Elbaue zwischen Saalemündung und Magdeburg
Due to the vast extent of this Natura 2000 site and the presence of other protected habitat types and species, conservation measures for Jurinea cyanoides are focused specifically on three sub-sites where inland sand dunes provide optimal conditions: Luebser Heuberg, Gerwisch and Goednitz.
Luebser Heuberg
The Luebser Heuberg sub-site (1.26 ha) harbours a very large, original population of Jurinea cyanoides that serves as the primary regional donor population along the Elbe River. Privately owned and currently lacking active land management, the site faces severe competitive pressure from dense grasses like Calamagrostis epigejos and Carex arenaria, alongside dense mats of lichens and mosses that limit bare ground availability for new seedling establishment.
Site Management
Project interventions aim to stabilize the population by 10 % (from 75,000 to 82,000 rosettes) and increase bare ground cover by 300 %. Planned management includes targeted grazing to control dominant grass cover and reduce competition, supplemented by repeated mechanical removal of lichens and mosses. In addition, Luebser Heuberg will serve as a crucial source for seed collection for regional reintroductions, seed banking in the Berlin Botanical Garden, hybridization studies, genetic sampling, soil testing and long-term population monitoring.
Luebser Heuberg Map
Gerwisch
The Gerwisch sub-site (12.72 ha) contains an original Jurinea cyanoides population serving as a key regional donor source. Located on a former military training ground, soil interventions are strictly restricted to shallow surface measures. Despite sporadic sheep grazing, habitat quality has degraded due to decreasing bare soil, expanding Carex arenaria and encroachment by the highly invasive Robinia pseudoacacia.
Site Management
Management aims to expand the potentially colonizable area by 300 % and boost the population by 50 % (from 4,000 to 5,500 rosettes). Measures include optimizing the grazing regime, controlled clearing of shrubs - reducing cover while retaining partial shade to protect young plants during summer droughts - and targeted eradication of Robinia pseudoacacia. Careful removal of lichens, mosses, and plant litter will restore bare soil, complemented by supplementary seed sowing, genetic sampling, soil analysis and ongoing monitoring.
Gerwisch Map
Goednitz
The Goednitz sub-site (1.12 ha) holds a large, stable population of Jurinea cyanoides that functions as an essential donor population for Elbe River restoration efforts. The site also builds upon a previous establishment experiment conducted by Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, which will continue to be monitored under the LIFE project to evaluate long-term reintroduction dynamics. The main threat stems from a lack of regular management, leading to reduced bare ground and increasing invasion by Robinia pseudoacacia.
Site Management
Conservation goals focus on expanding the colonizable area by 50 % and increasing the population by 25 % (from 40,000 to 50,000 rosettes). Targeted grazing with Konik horses will be introduced, complemented by late-May mowing and repeated shrub clearance to suppress Robinia pseudoacacia. Additional seed sowing, seed collection for regional reintroductions, seed banking in Berlin, genetic leaf sampling, soil testing, and continuous monitoring will ensure long-term population stability.
Goednitz Map
Project partners
Financing
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.