Black stork European otter Arrowhead

A Landscape like a Park

From the name Spreewald (lit. Spree-forest) one can already guess that this lowland, carved through with circa 1,575 kilometers of waterways, was once largely covered by forests. The waterways were created – so the story goes – when oxen ran away from the devil and ploughed deep channels in the Blue Darner land. With great effort men and women wrested fields and meadows from this primeval forest. They created the park- like landscape that makes the Spreewald so special. But the once merely extra income for the inhabitants who otherwise areas where the slender alders, poplars, and other trees don’t coming generations will only be able to experience this diverse, lived from agriculture, mining or the power station, has today Species-Rich shade the banks. Rare fish such as the burbot bustle about in mosaicked landscape if we take care of it. For this reason in become an important economic basis for those in the biosphere the remaining near-natural areas thanks to the improved water 2007 the inhabitants of the Spreewald founded the civic trust reserve. Around 4 million tourists come to the area every year. Without water it would be impossible to secure this biodi- quality that results from the filtration effect of the Spreewald. »Kulturlandschaft Spreewald« together with the biosphere But it cannot be the sole economic pillar. versity both so fascinating and worthy of conservation. For The European brook lamprey also lives in the Spreewald. Spe- reserve. The trust serves to find new ways to preserve the it is above all water than forms the plant and animal world cialized dragonfly species such as the Ophiogomphus Cecilia manmade and yet near-natural Spreewald landscape, and For this reason the cultural landscape must be used in an of the Spreewald. 6,000 plant and animal species have been and the river clubtail attest to the increasingly ecologically to provide for sustainable development. Tourism, which was environmentally friendly way, together with the people living documented in the biosphere reserve. Of the 1,600 known intact waters. here. This points clearly toward the development of sustain- plant species 585 are on the Red List of the most endangered Ministry of Environment, Health and Consumer Protection of the Federal State of Shaped by Humans able land use methods. The Spreewald farmers are especially plants, including the water chestnut, species of sundew, West- Brandenburg engaged in organic cultivation. More than 50 farms and ern marsh and other orchids. The animal world of the Spree- Editors: Brandenburg State Office of Environment, Health and Consumer Protection, Office of Press and Public Relations, 14476 Potsdam, OT Groß Glienicke, Seeburger 100 kilometers southeast of Berlin is a landscape unmatched around 70 percent of the agricultural area in the biosphere wald is also rich. The number of the documented species is Chaussee 2, Tel. (03 32 01) 4 22 - 0 and Spreewald Biosphere Reserve anywhere in Central Europe – the Spreewald. As a result of reserve is organically farmed. Majority of the farmers have astounding: 830 different butterflies, 113 mussels and snails, Photographs: Bildarchiv Biosphärenreservat Spreewald, W. Albrecht, St. Butzeck, B. Choritz, I. Hiekel, F. Hildebrand, E. Nowak, F. Schröder, E. Schutt, G. Tosonowski, the last Ice Age, around 20,000 years ago, the river Spree spoken out in favor of the Spreewald as region being free 48 dragonflies, 36 fish, and 49 mammals have been found to A. Weingardt, R. Weißflog, M. Werban was split here into a finely articulated network of waterways. of genetically modified crops. In addition to vegetables, the date. Of the 217 breeding birds known in Brandenburg 152 Map: Pro Line Concept, Berlin A large inland delta arose. Today the waterways run through famous Spreewaldgurke (Spreewald pickle) can be had as an are found in the Spreewald. Design/Production: Power-DesignThing GmbH Printing: Landesvermessung und Geobasisinformation Brandenburg a flood plain formed by hundreds of years of human activity organic product, as can, above all, milk, beef, and pork and This diversity on the biosphere reserve can be traced back to As of: Juli 2013 and yet remain largely in a near-natural state. This is a habitat increasingly poultry as well. So too the damage that was in- the numerous extant biotopes. These include different forest for numerous plant and animal species, several of which are flicted in the past by intensive land and forest use as well as ecosystems in which black storks, cranes, and osprey find extinct