Ancient cultivated »Biosphere Reserve« – the key At a glance Further Information phrase region There are currently 621 biosphere reserves in various parts of the Biosphere Upper Lusatian The most important Development zone – Each of the three supervisory ENGLISH world. They are the »stepping stones« of the UNESCO »Man Heath and Pond Region watercourses harmonious cultivated region departments has its own and the Biosphere« programme, model regions in which nature Spree, Kleine Spree, Schwarzer 14,949 ha of heavily impacted Nature Watch site. Close collab- Location conservation and sustainable management are intended to contri- Schöps, Weigersdorfer Fließ areas of the countryside, such oration between citizens and North of Bautzen between The Upper Lusatia heath and pond region has evolved over many bute to the preservation of unique natural and cultivated regions as residential areas or cultivat- their ‹own› area supervisor Hoyerswerda in the northwest Significant distribution centuries as a result of human use. The Slav settlers who came and to develop them further. ed fields; objective: 14,949 ha can thus be achieved. and Niesky in the east of rare plants and animal here after 600 A. D. called the land which was covered in bogs In biosphere reserves, the coexistence of man and nature should of landscape areas significantly species Biosphärenreservatszentrum and forests »Łužica« (marshland), to which the German name be moulded so that a balance is reached whereby biological Natural areas characterised by human use 304 higher plant species on the Wartha (Administration and »Lausitz« is related. The first documented evidence of the diversity is present on one hand and man finds opportunities Upper Lusatian heath and pond in the form of built-up areas »Red List« for Saxony, 94 spe- Nature Watch Department building of fish ponds dates from the year 1248. for sustained economic and cultural development on the other. region between the Upper or farmland: careful use so that cies of breeding birds, a total Centre), Warthaer Dorfstraße The work of the biosphere reserves is thus determined by the Lusatian plains in the south ecological functions and the of over 1,200 plant and animal 29, 02694 Malschwitz OT War- following main priorities: and the Upper Lusatian mining character of the countryside species on the »Red List« tha, Tel.: +49 (0)35932/365-0, region in the north, part of the and villages are preserved > demonstration of sustainable economic development, Fax: +49 (0)35932/365-50 Saxon lowland region, altitude Zoning of the Biosphere Visiting the House of a Thousand Ponds KN > well-founded ecological environmental research and Administration of the 80–180 m above sea level Reserve Naturschutzstation Friedersdorf environmental monitoring, Biosphere Reserve Environmental education Some further reading Core zone (Nature Watch Department > positive environmental education and training. Climate Incorporated within the Office in the Biosphere Reserve (Selection) 1,124 ha – complete reserve West), Altfriedersdorfer Straße, Subcontinental, inland climate for Large Conservation Areas, Regional partners are respon- Biosphärenreservatsplan Each biosphere reserve consists of core, maintenance and deve- land without any utilisation 02999 Lohsa Ortsteil Frieders- of Eastern Germany administration of the Biosphere sible for environmental educa- (3 books in slipcase) – on sale lopment zones. The core zones are strictly protected subareas for dorf, Tel.: +49 (0)35724/51075, Maintenance zone Reserve is the responsibility tion, in particular the Förder- in the House of a Thousand preserving biological diversity. Maintenance zones surround the Size and land use Fax: +49 (0)35724/55171 12,015 ha nature conservation of the state-owned company verein für die Natur der Ponds core zones; naturally sustainable uses are possible here. Finally, 30,102 hectares, comprising area, areas with naturally sus- Sachsenforst. It consists of the Alte Försterei Mücka Oberlausitzer Heide- und Teich- Oberlausitzer Heide- und Teich- development zones allow a wide range of sustainable uses resul- 13,139 ha nature conservation Oxbow lakes of the River Spree near Neulömischau AM tainable use, e.g. pond farming organisational units of Internal (Nature Watch Department landschaft e. V. The latter orga- landschaft: Eine landeskundli- ting from the management of land, forests and ponds, tourism area, 2,750 ha watercourses, Administration and Public East), Am Sportplatz 231, nises and supports the exten- che Bestandsaufnahme, volume By the 15th and 16th century, pond fishing was already an impor- and systematic residential development. 