eifel National Park. They still have a largely natural character and contain protected habitats and rare flora and fauna. Traces of human utilisation nevertheless were and still are visible. Conifers – not indigenous to the Eifel – provide evidence of former forestry. Streams had been straightened in places and weirs and pipes built in. The great density of wildlife in the area is an expression of a lack of natural enemies and impairs the growth of young deciduous trees. The project pursued the following objectives:

>> To create end-to-end, dynamic, watercourses >> To expand natural deciduous woodlands such as moist forests and beech groves >> To expand biodiverse habitats created by man, such as mountain pastures >> To colonise the stone crayfish >> To improve the living conditions for animal species meriting protection >> To create contiguous habits Picture credits: 1 A. Au: 39 C. Burg: 10 Two strong partners from the region took up this challenge: the Eifel National T. Dietsche: 11,31 Park Forestry Office and Aachen Cities Region Biological Station Association B. Eiseler: 6,7,9,15 M. Ernst: 29 (Biologische Station StädteRegion Aachen e.V.). They were supported by the EU Environment: 40 Rhine-Weser Federal Forestry Department, which looks after the state-owned H. Glader: 30,32,37,38 Dr. H. Groß: 8 areas of the Dreiborn Plateau and in the uplands on behalf of the C. Heer: 1 Federal Government. The Eifel National Park, created in 2004, still ranks as a M. Höller: 26,27 park ‘under development’. In such national parks renaturation measures can be J. Janssen, signatur umweltmedien: 41 Dr. T. Kasielke: 22 tackled on a fairly large scale for 30 years. Thereafter three quarters of the area N. Kolster: 25,36 is to be left to itself. Dr. H. Körber: 33 J. Mauerhof: 17 A. Olligschläger: 28 Measures carried out in the project: Dr. A. Pardey: 2,3,4,5,12,13, 24 cover pages front and back The measures carried out in the project are presented on the following pages. H. Pützler, www.puetzler.de: 34 S. Reicheneder: 35 80 kilometres of watercourses have been optimised, seven hectares of new Dr. M. Röös: 16,19,20 open land restored and the basis created on over 850 hectares for development M. Schulze: 18 A. Simantke: 42,43,44,45 towards deciduous woodland. D. Sommerfeld: 14 S. Wilden: 21

3 Köln

District of Düren StädteRegion HRTGENWALD Aachen Düren

Aachen Hürtgenwald NIDEGGEN Simmerath

Mechernich Kall Hellenthal elgium District of heinland Pfalz HeimbachHEIMBACH 0 2,5 5 10 Eifel National Park 1:500.000

SIMMERATH

MONSCHAU MONSCHAU

KALL SCHLEIDEN

HELLENTHAL Kermeter Valleys of the Dreiborn Plateau (Valleys in the former Vogelsang military training grounds Dedenborn, Wahlerscheid (Püngel and Wüstebach flood plain and Erkensruhr head- 0 1 2 4 water) 4 1:200,000 Eifel National Park

Local authority and NRW geospatial data, © Geobasis NRW 2016 The Project Area

The LIFE+ ‘Woodlands – Water – Wilderness’ project was run What is LIFE+? in Natura 2000 areas located almost entirely within the Eifel Life+ is a financial subsidy scheme National Park in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. run by the European Union. It funds natural environment conservation The Natura 2000 areas and improvement projects. Projects aimed at the protection and conservation of natural habits and wild fauna and flora are financed in Natura 2000 areas with subsidies from the Life+ Nature programme.

What is Natura 2000? What are FFH areas? 2 Natura 2000 is a large network of Kermeter (DE-5404-301) protected areas in the European Union. The areas are protected on the basis of two European directives: the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive. The aim is long-term conservation of important habitats, flora and fauna and thus biological diversity in Europe. Together, 3 the areas protected by both directives form the Euro-

Dedenborn, Püngel and Wüstebach flood plain pean Natura 2000 protected area network. and Erkensruhr headwater (DE-5404-303)

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Valleys in the former Vogelsang military training grounds (DE-5404-302)

Apart from a few parcels of land, the sites in the project area are owned by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia or the Federal Republic of Germany.

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impacted on the flood plains. flood the on impacted

the streams as a result of military use. military of result a as streams the disturbed the entire water drainage and and drainage water entire the disturbed

example, to trap the sediment that got into into got that sediment the trap to example, valleys of the ‘Dreiborn Plateau’ and also also and Plateau’ ‘Dreiborn the of valleys

stabilised with stones. with stabilised were previously dammed in order, for for order, in dammed previously were Helingsbach stream, used to dissect the the dissect to used stream, Helingsbach

As here at the Sauerbach, watercourses watercourses Sauerbach, the at here As Canalisation, such as here next to the the to next here as such Canalisation, This stream had been straightened and and straightened been had stream This

life from travelling upstream. upstream. travelling from life

would be a ‘drop’, which prevented fish and other stream stream other and fish prevented which ‘drop’, a be would

for life in the stream. the in life for life got easily flushed away. At the end of the pipe there there pipe the of end the At away. flushed easily got life

with non-indigenous conifers also changed the conditions conditions the changed also conifers non-indigenous with was led through pipes. Inside the smooth pipes the stream stream the pipes smooth the Inside pipes. through led was

and their banks and beds stabilised. Planting the meadows meadows the Planting stabilised. beds and banks their and crossings were created in the streams and the waterway waterway the and streams the in created were crossings

through the fact that streams got re-routed and straightened straightened and re-routed got streams that fact the through areas also military use. In many places damns for vehicle vehicle for damns places many In use. military also areas

Typical stream structure and thus small habitats vanished vanished habitats small thus and structure stream Typical lost as it was increasingly put to forestry and in many many in and forestry to put increasingly was it as lost

warm water and mud used to get into the watercourses. watercourses. the into get to used mud and water warm passage along the watercourses in the National Park was was Park National the in watercourses the along passage

In some places the streams were dammed. From there, there, From dammed. were streams the places some In Prior to it being designated as a protected area, free free area, protected a as designated being it to Prior

The streams’ condition before the project began project the before condition streams’ The

7 extend right up to the banks of the stream. stream. the of banks the to up right extend

land. on

while in narrow, steep V-shaped valleys beech groves groves beech valleys V-shaped steep narrow, in while

insects, which live for a short time longer longer time short a for live which insects,

range streams of the Eifel. In flat valleys it is moist forests, forests, moist is it valleys flat In Eifel. the of streams range in the water and then metamorphose into into metamorphose then and water the in

