Danube Biodiversity Corridor in Bavaria with German Association For Landscape Management (DVL)
Critical Issues
The importance of the Danube and its conservation is crucial in Europe (for biodiversity, habitats, identity and survival), we also highlighted this in our documentary Habitat.
Starting from West Germany (where it was born) up to the Black Sea it embraces 9 states; it is the second largest river (2,860 km) in Europe and is of great biological importance, representing a significant wetland area and a rich nature reserve.
The 875 km² catchment area of the Große Laber is located in the hilly area of Lower Bavaria, between the Isar and the Danube, and includes parts of the Hallertau in the west and the Gäuboden in the north-east.
In this selected catchment area of the Bavarian Danube, intensive agricultural management, especially in recent decades, has led to a sharp decline (over 50%) both in water availability and in the diversity of original species (many of which are now at risk of extinction), especially in the wider surroundings of the three FFH areas located in this area.
From the first analyzes (GIS and other) carried out together with Eurac Research as part of the broader European project, EU Biodiversity Corridors, it appears to be a corridor in need of restoration.
Area of Intervention
This specific project in Germany plans to act in the Große Laber case study region, characterised by intensive agriculture, large numbers of livestock and increasing tourism. It involves interventions along 40 km of its catchment area, in an area that extends for approximately 65 km² (6,500 hectares), includes the Niedermoor südlich Nieder-leierndorf Nature Reserve and would connect two other protected areas.
The other two main protected areas along the river are:
- The meadow bird nesting area "Labertal bei Langquaid" (Störche Im Labertal) is a nature reserve considered among the priority areas for the support of meadow birds such as the lapwing and the Bavarian curlew.
- The lower corridor of Laber, in the districts of Kelheim and Regensburg, is protected from the area FFH (Fauna, Flora, Habitat) 7138-372 "Valley of the great Laber between Sandsbach and Unterdeggenbach" (valley of the great Laber between Sandsbach and Unterdeggenbach).
Area of Intervention
With Deutsche Verband für Landschaftspflege (DVL) - the German national landcare association - we are planning the restoration study of an ecological corridor along a tributary of the Danube in Bavaria, south-east of Regensburg, Germany. The objective is to create a system of ecological connection between three natural areas along the 40 km of the Große Laber, to strictly regulate intensive agricultural and tourist activities in the implementation of measures aimed at the conservation of biodiversity, to promote the integrative implementation of the protection of threatened species , create wetlands and promote the conservation of water bodies/moors with concrete activities.
The project therefore also contributes to the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (good ecological status of water bodies), which is a priority for European intervention.
It also aims to regulate, reorganise and control intensive agricultural and tourism activities, in the implementation of measures oriented towards nature conservation that can create greater value for both biodiversity, climate protection and human society.
Specific Objectives and Approach:
- The concrete actions taken will reverse the decline of biodiversity in the area and will be beneficial for the reported species; all at risk of local decline or extinction;
- Optimisation of connectivity, land management and biotope maintenance measures in line with the objectives of protecting species, peatlands, water and climate.
- Creation and protection of grassland areas rich in species and wetland habitats typical of the floodplain (including small bodies of water for amphibians, dragonflies, etc.);
- Measures for the formation of humus with associated CO2 sequestration, such as increasing the presence of nitrogen in the soil to encourage microbial activity;
- Raise awareness of native species and biotopes and their need for protection through targeted public relations work, to increase acceptance of the measures;
- Educational activities aimed at increasing social knowledge and acceptance of wild species (e.g. otters), potentially subject to illegal killing;
- Demonstrate how the integration of human needs (production of regional goods, local tourism, environmental education and awareness raising) with conservation-driven tasks can produce greater value for both biodiversity and human society;
- Inform and involve the local population on the background and results of the projects;
- Knowledge transfer outside the regions and in the EU: the developed methods will be passed on to other LPV staff in other regions in the context of qualification events;
![danube_1 danube_1](https://fondazionecapellino.org/hubfs/danube_1.png)
![Senza-titolo-1 Senza-titolo-1](https://fondazionecapellino.org/hubfs/Senza-titolo-1.jpg)
![danube_3 danube_3](https://fondazionecapellino.org/hubfs/danube_3.png)
Our Partners
DVL is a German Association for Biodiversity and Habitat Conservation, was founded in 1993. It is the non-profit umbrella organization of 200 landscape conservation organizations in Germany.
DVL will contribute its experience to the development of the project. In particular with its two local organisations, the LPV VÖF Kelheim and the LPV Regensburg, it will ensure that the focused measures are effectively implemented and make a lasting contribution to the improvement of the biotope network. With many years of experience in implementing relevant projects in the region, they will pursue a supra-regional approach beyond district boundaries. Furthermore, the DVL will help disseminate the implemented solutions and achieved results beyond the project region, into Germany and the European context.
Project Data
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DURATION 2023-2024 |
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OUR INVESTMENT €88,000.00 |