340 ha moors, 1,100 ha heath Development zone – Relations, the Department 02906 Mücka, sive programme of events, 67 of the series »Landschaften tant business activity. Efficient pond management developed and dry grassland, 14,160 ha regeneration area of Regional Development, the Tel.: +49 (0)35893/50872 a large number of seminars, in Deutschland – Werte der from the beginning of the 18th century and at that time it was forest, 10,530 ha agriculture, 2,014 ha of areas heavily Department of Public Works/ guided tours and also hands-on deutschen Heimat«, Bastian the most profitable usage of this part of Upper Lusatia. The Kauppa ponds MH 2,100 ha mining rehabilitation affected by former use, particu- Services (Forestry Department) Internet > www.biosphä- activities, above all for children et al./Sächs. Akademie d. Wis- The Biosphere Reserve is situated in the centre of this old land (open cast brown coal larly by brown coal mining; and Nature Watch. Departmen- renreservat-oberlausitz.de and teenagers. senschaften Leipzig (Hrsg.), INFORMATION SHEET cultivated region. It comprises a total of more than 350 ponds mining), 1,100 ha built-up objective: extensive restoration tal supervision is decentralised. Böhlau Verlag Cologne Weimar in dune forests, marshy areas, sparse fields, flood plains and areas of the ecosystem and the land- Internet > www.biosphä- Vienna (2005) Th e Biosphere Reserve heathlands – an extraordinary variety of habitats for rare plants scape appearance Settlement renreservat-oberlausitz.de/ and animals. in the Land of a Th ousand Ponds 58 villages with around 10,000 umweltbildung

inhabitants, bilingual Sorbian- Bärwalde Bjerwałd speaking region, population Biosphere Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Region Biosphärenreservat Balloon trip near Lippitsch HM density: 33 inhabitants B 156 Oberlausitzer Heide- und Weißwasser per km² Friedersdorf Nature Reserve Station Teichlandschaft Lippen Hoyerswerda Lipiny Koblenz Koblicy Groß Särchen Womiatke Drehna Welcome to the Biosphere Reserve Getting around in the Biosphere Wulke Ždźary Mortka Womjatk Litschen Mortkow Złyčin Tranje Tschernske Friedersdorf Černsk Reserve Uhyst Wartha Bjedrichecy Neuhof Stróža Delni Wujězd Nowy Dwór Driewitz Lache The headquarters of the Biosphere Reserve is housed in an old, The coexistence of human beings and nature is also shapes tour- Steinitz Drěwcy Łuža B 96 Šćeńca Kolbitz Klětno rectangular farmyard in Wartha, enclosed on all sides by build- ism in the Biosphere Reserve. Our guests appreciate the heath and Bautzen Kołpica Rauden Mała Sprjewja Kaschel Kreba Rudej Chrjebja

Kleine Spree Košla

Wólšinka Wólšinka Wólšinka ings. This is the focal point of the expertise that then flows into pond region because it is where they find peace, space for their Wólšinka Klein Radisch Lieske Radšowk Hermsdorf Lěskej the practical side of nature conservation work and the place where children, recreation for the whole family and a part of the coun- Weißig Hermanecy Ruhethal Neudorf Wysoka Wotpoćink Nowa Wjes environmental education activities and public relations are plan- tryside without noise or exhaust fumes. They want to experience Tauer Mücka

Wessel Zimpel Turjo Mikow

Čorny Šepc Šepc Šepc Čorny Čorny Čorny ned. The HOUSE OF A THOUSAND PONDS is also located in the nature, are curious about our villages and their people and they Wjesel Cympl Šepc Čorny Neudorf Petershain farmstead, offering visitors to the heath and pond region a wealth want to see what sustainable management means to us. Nowa Wjes Hóznica Oppitz Lippitsch Psowje Schwarzer Schöps Lipič Förstgen Horscha of information, the chance to visit the permanent exhibition or to Milkel Jetscheba Hóršow Biosphere hosts Minakał Jatřob Commerau Dołha Boršć Halbendorf Weigersdorfer sample regional specialities in the bistro. So all in all, the HOUSE Komorow Fließ In the Biosphere Reserve, our guests encounter outstanding hosts. Droben Spree Połpica Wólšina OF A THOUSAND PONDS is the ideal starting point for excursions Droby Göbeln The Biosphere Reserve rewards accommodation and fine dining Kauppa Kobjelń Neulömischau Steinölsa and guided tours of the heath and pond region, to watch