Deciduous woodlands naturally line the low mountain mountain low the line naturally woodlands Deciduous The stonefly larvae live for a year or more more or year a for live larvae stonefly The

life, a concept known as unhindered ecological passage. passage. ecological unhindered as known concept a life,

watercourses can be freely travelled along by stream stream by along travelled freely be can watercourses

in other places. From their mouth to their source, natural natural source, their to mouth their From places. other in

. . marginata Perla 6

and dead wood get flushed along and deposited again again deposited and along flushed get wood dead and include insects, e.g. the stonefly genus genus stonefly the e.g. insects, include

generically called macrozoobenthos. They They macrozoobenthos. called generically dynamism in the stream: stones, pebbles, sand, leaves leaves sand, pebbles, stones, stream: the in dynamism

eye and that live on the stream bed are are bed stream the on live that and eye

to lay their eggs. The flowing water ensures a constant constant a ensures water flowing The eggs. their lay to

Animals that can be seen with the naked naked the with seen be can that Animals

sanctuary, protection from the current and suitable places places suitable and current the from protection sanctuary,

and dead wood, but also overgrown with alders, offer them them offer alders, with overgrown also but wood, dead and

The stream beds covered with sand, shingle, stones, foliage foliage stones, shingle, sand, with covered beds stream The

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for instance, is spring water moss. water spring is instance, for

they offer a habitat to both small and some larger animals. animals. larger some and small both to habitat a offer they

measures taken. Growing in these streams, streams, these in Growing taken. measures

With shallow and deep, slow- and fast-flowing sections, sections, fast-flowing and slow- deep, and shallow With

protection that was improved by the the by improved was that protection

varying degrees of force. The water is cool all year round. round. year all cool is water The force. of degrees varying is the name given to the habitat meriting meriting habitat the to given name the is

streams of the Eifel wind through the countryside with with countryside the through wind Eifel the of streams A ‘watercourse with aquatic vegetation’ vegetation’ aquatic with ‘watercourse A

Depending on the slope and width of the flood plain, the the plain, flood the of width and slope the on Depending The Eifel’s natural low mountain range streams range mountain low natural Eifel’s The

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channel’. backwater. formed again. formed

was led through a so-called ‘bypass ‘bypass so-called a through led was beside the watercourse freed from the the from freed watercourse the beside mud, natural watercourse structures soon soon structures watercourse natural mud,

was desirable to retain ponds, the stream stream the ponds, retain to desirable was small pools for amphibians and dragonflies dragonflies and amphibians for pools small was removed and diggers had dug out the the out dug had diggers and removed was

Where for wildlife conservation reasons it it reasons conservation wildlife for Where Another solution was to create multiple multiple create to was solution Another On the Sauerbach stream, once the dam dam the once stream, Sauerbach the On

8 the watercourses. Amphibians and and Amphibians watercourses. the

not passable by creatures living in in living creatures by passable not a pond. a

fishing ponds. Such backwaters are are backwaters Such ponds. fishing into account when thinking about removing or remodelling remodelling or removing about thinking when account into

sediment collecting, fire water or or water fire collecting, sediment as their habitat. These new biotic communities were taken taken were communities biotic new These habitat. their as

Many streams ran though former former though ran streams Many dragonflies, on the other hand, have taken over the ponds ponds the over taken have hand, other the on dragonflies,

Ponds − Barriers and habitat in one in habitat and Barriers − Ponds

around the stones. the around

riders and emergency vehicles. emergency and riders into its bed. Aquatic animals are able to go go to able are animals Aquatic bed. its into

wooden bridge put up for hikers, cyclists, cyclists, hikers, for up put bridge wooden high dam, today via stepping stones set set stones stepping via today dam, high concrete. reinforced

canalisation pipes were removed and a a and removed were pipes canalisation In the past the stream was crossed over a a over crossed was stream the past the In what was often used was sections of of sections was used often was what

On Helingsbach stream, dam and and dam stream, Helingsbach On Here a hiking trail crosses the watercourse. watercourse. the crosses trail hiking a Here If access routes went over a stream, stream, a over went routes access If

have been created, adapted to the use concerned. use the to adapted created, been have therefore been possible to take out many canalisation canalisation many out take to possible been therefore

such as bicycles, emergency vehicles or forestry machines, machines, forestry or vehicles emergency bicycles, as such to visitors in order to create sanctuaries for animals. It has has It animals. for sanctuaries create to order in visitors to

crossings, stepping stones for hikers or bridges for vehicles, vehicles, for bridges or hikers for stones stepping crossings, already being left to itself and a few are no longer accessible accessible longer no are few a and itself to left being already

Where the track and pathway plan does still provide for for provide still does plan pathway and track the Where to do without numerous tracks. In many areas nature is is nature areas many In tracks. numerous without do to

away in order to give space to the dynamism of the stream. stream. the of dynamism the to space give to order in away ‘under development’ National Park it is already possible possible already is it Park National development’ ‘under

dams in narrow valleys have also been liberally cleared cleared liberally been also have valleys narrow in dams pipes under woodland tracks and dams. In the current current the In dams. and tracks woodland under pipes

pipelines, not replace them and remove the tracks. Large Large tracks. the remove and them replace not pipelines, When the project started, there were numerous canalisation canalisation numerous were there started, project the When

Streams free of barriers from source to mouth to source from barriers of free Streams

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of weirs. of

the former barriers. former the unable to overcome even the smallest smallest the even overcome to unable

are now also being seen upstream of of upstream seen being also now are bottom using its fins and is therefore therefore is and fins its using bottom

also in significantly greater numbers numbers greater significantly in also bladder. It moves across the stream stream the across moves It bladder.

ih Bon ru o vrig gs and ages varying of trout Brown fish. course measures, as it has no swim swim no has it as measures, course

trout in a section previously without any any without previously section a in trout water- the from particular in profits

three watercourse sections and brown brown and sections watercourse three is protected by the Habitats Directive, Directive, Habitats the by protected is

evidence for the first time of bullhead in in bullhead of time first the for evidence , which which , gobio) (Cottus bullhead The

had been removed. They provided provided They removed. been had

profited where barriers to free passage passage free to barriers where profited

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The studies showed that fish fauna fauna fish that showed studies The

before and after the measures taken. taken. measures the after and before

the fish fauna was therefore recorded recorded therefore was fauna fish the

again. released then habitat structures. The condition of of condition The structures. habitat

and ages determined. The fish were were fish The determined. ages and watercourses, as fish rely on complex complex on rely fish as watercourses,

were caught, the species identified identified species the caught, were closeness to nature of Central European European Central of nature to closeness

in one research stretch of stream stream of stretch research one in fish is especially suited to assessing the the assessing to suited especially is fish

