Learning for Lakes:

Wetland Restoration Case Study

Title: Nature Conservation Project Lausitzer Seenland (Lusatian Lakeland Germany)

Location: Germany

Period: 2001 – now

Organisations: Lausitzer Seenland gGmbH

Budget: €2.87million (2003, 2005-2011)

Location and Background Post-mining landscapes, such as those found in the northeastern part of the Lusatian mining area between Dresden and Berlin, are characterised by many rare animal and plant species. A nature conservation project, which is funded by the Ministries of Environment of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Free State of Saxony, fosters the protection and nature-oriented restoration of these post-mining landscapes. The project covers an area of altogether 5844ha and is also intended to serve as an impetus for tourism development in the Lusatian Lakeland. The ownership of the project area is divided as follows: • the project executing agency (Lausitzer Seenland gGmbH) owns 920ha • companies of the Federal Republic of Germany (LMBV mbH and BWG GmbH) own 2590ha • the Free State of Saxony and different municipal associations own 175ha • individuals and private companies own 2159ha

Problems/Issues and Causes of Issue For many years, regions with former open-pit mining operations were regarded as the most environmentally deprived areas in Eastern Germany. Due to their very specific characteristics, however, such areas offer a high natural value and potential. In 1997, the German Council for Land Stewardship and the German Federal Nature Conservation Agency (BfN) in Leipzig addressed the issue of the Lusatian Lakeland and delivered the framework for its protection and restoration. In addition to its reconnection to the intact adjacent cultural landscape areas, special attention was paid to the conservation of the peculiarities of the area. Hence, a management and development plan specifying the potential means of protection and development of the outstanding species and habitat features was developed.

Organisations Involved In 2001, the non-profit organisation “Lausitzer Seenland gGmbH” was founded as the executing agency of the conservation project. The main shareholders of this organisation include the special purpose association “Zweckverband Lausitzer Seenland Sachsen” as the

local authority, the “Naturschutzinstitut AG Dresden e.V.”, a nature conservation institute in Dresden, and the ”Landesverein Sächsischer Heimatschutz e.V.”, the Saxonian association for the protection of nature and cultural heritage. In addition to the support from the Ministries of Environment of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Free State of Saxony, the “Lausitzer Seenland gGmbH” receives technical support from:

• the Saxon State Ministry of the Environment and Agriculture • the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) • the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) • the Saxon State Office for the Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG) • the Nature Conservation Agency and the Forestry Office of the District of Bautzen

Actions Taken The following actions were taken as part of the nature conservation project:

• Forest conversion The forests of the Lusatian Lakeland area consist mainly of pine monocultures and non-native trees and shrubs. This unnaturally composed forest is to be converted into domestic mixed forests. • Development of dry grasslands Dry grasslands usually form on sandy, dry and nutrient-poor soils, which is why they are characterised by very resistant plants and animal species. Post-mining areas with their sandy and nutrient-poor soil are very suitable for the development of xeric grasslands. • Restoration of wetlands Due to the resurgence of groundwater, post-mining areas are suitable for the creation of wetlands. In Saxony, the number of wetlands decreased drastically because groundwater drawdown and the abandonment of landuse led to an excessive growth of grasses and shrubs. In order to preserve wetlands, emerging shrubs need to be repressed with the help of sheep or other livestock. • Preservation of open landscapes Open land areas are barely covered by trees or other woody plants and the fluctuating temperatures allow only a few adapted animals to survive. Open landscapes can be preserved by livestock grazing practices. • Building of small water bodies By building small water bodies, such as pools, habitats for rare animals like natter jack toads and different dragonfly species are secured. • Introduction of sheep The introduction of sheep herds ensures the preservation of cultural landscapes. • Visitors’ management In order to protect environmentally sensitive areas, the visitors of the Lusatian Lakeland need to be steered in certain directions.

Maintenance and Monitoring The progress of the project is monitored by the different organisations involved. If measures turn out not to be efficient, adjustment measures are taken.

Results and Benefits Thanks to the implementation of the measures mentioned above, the following results were achieved: • On the acquired forest land areas population renovations are carried out by planting native deciduous tree species. Annually, 1000m of the edge of the forest are specifically structured for an ecological development. • 400ha of dry grasslands are maintained with the help of different rare grazing animals. • A wetland, which had reverted to scrubland over the years, was successfully restored. • 600ha of open landscapes are preserved with the help of Heck cattle and wild horses. • A few water pools were successfully built. • On an area of altogether 200ha sheep herds were introduced for grazing. • Artificial embankments and sign posts lead visitors through the woods and open areas of the post-mining landscape. In order to inform the guests about the nature conservation project and the specific characteristics of the Lusatian Lakeland, information panels and maps were installed in different locations.

Lessons Learnt The processing time of 12 months turned out to be too short for the preparation of a maintenance and development plan. Consequently, the legal framework could not be considered sufficiently. In addition, the ecological and planning conditions often changed quickly and dramatically, which led to the fact that stipulations from the maintenance and development plan were no longer feasible. Due to the fact that an evaluation concept was missing, a systematic assessment of the results could not be carried out. Hence, adjustments of measures were often based on subjective evaluations.

References: http://www.ngp-lausitzerseenland.de/

Credits: Dr. Alexander Harter, BUND; Greta Link, Global Nature Fund; Dr. Thomas Schaefer, Global Nature Fund; Nina Bastian, Global Nature Fund