Mittelelbe zwischen Mulde und Saale
Due to the large size of the nature conservation area and the presence of other protected habitat types, project actions are focused specifically on the Heutrockenplatz sub-site (0.62 ha).
Located within a legally protected German nature reserve and a Birds Directive site, Heutrockenplatz supports a stable population of Jurinea cyanoides that serves as an essential donor population for the Elbe River region. The site also builds upon a previous reintroduction experiment by Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, which will continue to be monitored under the LIFE project.
Current threats include lack of regular management, shrinking bare soil, pine shading and the spread of the invasive Prunus serotina.
Site Management
Conservation efforts aim to increase the population by 30 % (from 7,000 to 9,000 rosettes), expand the colonizable by integrating adjacent land and double bare soil cover. Planned management includes removing young and dead pine trees to reduce shading, late-May mowing and introducing Konik horse grazing. Supplementary seed sowing will further reinforce the population.
Heutrockenplatz will also function as a key donor site, supporting seed collection for regional reintroductions, seed banking at the Berlin Botanical Garden, hybridization studies, genetic leaf sampling, soil analysis and ongoing monitoring.
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.