Using electrofishing, all the fish fish the all electrofishing, Using The composition of species and ages of of ages and species of composition The

Fish monitoring Fish

task.

valley. the of middle the in bed Biological Station staff helped with the the with helped staff Station Biological

valley’s edge into the former stream stream former the into edge valley’s momentum in the watercourse. the in momentum ‘Mountain Woods Project’ volunteers and and volunteers Project’ Woods ‘Mountain

outlay out of a concrete gully at the the at gully concrete a of out outlay introduced in order to help processes of of processes help to order in introduced were freed and removed by hand. hand. by removed and freed were

The stream was guided with minimal minimal with guided was stream The In straightened sections dead wood was was wood dead sections straightened In In this sensitive moist district the stones stones the district moist sensitive this In

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impairments, all that was done in in done was that all impairments,

natural momentum can be allowed and utilised. and allowed be can momentum natural made solid. In order to undo such such undo to order In solid. made

of water resource development, meaning that the stream’s stream’s the that meaning development, resource water of Stream beds and banks were were banks and beds Stream

Park is that no consideration has to be given to any forms forms any to given be to has consideration no that is Park edge of the valley or straightened. straightened. or valley the of edge

can develop naturally. The advantage in the Eifel National National Eifel the in advantage The naturally. develop can area had been repositioned on the the on repositioned been had area

the main was to create conditions in which the watercourses watercourses the which in conditions create to was main the A few watercourses in the project project the in watercourses few A Momentum in the stream promotes diverse structures diverse promotes stream the in Momentum 10 12

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woodland.

adult animals live in the deciduous deciduous the in live animals adult

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in mountain streams, while the the while streams, mountain in

terrestrial worlds: the larvae live live larvae the worlds: terrestrial

and aquatic the between wanderer a

. It is is It . salamandra) (Salamandra mander

sala- fire the for habitat ideal the

lands of low mountain ranges are are ranges mountain low of lands

wood- deciduous mixed moist The

bank hinder their flight. Needle mulch ruins the streams. streams. the ruins mulch Needle flight. their hinder bank of the watercourse. the of 15

again found in the direct vicinity vicinity direct the in found again the bank. Dark spruce forests extending right to the stream stream the to right extending forests spruce Dark bank. the

susceptible to acid, are now now are acid, to susceptible

and get flushed downstream, fly upstream to lay eggs on on eggs lay to upstream fly downstream, flushed get and

are which , alpinus Baetis genus

stream habitat. Many insects, whose larvae live in the water water the in live larvae whose insects, Many habitat. stream

trees, mayfly larvae, e.g. of the the of e.g. larvae, mayfly trees,

forests incorporated into it are important elements in the the in elements important are it into incorporated forests

After removal of the spruce spruce the of removal After

streams in V-shaped valleys. Foliage and wood from the the from wood and Foliage valleys. V-shaped in streams

around the sources of streams and beech groves alongside alongside groves beech and streams of sources the around

with numerous watercourses, moist woodland beside and and beside woodland moist watercourses, numerous with e.g. caused by needle mulch. needle by caused e.g.

In the Eifel National Park the woods are closely intertwined intertwined closely are woods the Park National Eifel the In animals that react susceptibly to acidification of the water, water, the of acidification to susceptibly react that animals

of any given species. Evidence was found again even of of even again found was Evidence species. given any of

to identify not only more species, but also more animals animals more also but species, more only not identify to

timber were also planted. also were timber

macrozoobenthos has recovered. Specialists were able able were Specialists recovered. has macrozoobenthos

Douglas firs and other non-indigenous trees for use as use for trees non-indigenous other and firs Douglas watercourse have been removed, the wildlife of the the of wildlife the removed, been have watercourse

of afforestation with spruce. Later, on areas of dry land, land, dry of areas on Later, spruce. with afforestation of The results showed that where conifers alongside the the alongside conifers where that showed results The

in the project before and after the measures were taken. taken. were measures the after and before project the in the Prussians. From around 1850, they began a process process a began they 1850, around From Prussians. the

community in selected stretches of streams was examined examined was streams of stretches selected in community At that time, the Rhineland and Eifel became owned by by owned became Eifel and Rhineland the time, that At

indicator of any changes in the watercourse. The biotic biotic The watercourse. the in changes any of indicator

almost completely deforested in the early 19th century. century. 19th early the in deforested completely almost

and caddis flies. The macrozoobenthos represents a good good a represents macrozoobenthos The flies. caddis and

of farming and the great demand for timber, the Eifel was was Eifel the timber, for demand great the and farming of

amphipoda and larvae of dragonflies, mayflies, stone flies flies stone mayflies, dragonflies, of larvae and amphipoda

natural landscape are now only partially present. As a result result a As present. partially only now are landscape natural to the naked eye. Included in it are planarians, stream stream planarians, are it in Included eye. naked the to

The deciduous woodlands that once characterised the the characterised once that woodlands deciduous The life living on the bottom of the watercourse and visible visible and watercourse the of bottom the on living life

The macrozoobenthos is the biotic community of stream stream of community biotic the is macrozoobenthos The

woods such as alluvial and bog forests. bog and alluvial as such woods

and along low stream banks moist moist banks stream low along and

Macrozoobenthos monitoring Macrozoobenthos

13 woods ravine slopes northern

oak woods, on cold, damp damp cold, on woods, oak

and western slopes sessile sessile slopes western and

woods, on warm southern southern warm on woods, forests. bog and forests alluvial ash and alder

ridges were copper beech beech copper were ridges soil beech groves, woodruff beech groves, ravine forests, forests, ravine groves, beech woodruff groves, beech soil

growing on the mountain mountain the on growing habitats protected by the Habitats Directive, such as acidic acidic as such Directive, Habitats the by protected habitats

naturally predominant: predominant: naturally woodlands appropriate to the location. The aim is to create create to is aim The location. the to appropriate woodlands

deciduous trees were were trees deciduous across over 850 hectares for a development of deciduous deciduous of development a for hectares 850 over across

forested region, in which which in region, forested project, various measures were used to create the conditions conditions the create to used were measures various project,

The Eifel was once a heavily heavily a once was Eifel The As part of the LIFE+ ‘Woodlands – Water – Wilderness’ Wilderness’ – Water – ‘Woodlands LIFE+ the of part As Deciduous woodlands in the Eifel National Park National Eifel the in woodlands Deciduous