water Addresses of interest Kupoj Nowy Lemišow Dauban Kamjentna establishments as well as owners of holiday apartments who Särchen Spreewiese Dubo Lipinki Wólšina Towards Niesky fowl, or for a trip to the naturally sustained pond farm. Crosta Zdźar Lichań Lömischau Wartha Lemišow Lomske Chróst Sdier Stróža Klein- contribute in a particular way to the promotion of regional eco- Łomsk Brehmen Towards Weissenberg Zdźěr Sprjewja saubernitz Brěmjo Zubornička Nature and adventure trails nomic cycles, to the preservation of the environment and to the Farm shops and direct Klix Klukš Brösa The Nature Trail Guttauer Teiche und Olbasee and the Seeadler- maintenance of the cultural landscape. 14 accommodation agricultural marketing Brězyna B 156 Salga Guttau Hućina rundweg take visitors past characteristic features of the unique providers (hotels, guesthouses, camping sites and holiday apart- Bauernhof Ladusch Pachows Hofladen Bautzen Załhow cultural landscape. ments) currently bear the distinction of »Biosphere Host«. in Kreba-Neudorf Bakery and confectionary House of a Thousand Ponds Meat and sausage specialities, products, meat and sausages, The new Visitor Centre in the – Book excursions through Guided tours, excursions and more Cycle and hiking trails extensive range of regional extensive range of agricultural Pond farmers Nature trail Imprint »Guttauer Teiche und Olbasee« Biosphere Reserve farmstead the pond scenery An extensive programme of guided hikes, excursions, tours, camps A charming network of cycle and walking paths opens up the products products from the region with direct marketing Publisher| Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst, Biosphärenreservatsverwaltung Oberlausitzer invites its guests to take a look – There is a bistro with typical Heide- und Teichlandschaft, Warthaer Dorfstr. 29, D-02694 Malschwitz OT Wartha, and seminars for groups of children and teenagers and old and heath and pond region with its scenic beauty and villages. Long- Nieskyer Straße 26, Hermsdorfer Weg 7, Teichwirtschaft Bergmann Teichwirtschaft at its interactive exhibition of the food and drink found in the Telephone| +49 (0)35932 – 365-0, Fax | +49 (0)35932 – 365-50 young nature lovers alike provide a deeper understanding of the distance cycling and hiking trails such as the Spreeradweg or the 02906 Kreba-Neudorf, 02999 Lohsa OT Driewitz, E-mail | [email protected]; Internet | www.biosphaerenreservat- Upper Lusation organic carp Rüdiger Richter Upper Lusatian heath and pond region Tel.: +49 (0)35893/6300 Tel: +49 (0)35724/50747 oberlausitz.de; Editors | Biosphärenreservatsverwaltung, Referat Öffentlichkeitsarbeit complex interdependencies of ecosystems. Froschradweg pass through the Biosphere Reserve. The Seeadler- Dürrbacher Str. 351, Hoyerswerdaer Str. 18, region. The exhibition spirits – An adjacent waterside Photos | H. Meischner © (HM) – cover photo, S. Blaß (SB), B. Hering (BOH), For the calendar of events and more detailed information, rundweg takes visitors to the beauties of the landscape and the Bio-Betrieb Spreehof Gärtnerei Teske in Klix 02906 Klitten, 02906 Kreba-Neudorf, visitors away into the »Land of adventure playground entices M. Höhne (MH), A. Mrosko (AM), K. Nitsch (KN), R. M. Schreyer (RMS), D. Weis (DW) Design, layout, map | ibra / Corporate Design Europarc – Nationale Naturlandschaften please contact > HOUSE OF A THOUSAND PONDS, characteristic features of the culture inherent to the Lusatian in Göbeln Seasonal vegetables Tel.: +49 (0)35895/50409 Tel.: +49 (0)35893/6418 a Thousand Ponds«, using pond visitors to have fun and see Printing | Druckfabrik Dresden GmbH; Print-run | 10,000, printed on FSC-certified Meat and sausage specialities, Spreewieser Straße 15, management in Upper Lusatia to what they discover. Tel.: +49 (0)35932/36560, Fax: +49 (0)35932/36561, Internet: pond region and to the large and the small attractions nestled Teichwirtschaft Funke Teichwirtschaft Kittner paper; Closing date| 04/ 2013, © 2013 BR-Verwaltung, Wartha extensive range of regional 02694 Klix, explain the Biosphere Reserve www.haus-der-tausend-teiche.de in the Biosphere Reserve. Zum Altteich 3, 02906 Hohen- Dorfstr. 