or endangered in other areas. This one-time cultural brown coal mining in the Lausitz is gradually being repaired. nesting places. Species common to open landscapes populate landscape was designated a biosphere reserve in 1990, and Of particular significance is the stabilization of the sensitive meadows and fields, topped willows and fruit trees. Spreewald received the recognition of UNESCO in March 1991. As a result water management and the preservation of the typical habi- These include marsh and wading birds like the common snipe United Nations Spreewald the circa-475-square-kilometer Spreewald Biosphere Reserve tats by the Spreewald Riparian Buffer Strips Project. The fed- and the Eurasian curlew. The hoopoe, which likes to nest in Educational, Scientific and Biosphere Reserve since 1990 Biosphere Reserve Cultural Organisation Man and the Biosphere Programme is now part of a worldwide system that today includes around eral government, the state government of Brandenburg and the trunks of older trees, also belongs to this group and as 530 large reserves. Around 50,000 people live in the cultural the association »Spreewald Riparian Buffer Strips Project« does the typical commensal species the white stork. landscape of the Spreewald in 37 villages and the cities of have allocated around 15 million Euros for this conservation At home on the waterways is a rich plant world with various Landesamt für Biosphärenreservat Nationale Lübben, Lübbenau, and Vetschau. project until 2012. pondweeds, arrowhead, water starwort, water lilies, at least in Umwelt, Gesundheit und Spreewald Naturlandschaften Verbraucherschutz l

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e u Radensdorf e LÜBBEN/ N Gubener 115 Vorstadt 320 Laasow NP SPREEWALD Uckermärkische BR Flusslandschaft Schiebsdorf Burglehn RheinsbergNP Seen NLP Niewitz Elbe-Brandenburg Stechlin- BR Unteres Ratsvorwerk Ruppiner Land Schorfheide- Odertal Butzen Chorin Deich- NP siedlung NP Barnim Treppendorf Neu Zauche West- Bernau Stein- Wußwerk havelland NP kirchen Märkische Research and Protection BERLIN Schweiz Alt Zauche Potsdam Straupitz NP NP NP Dahme- Gurkenradweg Heideseen Hoher Nuthe- NP Fläming Nieplitz Schlaubetal The Spreewald Biosphere Reserve takes part in the system of NLP = national park BR (Nationalpark) Byhlen Spreewald Neuendorf Hauptspree Europa- Großschutzgebiete NP environmental research of the German large reserves with its wanderweg BR = biosphere reserve Niederlausitzer (Biosphärenreservat) in Brandenburg Landrücken Kaden Nordumfluter NLP = Nationalpark NP NP = nature park (Naturpark) Niederlausitzer 87 See BR = Biosphärenreservat observation programs. In addition special protection programs L49 hrer Heidelandschaft legu NP = Naturpark PLACES OFFERINGS Accommodations/ restaurant point departure Canoe Boatrental rental Bike Riding/charabanc Camping Vacation farm the on trail Learning Museum Large NatureByh Reserves in are implemented for endangered species. For example feeding Duben Brandenburg Alt Zauche •• • • Burg and environs ••••• ••• grounds are maintained and created and aeries are looked Lübben and environs ••••••• • Ragow Byhleguhre Freiimfelde L a nLübbenau d k re and i environs s ••••••••• after for the white stork, which has a stabile population in the A13 Terpt Neu Zauche •• • • Spreewald, but which is endangered throughout Germany. Schlepzig ••••• ••

Great attention is also given to the protected European otter Groß Radden Straupitz •••• •• One can learn about the development Krimnitz Burg Kauper SaccasneSacca Vetschau and environs • •• • Klein Radden through the Flora-Fauna-Guidelines of the EU. This is one of its of the Spreewald from a primeval to Lehde Ha Fehrow a cultural landscape as well as much upt Schmogrow last breeding grounds in Europe. In total – excluding the birds Alteno spree Leipe “Haus für Mensch und Natur‟ Haus des Gastes (Guest House) more at the information center of the LÜBBENAU/ SPREEWALD Permanent exhibition, administra- Tourist Information Burg (Spreewald) – 20 specifically endangered European species are present in Spreewald Biosphere Reserve »Haus Groß Bismarckturm tion of the biosphere reserve Am Hafen 6, 03096 Burg (Spreewald) Cahnsdorf Willmersdorf- Beuchow für Mensch und Natur« in the old Hindenberg Schulstr. 