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18 sapling enclosure. sapling

transect inside a a inside A

and ‘girdled’ in ‘desprucing areas’ as well. as areas’ ‘desprucing in ‘girdled’ and

streams some individual trees were left left were trees individual some streams

and as a dead wood reserve for adjacent adjacent for reserve wood dead a as and

For structure enrichment across the area area the across enrichment structure For

e.g. sycamore, rowan, durmast and common oak. common and durmast rowan, sycamore, e.g.

grow free of damage within the enclosures that outside of them get badly attacked, attacked, badly get them of outside that enclosures the within damage of free grow

If there are seed trees in the surrounding area, it is particularly possible for genera to to genera for possible particularly is it area, surrounding the in trees seed are there If

enclosures. sapling the inside only height in significantly gained copses deciduous

and the amount of damage from wild animals recorded. The studies showed that that showed studies The recorded. animals wild from damage of amount the and

inside and outside of sapling enclosures – was determined, their height estimated estimated height their determined, was – enclosures sapling of outside and inside

n eie srths s-ald rnet, h gns f oss rsn – both present copses of genus the transects, so-called stretches, defined On

standing, within two to five years. five to two within standing, Copse monitoring Copse

the girdling process. The tree dies off, still still off, dies tree The process. girdling the

channels for nutrients, which get cut by by cut get which nutrients, for channels

again. here develop to able be to forest moist Running within the bark are supply supply are bark the within Running types. tree concomitant and

area without driving over it. The aim is for a a for is aim The it. over driving without area structured woodland dominated by beech beech by dominated woodland structured lower part of the trunk all the way around. around. way the all trunk the of part lower

of the spruce. The objective here is a richly richly a is here objective The spruce. the of whole the from removed were trees spruce centimetres of bark is removed from the the from removed is bark of centimetres

The planted beech trees grow in the shade shade the in grow trees beech planted The the Wüstebach the of plain flood the On In the girdling process around 40 40 around process girdling the In

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very wet areas. wet very

back. drive through, for example, remote or or remote example, for through, drive

trees in the shade and push them them push and shade the in trees harvesting vehicles that would have to to have would that vehicles harvesting

appropriate locations to put all other other all put to locations appropriate reforestation. no longer a need to use any timber- any use to need a longer no

a certain age, copper beech is able in in able is beech copper age, certain a land were then largely left to natural natural to left largely then were land girdling is done ‘by hand’. There is is There hand’. ‘by done is girdling

groups of copper beech trees. As of of As trees. beech copper of groups place in 2014. The areas of cleared cleared of areas The 2014. in place and decompose very differently. The The differently. very decompose and

conifers across the whole area or with with or area whole the across conifers area of more than a hectare took took hectare a than more of area by genus, the trees individually die off off die individually trees the genus, by

underplanted with non-indigenous non-indigenous with underplanted by ropes. The last removal over an an over removal last The ropes. by least as a result of the fact that, varying varying that, fact the of result a as least

In the project region stands were were stands region project the In the flood plains being protected protected being plains flood the structures and habitats develop, not not develop, habitats and structures

planted within cleared spruce stands. stands. spruce cleared within planted gradually removed, with the soils of of soils the with removed, gradually

biotope ecologically: diverse small small diverse ecologically: biotope

of other trees. It can therefore be be therefore can It trees. other of along the watercourses. These were were These watercourses. the along standing dead wood enhances the the enhances wood dead standing

sapling particularly well in the shade shade the in well particularly sapling aged spruce had been planted planted been had spruce aged caused to die off by ‘girdling’. The The ‘girdling’. by off die to caused

genus’ – germinates and grows as a a as grows and germinates – genus’ park, dense pure stands of similarly similarly of stands pure dense park, 3 2 conifers, they were alternatively alternatively were they conifers, 1

The copper beech – a ‘shade tree tree ‘shade a – beech copper The Prior to the creation of the national national the of creation the to Prior

Instead of felling and removing removing and felling of Instead

awning spruce a areas large over

felling not Girdling under trees beech Young

Removal of conifers – even – conifers of Removal

Measures taken during the project the during taken Measures

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attacked by wild animals. animals. wild by attacked

it and the deciduous copses get badly badly get copses deciduous the and it forests.

rft fo te ec. usd o this, of Outside fence. the from profits conditions for the development of moist moist of development the for conditions

flowering woodland willowherb also also willowherb woodland flowering the flood plains become wet again - ideal ideal - again wet become plains flood the

inside the sapling enclosure. The pink- The enclosure. sapling the inside a result, the water remains in the area and and area the in remains water the result, a

using brush saws and thus cleared away. away. cleared thus and saws brush using tall grow trees pioneer other and birch closed off the drainage channels again. As As again. channels drainage the off closed

The self-germinating conifers are cut down down cut are conifers self-germinating The game, by damaged being from Protected Multiple earth walls, one behind the other, other, the behind one walls, earth Multiple

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woodcock. advantage.

hazelnut.

marsh marigolds, grass snakes and and snakes grass marigolds, marsh against competition, thus given an an given thus competition, against

aspen, downy birch, willow and and willow birch, downy aspen,

also reappear, such as as such reappear, also tree regeneration, which is weaker weaker is which regeneration, tree

as sycamore, copper beech, rowan, rowan, beech, copper sycamore, as

of this habit will will habit this of pulled up or cut down and deciduous deciduous and down cut or up pulled

different deciduous tree species, such such species, tree deciduous different

and animals typical typical animals and reason young conifers are being being are conifers young reason

natural spread from these areas of of areas these from spread natural

the future, plants plants future, the called natural regeneration. For this this For regeneration. natural called

aim is that in future there will be a a be will there future in that is aim

streams again in in again streams spruce rapidly spreads through so- through spreads rapidly spruce

genus of beech woodlands. The The woodlands. beech of genus

lands line the the line lands no countermeasures are taken, the the taken, are countermeasures no

encourage this conco-mitant tree tree conco-mitant this encourage

wood- moist When in the south of the National Park, if if Park, National the of south the in

lings were planted to systematically systematically to planted were lings

dominate. On the more moist sites sites moist more the On dominate.

wild- sycamore few a cases some In

term Douglas firs would probably probably would firs Douglas term birch. and ash poplar, willow,

project. the during created

oak trees, but where over the long long the over where but trees, oak alder, as such genera to site a offer

half a hectare in size, were therefore therefore were size, in hectare a half

uplands, which are covered in old old in covered are which uplands, to order in again up closed were

trees. Thirty enclosures, each around around each enclosures, Thirty trees.