27, 02906 Quitzdorf Contact products Tel.: +49 (0)35932/30604 and its tasks and demonstrating Pygmy owl RMS House of a Thousand Ponds SB dubrau OT Weigersdorf, am See OT Petershain, House of a Thousand Ponds Recommended > map »Wander- und Radwanderkarte Ober- Am Spreewehr 14, interactively the interdependen- Gärtnerei Pötschke in Gleina Tel.: +49 (0)35932/30716 Tel.:+49 (0)35893/6416 Warthaer Dorfstraße 29, lausitzer Heide- und Teichlandschaft Blatt 4, Biosphärenreservat« 02694 Großdubrau OT Göbeln, cies between humans and Seasonal vegetables 02694 Malschwitz OT Wartha, Tel.: +49 (0)35932/32237 Teichwirtschaft Ringpfeil Teichwirtschaft Semmer nature. published by Bautzen, Sachsen Kartographie GmbH Dresden Zur Gärtnerei 17, Telephone: +49 (0)35932/36560 Upper Lusatian organic carp Zum Gutshof 1, 02694 Groß- (Hrsg.) in 2012 Bio-Betrieb Schäferei Müller 02694 Malschwitz OT Gleina, Services in and around the E-mail: kontakt@haus-der- Mühlenweg 3, 02699 Königs- dubrau OT Kauppa, in Kaschel Tel.: +49 (0)35932/30525 house tausend-teiche.de A hike past the wartha OT Wartha, Tel.: +49 (0)35934/6439 Lamb, sheep products – A very diverse programme Homepage: www.haus-der- ponds BOH Imker Röhle in Klitten Tel.: +49 (0)35726/50233 Kiefernweg 44, Teichwirtschaft Hempel of seminars and lectures tausend-teiche.de Honey and beeswax candles 02905 Klitten OT Kaschel, Teichwirtschaft Lohsa Nr. 1d, 02627 Radibor OT Milkel, – Guests can obtain information Feldweg 94, 02906 Klitten, Tel.: +49 (0)35895/50462 Schloßstr. 17, 02943 Tel.: +49 (0)35934/6436 material and tourist informa- Tel.: +49 (0)35825/50960 Boxberg /O.L. OT Uhyst, tion about the region in the Tel.: 035728/85851 foyer Forests Fields, meadows and pastures Variety of habitats – coexistence of man water iris and various types of sedge. Breeding birds such as red- Forests are the lungs of the heath and pond region. The forests Even fields, meadows and pastures moulded by agriculture and nature necked grebe, great and little bittern, grey goose, rail and mallard of the Upper Lusatian heath used to be mainly mixed forests have their place in the biosphere of the heath and pond region. duck, common teal, garganey, gadwall, northern shoveler and of oak, pine, birch and hornbeam. Wild stocks of this kind belong In the last few decades, many traditional uses have been relin- common goldeneye can be found here. to the valuable forest biotopes. In the Biosphere Reserve, we also quished. Some areas have been amalgamated and drained. Watercourses The ponds and their surrounding area are a refuge for amphibians still find them as pine and oak forests, which were once Boundary ridges, hedgerows, lanes, groves and clearance cairns and reptiles such as moor frog, grass frog, common and green characteristic of the Upper Lusatian Heath, as berry bush and pine have disappeared. The use of herbicides has caused a drastic Rivers, streams and ditches are the landscape’s lifelines. toad, common spadefoot/common Eurasian spadefoot toad/Euro- forests with abundant quantities of bilberries and cranberries, decrease in wild field herbs. Without wild herbs there is no food The Schwarzer Schöps and the Weigersdorf stream and numerous pean spadefoot (pelobates fuscus), fire-bellied toad, smooth as lichen-pine forests in very dry locations and in dunes, or as for insects and, in the end, partridges and hares have no means of smaller streams and ditches run through the Biosphere Reserve. newt, sand lizard and grass snake. Tree frogs and water frogs give marsh tea and pine woods on the edge of the moors. The major existence. Together with the local farmers, the Biosphere Reserve Meadows containing streams and rivers, fast-flowing and slow- a concert on summer evenings. Most of the other animals in the pine forests are gradually being retransformed into mixed forests is showing that this development is not irreversible. And so running water, fordable places and deep scour pools and steep pond are also active at dusk or at night. Otter, polecat, noctule suitable for the area. Permanent forest management in the chemi­cal pesticides and mineral fertilizers are no longer used and flat banks form ideal living conditions for many animals and bat and Daubenton’s bat occupy their territory when people are Biosphere Reserve is now aiming at the development of wild on »wild herb fields«. The objective is to reestablish the abstract plants in the Biosphere Reserve. The following can still be seen: asleep. forests. plant community characteristic of our cultivated region, in con- kingfisher, otter, water shrew, striped dragonfly/banded demoi- Continued management of the ponds guarantees their conser­ junction with the cultivation of old types of grain crops and other selle (calopteryx splendens) and common sandpiper, Caspian vation. Lusatian carp, tench, pike, Wels catfish, lake sturgeon types of cultivated plants. spined loach and brook lamprey, rare water starworts, branched and zander continue to be the most important export items of the Over the past few decades, grassland management has also bur-reed and marsh marigold. The ditch system, which has been heath and pond region. Freshly caught or smoked, they can also changed. The mosaic of small multi-purpose areas has disap- established over the centuries for filling and draining the ponds, be purchased direct from the pond management companies or peared. The drawdown of the groundwater table and earlier and Marsh orchid DW links wetlands and ponds and forms routes for the spread can be sampled as a cooked specialty in the restaurants all over more frequent crops in addition to fertilisation have led to the rise of nomadic fauna species. Upper Lusatia. of crops with little variety and with few competitive grasses. With nature conservation are important objectives. Orchid pastures the flowers and the butterflies, colours have also disappeared must only be cut after the seeds have matured. During the time

Autumn mist in the from the meadows. As a habitat for plants and animals, inten- when the breeding inhabitants of the meadows are raising their Biosphere Reserve sively managed grassland is of only minor significance. young, there is no grazing or mowing. AM In the Biosphere Reserve there are still meadows and pastures Large and small agricultural concerns, family agricultural busi- with many species and also special treasures – orchid pastures. nesses and agricultural cooperatives, support the work of the Bio­ This means that the maintenance and development of the sphere Reserve and demonstrate that conservation of nature and Bladderwort RMS Marsh tea – pine forest DW ­valuable grasslands by means of care and use in line with the environment can certainly go hand-in-hand. Discover for yourself the quality and taste of our healthy agricultural products. Animals: sea eagle, black woodpecker, red deer, wolf. Blossoming apple Fruit and vegetables, meat and sausage specialties from cattle, tree BOH Fish catch by The wood from the forests of the Biosphere Reserve is valuable honey, jams etc. represent what is available in the direct mar­ Great Nati Pond, one of the Kreba ponds RMS Commerau RMS regrowth raw material and is processed in the regional sawmills, keters’ farm shops, in the weekly markets throughout the whole The flat ponds with their wild banks, silted areas and strips of for use in the paper industry or as fuel. The honey enthusiast loves region and in the natural product markets in the Biosphere reeds with their gradual transition to meadows and forests, pro- the dark colour and the typical malt flavour of forest honey. You Reserve centre. vide a home for plants and animals which have long disappeared can eat forest honey along with heath and other types of blossom in other areas. To be found on the banks are bulrushes, hops, honey at the beekeeper’s and in various farm shops. narrow-leaved cattail, branched bur-reed, arrowhead, the yellow

Carp in the huge aquarium in the House of a Thousand Ponds KN

Moors, heath, thin sandy grasslands Heath Positive landscape development Join in – it’s our biosphere Wet and dry – in the heath and pond region, extremes are found side by side. Moors Even the heath has been created by man. Uncontrolled exploita- Permanent, varied use forms the core of the Biosphere Reserve’s The Lusatian marshland was once covered in moors and bogs. tion of the forests as a result of grazing and tree-felling have led policy for the protection and development of nature and the land- With the expansion of pond management, many moors were to the depletion of the sandy soils. Finally, only tough grasses scape. This use is supplemented by a large number of procedures transformed into ponds. Bogs and moors were later drained for with little food value grew there, along with stunted trees and and projects which quite specifically improve the status of bio­ agriculture or destroyed by peat farming. The sinking of ground bushes. The humous topsoil was constantly removed and used as topes and thereby the living conditions of plants and animals. water over a large area as a result of brown coal mining bedding in stables or as fertilizer in the fields. The heath was also An important task is the renaturation of the streams and rivers led to the almost complete destruction of the swamp habitat. used as an army exercise terrain, and the exercises regularly An alleyway of oaks DW which have been lined with much concrete and rubble in the Smoked delicacies BOH Less than 1% of the original swampland is left. destroyed the plant cover. past. It is now already apparent that the renaturation process,

