Day 8

2 m² of meadow at Gülper See will be protected for endangered species

Natural paradise

Protecting biodiversity in Germany

The area around Lake Gülper is home to an incredibly large variety of endangered animal and plant species. The extensively used meadows around the lake are home to meadow birds threatened with extinction such as the ruff, the curlew and the corncrake. Beavers, otters and the barbastelle bat also live here. Rare plant species such as the marsh marigold and the lake shorewort grow in and around the lake.

need

Meadow protection in Germany

activity

Buy meadows at Gülper See and protect them permanently

Measurable performance

Number of m² purchased

Result

Measurable reduction in the use of fertilizers and establishment of populations of endangered species

Systemically relevant impact

The meadows are permanently protected and are home to an increasing number of animal and plant species. Meadow birds regularly have breeding successes

background

In Germany, there is a dramatic decline in meadow areas. Meadows and pastures are particularly strictly protected by European law, but in the last five years an average of 35% of this valuable habitat for animals and plants has been lost in flora-fauna-habitat areas protected under EU law. The reasons for this are the intensification of agriculture, overgrazing and the conversion of grassland areas to arable land.
However, many rare bird species, such as the snipe and the lapwing, depend on seasonally wet meadows as their habitat. They build their nests in the meadows and raise their young here. Conventional agriculture gives these species no chance of breeding successfully: the grass is mown too early, too many cattle trample the land, and the fox roams the drained meadows dry-footed. As a result, breeding success is dramatically reduced.

The good deed

The NABU National Natural Heritage Foundation wants to combat the decline in the number of meadow breeders by purchasing meadow areas on Gülper Lake. Strict requirements to protect endangered animal and plant species are often difficult to enforce against the interests of the landowners, even in nature reserves. As owners, we can control the use of meadows together with open-minded farmers so that meadow breeders can raise their young here in peace in the future.