is the dry slopes of the Kermeter Kermeter the of slopes dry the is channels drainage project LIFE+ the of

in the surrounding area – by seed seed by – area surrounding the in

be affected by this, for example, example, for this, by affected be part As habitat. this of typical species

either by animals or – if there are any any are there if – or animals by either

deciduous trees. One area that would would that area One trees. deciduous animal and plant numerous also them

deciduous tree can be introduced introduced be can tree deciduous

capable of swamping the growth of of growth the swamping of capable with but forests, alluvial and bog

various different types of indigenous indigenous of types different various

accord. Their numerous seedlings are are seedlings numerous Their accord. just not was result a as disappeared

there is a lot of wild game. The seeds of of seeds The game. wild of lot a is there

Eifel, multiply rapidly of their own own their of rapidly multiply Eifel, What agriculture. and forestry for

deciduous woodland in places where where places in woodland deciduous

which are non-indigenous to the the to non-indigenous are which them use to able be to order in ago

a successful method of encouraging encouraging of method successful a

l Duls i cpe, oh of both copses, fir Douglas all centuries channels drainage by

and opened up to the sun has proved proved has sun the to up opened and

Spruce and − on dry sites − above above − sites dry on − and Spruce drained were plains flood stream The

6 5 Fencing in areas cleared of conifers conifers of cleared areas in Fencing 4

woodland duous

grounds breeding

ration to encourage deci- encourage to ration

Rewetting the flood plains flood the Rewetting

as deciduous woodland woodland deciduous as

Stopping natural regene- natural Stopping act enclosures Sapling

14

criteria.

positively into the desired habitats with a few already fulfilling the specified specified the fulfilling already few a with habitats desired the into positively

grass and low-nutrient indicator species shown here. The areas are developing developing are areas The here. shown species indicator low-nutrient and grass

cuttings the species that have settled include the typical mountain pasture, mat mat pasture, mountain typical the include settled have that species the cuttings

The studies on open land showed that three years after the transfer of grass grass of transfer the after years three that showed land open on studies The

were recorded and an assessment made of the proportions in which they occur. occur. they which in proportions the of made assessment an and recorded were

In order to track the areas’ development, all plant species in the marked areas areas marked the in species plant all development, areas’ the track to order In

Vegetation monitoring Vegetation

minor Rhinanthus vulgaris Polygala officinalis Betonica

22

Low-nutrient indicator species indicator Low-nutrient

Briza media Briza Lathyrus linifolius Lathyrus Meum athamanthicum Meum

Indicator species of mountain pastures and mat grass meadows grass mat and pastures mountain of species Indicator

Phyteuma nigrum Phyteuma nigra Centaurea pilosella Hieracium Indicator species of mountain pastures mountain of species Indicator

15

24

protection. protection.

and are likewise characteristic of these habitats meriting meriting habitats these of characteristic likewise are and

. . pamphilus)

indicators’, are typical of non-fertilised, low-nutrient soils soils low-nutrient non-fertilised, of typical are indicators’,

(Coenonympha (Coenonympha heath small the as

of mat grass. Other species, so-called ‘low-nutrient ‘low-nutrient so-called species, Other grass. mat of

many species of butterfly, such such butterfly, of species many

species‘ occur both on mountain meadows and areas areas and meadows mountain on both occur species‘

Open land rich in blossom attracts attracts blossom in rich land Open

species of plant. Some of these so-called ‘indicator ‘indicator so-called these of Some plant. of species

Both habitats are distinguished by the presence of certain certain of presence the by distinguished are habitats Both

herbs. cuttings.

in rich vegetation short by characterised are lands cultivate the soil: creating the seed bed for sewing the grass grass the sewing for bed seed the creating soil: the cultivate

grass- These soils. poor-quality very shallow, on thrives Forestry mulchers pulverise the spruce stumps and simultaneously simultaneously and stumps spruce the pulverise mulchers Forestry

which grass, mat into over cross they sites low-nutrient On

utilised mountain grassland of medium nutrient supply. supply. nutrient medium of grassland mountain utilised 25

Mountain meadows encompass biodiverse, extensively extensively biodiverse, encompass meadows Mountain

lskd grass mat and meadows Mountain

meadows and mat grass, to be able to develop here. here. develop to able be to grass, mat and meadows

protected by the Habitats Directive, such as mountain mountain as such Directive, Habitats the by protected

open land were restored in this zone. The aim is for habitats habitats for is aim The zone. this in restored were land open

place continuously. As part of the project, seven hectares of of hectares seven project, the of part As continuously. place

‘management zone’, nature conservation measures take take measures conservation nature zone’, ‘management

of the area of the national park, in what is known as the the as known is what in park, national the of area the of

many places and were planted with spruce. Over a third third a Over spruce. with planted were and places many

methods intensified, such areas became unprofitable in unprofitable became areas such intensified, methods

grazed.

in turn provided food for lots of species of bird. As farming farming As bird. of species of lots for food provided turn in

and other insects. These are being regularly mowed or or mowed regularly being are These insects. other and

that thus emerged attracted a multitude of insects, which which insects, of multitude a attracted emerged thus that

biotopes emerged in this way for lots of birds, butterflies butterflies birds, of lots for way this in emerged biotopes

the pastures fed were small herds of cattle. The mixed flora flora mixed The cattle. of herds small were fed pastures the

them and germinated. After a few years, new biodiverse biodiverse new years, few a After germinated. and them

could previously only been mowed once or twice and all all and twice or once mowed been only previously could

were spread. The seeds of herbs and grasses then fell on on fell then grasses and herbs of seeds The spread. were

require light. Without man-made fertiliser, the meadows meadows the fertiliser, man-made Without light. require

mowed. Then cuttings mown from biodiverse ‘donor areas’ areas’ ‘donor biodiverse from mown cuttings Then mowed.

shrubs or trees. There emerged a multitude of herbs that that herbs of multitude a emerged There trees. or shrubs

used to clear spruce stumps so that the areas could later be be later could areas the that so stumps spruce clear to used

prevented the appearance of any any of appearance the prevented

mountain meadows and mat grass. Forestry mulchers were were mulchers Forestry grass. mat and meadows mountain

Then mowing and grazing grazing and mowing Then

for the development of biodiverse open land, such as as such land, open biodiverse of development the for

forests were cleared. cleared. were forests

and shrubland. In a few areas the conditions were created created were conditions the areas few a In shrubland. and

farming use. First the the First use. farming

order to facilitate natural development of riparian woods woods riparian of development natural facilitate to order

as a result of traditional traditional of result a as

of these stream valleys, the spruce trees were removed in in removed were trees spruce the valleys, stream these of

ones that have arisen arisen have that ones

to the edge of streams. In the course of the renaturation renaturation the of course the In streams. of edge the to

in the Eifel, but rather rather but Eifel, the in

In many areas of the project area the spruce stands extended extended stands spruce the area project the of areas many In

are not natural habitats habitats natural not are

nature conserve

pastureland and meadows meadows and pastureland

Old man-made biotopes helping to to helping biotopes man-made Old

Open-land habitats such as as such habitats Open-land Traditional farming creates biodiversity creates farming Traditional

16

one and three and a half centimetres long. centimetres half a and three and one temperature. water its to acclimatised are new habitat. new

At one summer old, the fish are between between are fish the old, summer one At animals the stream, the stocking Before Young stone crayfish are released into their their into released are crayfish stone Young

27 26

6 5 4

are offered hiding places. places. hiding offered are separate. centre.