Greenback AM Today, the heath is one of the most highly endangered habitats. the demolition of weirs or their modification by building rough Without proper use and care, the heath will gradually revert to ramps and fish ladders and the restored flow of the waters forest. In order to preserve this heathland, so typical of this part in conjunction with suitable use of the meadows are all actually of Upper Lusatia, it will again be grazed by the regional conserva- bringing back lost species of animals and plants. tion sheep farm’s 750-head flock of Moorschnucken sheep and Even in the Biosphere Reserve, the numbers of the white stork also by goats. It is also planned to introduce elk as »custodians can only be guaranteed by maintaining the nests and by taking of the landscape« in an enclosure of around 155 ha, as part measures to protect its habitat. Pastures near the villages are, of a scientific study. therefore, being covered with water and maintained as wetlands Many rare species of birds, such as hoopoe, Eurasian nightjar and the storks are again finding food here. The members of the and red-backed shrike nest here. Numerous sunny areas and Fördervereins für die Natur der Oberlausitzer Heide- und Teich- an abundant source of food make the heath the favourite habitat landschaft e. V. [Nature Conservation Association] are doing vital of the common viper and other reptiles. work in maintaining the storks’ nests and in renovating the bases Tending to the heath RMS of the nests. Thin sandy grasslands Without the help of many people from the heath and pond region, Thin sandy grassland is an early stage in the healing process it is impossible to carry out either the practical or the scientific of damaged landscapes. In the Biosphere Reserve, there are wide work which keeps the Biosphere Reserve alive. There are still sphagnum moss swamps in the Biosphere Reserve, areas of thin grassland in former army exercise areas and in the Most people realise that nature and landscape and the wide at the edge of ponds low in nutrients and in some low ground mining rehabilitation land. On the inhospitable slopes of the variety of the animal and plant species which occur here are part in forests. A lack of nutrients and a microclimate typical for the open-cast mine, only the following special species thrive: grey of the rare riches of the heath and pond region. They all know swamps produce a totally individual area of plants and animals. hair-grass, Morison’s spurry (spergula morisonii), sheep’s fescue, that bats, otters and storks will only continue to create publicity There are sphagnum mosses, cranberry, bog bilberry, harestail thrift, sandy everlasting, mouse-ear hawkweed, sheep’s bit for Lusatia, if people show consideration for the needs of these and common cottongrass, bog rosemary/marsh andromeda (jasione montana), small forget-me-not, Carthusian pink and and other threatened species. (andromeda polifolia), types of sundew and bladderwort, maiden pink. Thin sandy grassland is now very rare in Germany. The Förderverein für die Natur der Oberlausitzer Heide- und Teich- beakrush, cross-leaved heath, marsh/purple cinquefoil (potentilla Most of its inhabitants, many species of beetle, grasshopper and landschaft e. V shows that everyone can do something to ensure palustris), marsh clubmoss and also many types of insects that butterfly, as well as lizards, are among the species threatened that the storks remain in Upper Lusatia and that the entire heath cannot find a food source away from the swamp. Spotted crake with extinction. and pond region can be maintained as a unique cultivated region (porzana porzana), common snipe and crane have their nesting and further developed within the context of the coexistence grounds in the reed on the edge of the swamps. Neuliebel – Western expanse of riparian forest DW Fish ladder by Uhyst DW Autumn on Göbeln Heath RMS of man and nature.