9, 03222 Lübbenau Tel: (03 56 03) 417, Fax: 498 the Spreewald. city of Lübbenau, which, just like Boblitz Burg Kolonie Tel: (0 35 42) 89 21 - 0, Fax: - 40 touristinfo-burg-spreewald@ t-online.de the centers in Burg and Schlepzig, is [email protected] www.burg-spreewald-tourismus.de S üdu financed by the Allianz Environmental mfl Burg/ www.biosphaerenreservat-spreewald. Groß-Klessow uter Kittlitz Spreewald Foundation. A13 brandenburg.de Spreewaldinfo Lübben A15 www.grossschutzgebiete.brandenburg.deStriesow Dissen Ernst-von-Houwald-Damm 15 GrenzeBorder of Biosphärenreservat the Spreewald Biospere Spreewald Reserve Discover the Spreewald Guhrow 15907 Lübben (Spreewald) NaturschutzgebieteNature reserve (NR) (NSG) Groß Lübbenau Naundorf Schlossberghof Burg Tel: (0 35 46) 30 - 90, 24 - 33, Fax: 25 43 Hikes and bike tours with the Spree- Landschaftsschutzgebiete (LSG) Werben Landscape protectionLichtenau area (LPA) Müschen PermanentBriesen exhibition, Natur-Erlebnis- [email protected] wald rangers uncover exciting and Information Raddusch Fleißdorf Millions of people discover the beauty and natural riches of Information Uhr, Medicinal and Herb Garden, Burg www.luebben.de often forgotten insights into nature. Schönfeld-Nord Schlabendorf InformationszentrenInformation center of thedes biosphere Biosphärenreservates reserve office of the administration of the the Spreewald every year. In order to create and maintain But the work of the nature watch staff Stradow Naturschutz-InformationNature Watch Information L a n d k r e i s SSpree-Neißebiosphere reserve, Spreewald Tourist Information - is much more than just this: they see Kirche Bischdorf Suschow Brahmow Europa- Oberspreewald Nature Watch Lübbenau ecologically friendly tourism new canoe routes have been Church wanderweg Ruben to the implementation of the species Byhleguhrer Str. 17, 03096 Burg Ehm-Welk-Str. 15, 03222 Lübbenau SchlossCastle Babow protection programs, such as the one Tel: AußenstelleGulben (03 56 03) 691- 0 Tel: (0 35 42) 36 - 68, Fax: 467 - 70 decided upon by the local authorities, the tourism office, and Presenchen MuseumZinnitz for the European otter, for bats or for Museum Oberspreewald- Fax: (03 56 03) 691 - 22 [email protected] Kahnabfahrtsstelle Dubrau Belten the canoe operators, as has a new bike and hiking network amphibians. They are also involved in Canoe departure point Naturwacht: (03 56 03) 750 - 146 www.spreewald-online.de Windmühle L a u s i t z Papitz Rabenau the observation program from which Windmill Milkersdorf Fax: (03 56 03) 754 - 675 been developed. Where nature allows new possibilities arise Bathow VETSCHAU valuable information about the devel- AussichtspunktObservation point AS 3 Vetschau Tourist Information - Koßwig Kunersdorf Old Mill – Schlepzig Stadt Vetschau/Spreewald to learn about tradition and agriculture and, last but not least, opment of various species and habitats CampingplatzCamping grounds Kalkwitz Permanent exhibition,Zahsow Schloßstr. 10, 03226 Vetschau is won. The rangers also provide for EuropawanderwegGroß JehserE10 Mlode Dahlitz to observe the animals on the Barzlin between Lübben and European Hiking Trail E 10 Schlepzig office of the administration of Tel: (03 54 33) 777 - 84, Fax: 23 - 02 Lobendorf environmental education. Gurkenradweg (Pickle bike path) Eichow the biosphere reserve,Kolkwitz [email protected] Lübbenau or on the Wussegk in the Unterspreewald (Lower 1km = 0,9 cm Saßleben Mallenchen Erpitz Buckow Unterspreewald Nature Watch www.vetschau.com Fürstlich 0 5 km L49 Limberg Kleptna KolkwitzDorfstraße 52, 15910 Schlepzig Spreewald). Naturally visitors can gather a great deal of Drehna Schrake N Repten Reuden Tel: (03 54 72) 648 - 98, Fax: - 99 Tourist Information Oberspreewald Krieschow knowledge about the Spreewald landscape and its inhabit- Naturwacht: (03 54 72) 52 - 30 (Fremdenverkehrsvereine Straupitz, Alt Zauche, Neu Zauche) ants at any of the three information centers of the biosphere Calau The true magic of the Spreewald The Spree Forest still covers about White Stork Information Center Kirchstr. 11, 15913 Straupitz/Spreewald reserve. Also well worth the trip is a visit to the herb garden is most impressive on a canoe trip, one-fourth of the area. In addition to of NABU Tel: (03 54 75) 80 - 977, 16 - 771 Drebkauer Str. 2a, 03226 Vetschau Fax: 16 - 771, 86 - 365 which can be begun almost anywhere. the famous alder high forest in the or the barrier-free Natur-Erlebnis-Uhr (Nature Experiece Clock) Tel/Fax: (03 54 33) 41- 00 Oberspreewald there are also forest Tourist Information Unterspreewald areas in the Unterspreewald. on the Schlossberghof in Burg or to one the tours offered by Spreewald Tourism Center Dorfstr. 26, 15910 Schlepzig the nature watch. Lindenstr. 1, 03226 Vetschau Tel: (03 54 72) 64 - 025, Fax: - 024 OT Raddusch [email protected] Tel: (03 54 33) 72 - 299, Fax: - 228 [email protected] www.spreewald.de