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;