Project: Wiesmahd near Bad Kohlgrub
Bavaria

Where small plots of land and remote locations created valuable biodiversity paradises

Landscape type (Biotope)

The Ammertal Alps and the upper Ammertal are known for their divine Wiesmahd landscapes, consisting of mountain meadows and semi-natural grassland. Very occasionally, such small-scale Wiesmahd areas are found in the fringe areas of the Murnauer Moos. These blooming uncultivated meadows are true treasure troves of nature, with a variety of flora and fauna that has long since disappeared almost everywhere else in the intensively cultivated pre-Alpine cultural landscape.

Arnica, orchids, gentian, devil's claw, carnation, mountain clover, cinquefoil - many flowering plants that still grow on the Wiesmahd areas in the Alpine foothills are among the endangered "Red List" species. At the same time, these flowering meadows are home to hundreds of insects such as wild bees, grasshoppers, beetles, spiders and ants in the optimal habitat of a carpet of grasses and herbs.

Threat factors

Today's intensified farming forms of land use, also in the foothills of the Alps, can no longer do without fertiliser to increase the biomass and without repeated mowing for haymaking.

Where livestock farming is practised, there are too many animals (large livestock units) on the land, compacting the soil and suppressing the biodiversity of grasses and flowering plants with their feeding behaviour. As a result, the natural diversity of insects and small creatures is waning.

These threats denote the irretrievable destruction and thus the end of the semi-natural meadows.

The reasons for and the aims of conservation

What makes the semi-natural Wiesmahd areas so ecologically unique is the centuries-long renunciation of fertilisation because of the small area involved and their remote location: Additionally, the Wiesmahd areas are mown only once a year because of meagre growth and the cuttings harvested as hay. Traditionally, mowing takes place from mid-July at the earliest. The late pruning allows the flowering plants and grasses to shed their seeds before pruning and before the hay is brought in.

Today's rapid species loss means that preserving such unique species paradises is worth almost any price, if necessary, rescuing them by land purchase.

Our project commitment

Based on a species inventory report by the Garmisch-Partenkirchen regional nature conservation agency, we successfully conducted a financial Wiesmahd rescue operation in spring 2020 to prevent a planned land-use conversion. Under extreme time pressure, the process was carried out and required timely and swift decision-making. We learned that the conservation of a unique species paradise has its price.

But that is put into perspective on our 1.3 ha (13,000 m2) Wiesmahd area with 0.3 ha of adjoining mixed forest and stream. We can proudly and happily state that there are more than 15 species of butterflies, many of them on the "Red List Bavaria", the "Red List Germany", and the FFH appendix list of endangered insect species.

For the future biotope-adapted maintenance of the Wiesmahd, we have concluded an appropriately designed lease agreement with a regional organic farmer who uses an insect-friendly mowing machine.

Dominant species (Fauna/Flora)

Birds: Tree Pipit, Whinchat, Red-backed Shrike, Meadow Pipit

Butterflies: Marsh Fritillary, the Dryad, Tufted Skipper, Lesser Marbled Fritillary, Clossiana Titania's Fritillary, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Heath Fritillary, False Heath Fritillary, Duke of Burgundy, Mazarine Blue, Geranium Argus, Silver-studded Blue, Alcon Blue, Scarce Large Blue, Dusky Large Blue, Purple-edged Copper

Orthoptera: Wart-biter

Reptiles: Common European Viper, Grass snake

Highlighted plant species: Cirsium tuberosum, Broad-leaved Marsh Orchid, Matgrass, Red-rattle, Bird's- eye Primrose

Your donation enables the purchase of further ecologically-valuable plots of land.