2.5 m² flowering meadow for butterflies in Thuringia

The main cause of the loss of insect species such as butterflies and bees is the constant intensification of agriculture with high use of pesticides, overfertilization, draining of wet meadows and the conversion of grassland to arable land. Even in nature reserves, conventional agriculture is generally permitted, with all the problems of pesticide use and overfertilization. There is often also a lack of proper care to preserve the biodiversity of flora and fauna in the long term. Without grazing, species-rich meadows become overgrown with bushes - sensitive plants and numerous insects retreat in favor of a few species.

This is precisely the danger that threatens the Thuringian nature reserve “Windknollen”. A very high level of biodiversity has been preserved here because no pesticides or artificial fertilizers have been used to date. Instead, a flock of sheep regularly grazed the wide, species-rich semi-arid grasslands, over which butterflies such as the Golden Eight, Large and Small Purple Emperor and the Blue Butterfly fluttered. Now 195 hectares of this nature reserve are up for sale from the previous owner, the Thuringian State Development Company. If a new owner were to terminate the collaboration with the shepherd, this would mean the end of the immense biodiversity and the meadows would become overgrown within a few years.