In order to avoid any rivalry, the animals animals the rivalry, any avoid to order In kept are eggs carrying females The breeding the in spawned are crayfish The

Offenland

3 2 1 Replacement breeding and stocking the streams the stocking and breeding Replacement

17

with the issues being addressed. being issues the with about the stone crayfish colonisation. crayfish stone the about

Guided tours acquainted interested parties parties interested acquainted tours Guided Secretary of State Horst Becker learning learning Becker Horst State of Secretary

29 28

park. national the in project conservation the for boost valuable a providing nations, 7

An international freshwater crayfish conference pooled the expertise of specialists from from specialists of expertise the pooled conference crayfish freshwater international An

Publications and PR work PR and Publications

crayfish. stone the for habitats potential

management is, however, continuing the colonisation. the continuing however, is, management

characteristics the streams in the project area represent represent area project the in streams the characteristics

though the LIFE+ project has finished, the national park park national the finished, has project LIFE+ the though

freshwater crayfish. By virtue of their location and location their of virtue By crayfish. freshwater

each could not be achieved during the project period. Even Even period. project the during achieved be not could each

Eifel National Park were once inhabited by indigenous indigenous by inhabited once were Park National Eifel

waterways in three consecutive years with 300 animals animals 300 with years consecutive three in waterways

It can be assumed that the watercourses in today’s today’s in watercourses the that assumed be can It

watercourses. The original aim of stocking three different different three stocking of aim original The watercourses.

wild each autumn. The stocking took place on two different different two on place took stocking The autumn. each wild

stocks decline. decline. stocks

From 2014 to 2016, around 200 fry were released into the the into released were fry 200 around 2016, to 2014 From

ban in the European Union on letting letting on Union European the in ban

by the Habitat Directive. There is a a is There Directive. Habitat the by

offspring. their of eclosion the until up centre breeding

range. The species is protected protected is species The range.

from the nearest stable source and keeping them in a a in them keeping and source stable nearest the from

being the Siebengebirge mountain mountain Siebengebirge the being

were ultimately obtained by taking egg-carrying females females egg-carrying taking by obtained ultimately were

the only place where it is still found found still is it where place only the

not surviving moulting. The fry for the stream stocking stocking stream the for fry The moulting. surviving not

is in danger of dying out here, with with here, out dying of danger in is

the streams. This failed due to a lot of eggs dying and fry fry and dying eggs of lot a to due failed This streams. the

its geographical spread. The species species The spread. geographical its

attempted through mating to get sufficient animals to stock stock to animals sufficient get to mating through attempted

Westphalia mark the northern border of of border northern the mark Westphalia

indigenous freshwater crayfish species. Initially it was was it Initially species. crayfish freshwater indigenous

Southeast Europe. The low mountains of North Rhine- North of mountains low The Europe. Southeast

stone crayfish a contribution to the preservation of this of preservation the to contribution a crayfish stone

of freshwater crayfish is found all over Central and Central over all found is crayfish freshwater of

Water – Wilderness’ project initiated through colonising colonising through initiated project Wilderness’ – Water

habitat of the stone crayfish. This indigenous species species indigenous This crayfish. stone the of habitat

National Park can be ruled out, the LIFE+ ‘Woodlands – – ‘Woodlands LIFE+ the out, ruled be can Park National

Cool streams with high oxygen content are the natural natural the are content oxygen high with streams Cool

As any natural colonisation of the watercourses in the Eifel Eifel the in watercourses the of colonisation natural any As

species

attempt Colonisation

The stone crayfish – an endangered endangered an – crayfish stone The

Colonisation in the streams the in Colonisation Middle spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius) 18 30

19

(Dendrocopos medius) (Dendrocopos woodpecker spotted Middle

(Felis silvestris) (Felis Wildcat fiber) (Castor beaver Eurasian

35 34

(Plecotus auritus) (Plecotus bat long-eared Brown (Ciconia nigra) (Ciconia stork Black

32 33

(Cottus gobio) (Cottus bullhead European (Lycaena helle) (Lycaena butterfly copper Violet

31

Natura 2000 species: 2000 Natura

The aim is that over the long term species benefiting from the measures taken in the project will include the following following the include will project the in taken measures the from benefiting species term long the over that is aim The Habitat Protection is Species Protection Species is Protection Habitat 20 36

21

areas. woodland – undisturbed and contiguous –

species such as wildcat and black stork, which need large large need which stork, black and wildcat as such species

The removal of tracks is having a positive effect on on effect positive a having is tracks of removal The

themselves. to left being are areas the Otherwise

38

taken only if the development objectives are at risk. risk. at are objectives development the if only taken

can arise wherever possible. wherever arise can

surrounding area is being monitored, with action being being action with monitored, being is area surrounding

areas and undisturbed natural cycles cycles natural undisturbed and areas

The multiplication of spruce by seeds from the the from seeds by spruce of multiplication The

permitted across large, contiguous contiguous large, across permitted

groves are able to develop on areas cleared of conifers. conifers. of cleared areas on develop to able are groves

sense that natural momentum is being being is momentum natural that sense

As in the natural world, moist woodland and beech beech and woodland moist world, natural the in As

develop in the Eifel National Park in the the in Park National Eifel the in develop

woodlands Deciduous parks globally. ‘Wilderness’ is able to to able is ‘Wilderness’ globally. parks

nature be nature’, as in all other national national other all in as nature’, be nature

2034. What will then apply on two thirds of the areas is ‘let ‘let is areas the of thirds two on apply then will What 2034.

three streams in the national park. national the in streams three

including its Natura 2000 areas, are set to be completed in in completed be to set are areas, 2000 Natura its including

The aim is for the species to become indigenous again in in again indigenous become to species the for is aim The

The development measures in the Eifel National Park, Park, National Eifel the in measures development The The stone crayfish conservation project is being continued. continued. being is project conservation crayfish stone The

Wilderness

crayfish Stone

is being watched by the vegetation monitoring programme. monitoring vegetation the by watched being is group for the watercourses. the for group

soil. How the make-up of species develops going forward forward going develops species of make-up the How soil. and of the fish is to be followed as an important indicator indicator important an as followed be to is fish the of and

used, in order to encourage plants that need low-nutrient low-nutrient need that plants encourage to order in used, role in this. The development of the macrozoobenthos macrozoobenthos the of development The this. in role

typical of the habitat grow on them. No fertiliser is being being is fertiliser No them. on grow habitat the of typical streams. Dead wood will increasingly play a supporting supporting a play increasingly will wood Dead streams.

