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 Regio nal 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.bio sphä- 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- ren reservat-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.bio sphä- Vienna (2005) Th e Biosphere Reserve heathlands – an extraordinary variety of habitats for rare plants scape appearance Settlement ren reservat-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