Land acquisition project: Henfstädt
Thuringia

Where Red-backed Shrikes breed in Juniper trees

Landscape type (Biotope)

The mountain meadows in semi-arid, nutrient-poor locations are among the most valuable and rarest habitats (biotopes) in Germany. They are in the "Endangered" category on the German Red List.

The colourful blossoms of the Spreading Bellflower, orchids, Pasque Flowers, Carthusian Pink, Meadow Sage, Breckland Thyme, wild Oregano and many other flowering plants that are specialists in nutrient-poor and arid locations are a real feast for the eyes!

More than 300 species of butterflies, diurnal and nocturnal moths, many of them endangered, use this variety of flowers as a food source. The large juniper bushes and wild herbs give off their scent in the summer heat... a nature and species paradise that is second to none!

Threat factors

As in many places in Germany, the nutrient-poor mountain flower meadows in the Wachental near Henfstädt, flooded with light and warmth, are being damaged by inconsiderate and invasive mountain bike and motocross leisure activities.

Since the Weißbachtal Agricultural Cooperative in Henfstädt stopped its business operations, including itinerant sheep herding, the annual sheep and goat grazing in the Wachental also ended, and succession vegetation with bushes and trees has taken over, crowding the open juniper slopes.

The increasing encroachment of this nutrient-poor hillside meadow biotope with Sloe and Dog Rose, the start of forestation by Pine, Spruce and Field Maple and fertilisation from the air are gradually completing the ruination of this nutrient-poor biotope. This transformation is to the detriment of the biotope’s variety of flowering plants and the reptiles, insects and bird species that specialise in these warm open countryside biotopes without extensive grazing!

Even the long, recent dry periods of the past three years and the declining precipitation have not weakened the vitality of the trees, which are well adapted to nutrient-poor and semi-arid locations.

The reasons for and aims of conservation

The intensified use of the countryside in the southern Thuringian Forest has left nature with only a few small, unused open areas. Preserving these few still-existent, nutrient-poor juniper biotopes and protecting their highly specialised flora and fauna is not only in the interest of insect experts but for all of us for the benefit of the greater diversity of species.

Our project commitment

In 2010, we battled for four months to acquire the ecologically unique and valuable mountain flower meadows in the southern Thuringian Forest. In May 2010, we finally signed the purchase contract and thus secured a 5.9 ha slope area with the 3.4 ha nutrient-poor juniper meadow area on a steep slope.

To end the progressing vegetation succession there and restore the juniper slope-open countryside character of this biotope, which is highly worthy of protection, we plan to start extensive biotope rehabilitation measures. These include the extensive clearance of emerging trees such as the Sloe and the removal of the Spruce, Pine and deciduous trees that now grow in the meadow areas.

For the first time in many years, extensive grazing by a flock of sheep and goats once again took place in autumn 2022. Unfortunately, it is foreseeable that the shepherding company, following the nationwide trend, will sooner or later end the very labour-intensive silvopasture (grazed woodland) practice. We are therefore examining urgently alternative grazing concepts.

Dominant species (Fauna/Flora)

Red-backed Shrike, Yellowhammer, Swallowtail butterfly, Six-spot Burnet, Sand Lizard (German Red List status: endangered), Viviparous Lizard (German Red List status: endangered),

Common Juniper, Orchids, Gentian, Pasque flower, Bellflowers.

Please help us with your donation so that we can finance and carry out the urgently necessary and comprehensive landscape maintenance measures.