The meadows are being regularly mown so that plant species species plant that so mown regularly being are meadows The term, a moist forest will develop again alongside the the alongside again develop will forest moist a term,

through processes of its own momentum. Over the long long the Over momentum. own its of processes through land Open

watercourse structure is able to improve itself further further itself improve to able is structure watercourse

The watercourses are being left to develop naturally. The The naturally. develop to left being are watercourses The

conifers. young of removal the e.g. needed, are measures

streams range mountain Low monitoring is important for deciding whether further control control further whether deciding for important is monitoring

being tracked beyond the end of the project as well. This This well. as project the of end the beyond tracked being

and whether the desired woodland habitats develop is is develop habitats woodland desired the whether and

oe f h sinii suis r big are on. carried being are studies scientific the of some

damaged by wild animals, which copses continue growing growing continue copses which animals, wild by damaged tracking of the development of the habitats and species, species, and habitats the of development the of tracking

How badly the copses on the study areas created get get created areas study the on copses the badly How possible, as much as necessary’. In order to enable further further enable to order In necessary’. as much as possible,

of the national park plan on the basis of ‘as a little as as little a ‘as of basis the on plan park national the of

conifers. girdling or removing again once by stands be taken in accordance with the general parameters parameters general the with accordance in taken be

beech trees that have been planted in cleared conifer conifer cleared in planted been have that trees beech habitats is at risk. Then, action will will action Then, risk. at is habitats

37 After around ten years, space will be created for the copper copper the for created be will space years, ten around After development into the aimed-for aimed-for the into development

left to themselves, unless their their unless themselves, to left

woods. surrounding the into there from out

the most part the areas will be be will areas the part most the

by wild animals. The deciduous trees can then spread spread then can trees deciduous The animals. wild by the Natura 2000 areas. For For areas. 2000 Natura the

an extent that they are no longer at risk from damage damage from risk at longer no are they that extent an drive on the development of of development the on drive

such as sycamore, will by then have developed to such such to developed have then by will sycamore, as such will continue to pursue and and pursue to continue will

ten years. The beech groves’ concomitant tree species, species, tree concomitant groves’ beech The years. ten Eifel National Park management management Park National Eifel

The sapling enclosures will be dismantled after around around after dismantled be will enclosures sapling The After the project has finished, the the finished, has project the After Looking to the Future the to Looking 41

39

22

40

23

which was produced in a workshop with junior rangers. rangers. junior with workshop a in produced was which

Natura 2000 Awards 2015 with one of these films, films, these of one with 2015 Awards 2000 Natura

producer reached the final of the EU Commission’s Commission’s EU the of final the reached producer

in the film screening room. The project team and film and team project The room. screening film the in

All five films produced during the project are shown are project the during produced films five All

buildings, thus visualising project content and progress. progress. and content project visualising thus buildings,

landscape model already installed in all gateway gateway all in installed already model landscape

park gateways: data was incorporated into the 3D 3D the into incorporated was data gateways: park

channel on YouTube. on channel

supplements the permanent exhibitions at the national national the at exhibitions permanent the supplements

The five films five The ‘Eifelbiostationen’ the on found be also can

attractive at events. Information about the project project the about Information events. at attractive

button badge machine made the LIFE+ project stand stand project LIFE+ the made machine badge button website. the on download a as available is and exhibition

supplemented a poster exhibition and together with a a with together and exhibition poster a supplemented The accompanying educational leaflet educational accompanying The supplements the the supplements

Interactive models and games on the subject of streams streams of subject the on games and models Interactive

workshop. wilderness Park’s

Arousing curiosity and giving information giving and curiosity Arousing The exhibition The National Eifel the from out hired be can

section.

mountain stream habitats. stream mountain

Publications are listed on the website in the download download the in website the on listed are

for the interlinking of deciduous woodland and low low and woodland deciduous of interlinking the for

app. tours Region

LIFE. It is designed to appeal to young visitors and stands stands and visitors young to appeal to designed is It LIFE.

A themed hiking route hiking themed A can be found in the Aachen Cities Cities Aachen the in found be can

contest at a celebration to mark the 20th anniversary of of anniversary 20th the mark to celebration a at contest

‘Vuurtje’, a fire salamander, was christened in a naming naming a in christened was salamander, fire a ‘Vuurtje’, project. the of aspects

the project appear as something stand-alone. Mascot Mascot stand-alone. something as appear project the online and with it everything there is to know about all all about know to is there everything it with and online

with the conservation area to be seen, while also letting letting also while seen, be to area conservation the with The website www.wald-wasser-wildnis.de/en/ website The is still still is

drawing on the national park enabled the association association the enabled park national the on drawing

gateways.

seeing themselves reflected in them. A corporate design design corporate A them. in reflected themselves seeing

A comic A about the project is available at the national park park national the at available is project the about

products, with both project partners and project sponsor sponsor project and partners project both with products,

the Eifel National Park had to be recognisable in all PR PR all in recognisable be to had Park National Eifel the

things? find I will Where The first challenge was the design: the relationship with with relationship the design: the was challenge first The

character of full image An

then?’.

a large audience. large a

from the path under the heading ‘What‘s going on here, here, on going ‘What‘s heading the under path the from

communicated, but also creates the opportunity to reach reach to opportunity the creates also but communicated,

A noticeboard on the site explained every measure visible visible measure every explained site the on noticeboard A

on the way in which the nature conservation measures are are measures conservation nature the which in way the on

numerous talks, press articles, radio reports and TV items. items. TV and reports radio articles, press talks, numerous

numbers place particular demands demands particular place numbers

the project was presented via a website and flyer and in in and flyer and website a via presented was project the

park gateways. The high visitor visitor high The gateways. park

acceptance of the project. Before the measures began, began, measures the Before project. the of acceptance

exhibitions at the five national national five the at exhibitions

provided with information early on, in order to generate generate to order in on, early information with provided

or find information in the the in information find or

woodland guides and certified national park hosts, were were hosts, park national certified and guides woodland

each year to hike, cycle cycle hike, to year each

and visitor. The public, and also project champions such as as such champions project also and public, The visitor. and

the large conservation area area conservation large the

tested the patience and understanding of many a neighbour neighbour a many of understanding and patience the tested

800,000 visitors come to to come visitors 800,000

The extensive measures, which often lasted for months, months, for lasted often which measures, extensive The

Park: that is a challenge. Around Around challenge. a is that Park:

acceptance Generating

A LIFE+ project in the Eifel National National Eifel the in project LIFE+ A

demands and opportunities alike opportunities and demands

area: conservation major a in work Publicity Watercourse measures

Woodland measures

National park boundary

Project areas

0 0,4 0,8 1,6 2,4 3,2 Kilometres N

Local authority and NRW geospatial data, © Geobasis NRW 2016 24 At a glance

Measures taken Project information >> Over 100 barriers to passage taken out and 12 backwater areas Project title: Optimisation of FFH Habitats in the Eifel National Park remodelled or removed.

Short title: LIFE ‘Woodlands – Water – Wilderness’ >> Stabilisation and straightening removed Project from 15 sections of stream. Project code: LIFE09 NAT/DE/000006

>> Around 100 drainage channels sealed up. Project period: January 2011 to March 2017

>> Dead wood introduced to streams over a total of more Budget: 4.174.582 Euro, half financed by the than one kilometre. EU and half by North Rhine-Westphalia

Coordinating grant recipient: >> Around 150 hectares of conifer stands thinned out Nationalparkforstamt Eifel im Landesbetrieb Wald und for underplanting. Holz Nordrhein-Westfalen

>> Copper beech trees planted in over 90 hectares of Associated grant recipient: thinned-out conifer stands. Biologische Station StädteRegion Aachen e.V.

>> Over 120 hectares of pure conifer stands cleared, conifers removed from 30 hectares of mixed deciduous and conifer stands and around 110 hectares of conifer stands girdled across the whole area. Results

>> Woodland development areas enriched with dead >> Near-natural streams were freed along 80 kilometres wood over more than 100 hectares. of any barriers preventing passage by fish or other >> Young stands of non-indigenous thicket cleared away stream life. Flood plains were made wet again and over an area of 490 hectares. fine sediment deposits in streams reduced.

>> Spruce stumps over seven hectares mulched and hay >> 500 hectares of land were prepared for the spread on them as seed. development of near-natural alluvial woods and beech groves and around 350 hectares >> 30 sapling enclosures created. of existing deciduous woodland improved.

>> Over 10 kilometres of forest track removed. >> Mountain meadows were created over 7 hectares.

>> Nearly 600 young stone crayfish released into >> Contiguous woodland areas were created and watercourses. made tranquil for species that are sensitive to

disturbance, such as wildcat and black stork. >> A project leaflet, a website, five films and a comic Watercourse measures produced. >> The foundations were laid for a self-multiplying Woodland measures stone crayfish population. >> An exhibition for hiring out, complete with stream National park boundary model, fishing game and accompanying educational >> Visitors, project area neighbours and Project areas booklet designed. people interested in conservation were

0 0,4 0,8 1,6 2,4 3,2 kept informed. Kilometres >> Visitor information provided via 5 noticeboards on the N site, a hiking route as an app and depiction of the project

in the national park gateways’ landscape model. 42

>> Over 20 (specialist) publications and 30 press releases published. 25 Contact:

Landesbetrieb Wald und Holz Biologische Station StädteRegion Bundesforst Rhein-Weser

Nordrhein-Westfalen Aachen e.V. Hellenthaler Straße 4 Nationalparkforstamt Eifel Zweifaller Straße 162 53937 Schleiden Urftseestraße 34 52224 Stolberg Germany 53937 Schleiden-Gemünd Germany Phone: 02485 912612 Germany Phone: 02402-126170 E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: +49 (0) 24 44. 95 10-0 E-Mail: [email protected] www.bundesimmobilien.de

E-Mail: [email protected] www.bs-aachen.de Markus Vollmer www.nationalpark-eifel.de Bettina Krebs Vogelsang Area Leader Dr. Michael Röös Project leadership, management Florian Zieseniß Director of the Eifel National Park and monitoring Wahnerheide Operations Area Leader Gabriela Geitz Marietta Schmitz Achim Urmes Woodland Measures Coordinator, Waterway measures and track Deputy Head of Operations Area Leader removal implementation Bundesforstbetrieb Rhein-Weser Julian Mauerhof Anika Poetschke Head of the Biotope and Wildlife Publicity and stone crayfish project The owner of the valleys in the former Management Division Cornelia Zimmermann Vogelsang military training grounds Natura Financial management and grants 2000 area and of parts of the Kermeter uplands is the Federal Republic of Germany. The areas are managed by the Federal Institute for Real Estate, represented by the Rhine-Weser Federal Forestry Department.

43 44 45

26 Many people have helped!

It was only through the active help and great commitment of a multitude of people that it was possible to run the project successfully. They all deserve our sincere thanks.

. We were particularly helped by:

>> Henning Walter, former Director of the Eifel National Park, who supported the project for five years.

>> From the Eifel National Park Forestry Office the national park regional managers, the staff of the timber workshop, the Research and Documentation departments, Central Services, Sovereignty, Communications and Experience Nature.

>> Euskirchen District Authority, including the Local Nature Conservation Agency, District Hunting Agency, Local Water Authority, Local Soil Conservation Authority and the Road Traffic Agency

>> The Aachen Cities Region, including the Local Nature Conservation Agency, District Hunting Agency, Local Water Authority and Local Soil Conservation Authority

>> Düren District Authority, including the Local Nature Conservation Agency and Local Water Authority

>> The Schleiden, Monschau, Heimbach and Simmerath National Park Local Authorities

>> North Rhine-Westphalia Road Construction Division (Landesbetrieb Straßenbau Nordrhein-Westfalen)

>> The North Rhine-Westphalia Roads Division

>> The Eifel- Water Board and enwor - energie & wasser vor ort GmbH

>> Regional Government, including Departments 3 and 5

>> Jülich Research Centre

>> Interns and mountain woods project volunteers

>> Staff of the practical nature conservation division of Biologische Station StädteRegion Aachen e.V.

Further information www.wald-wasser-wildnis.de/en/

PROJECT SPONSOR PROJECT PARTNER FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED BY AS PART OF