Mittlere Oranienbaumer Heide
The Oranienbaumer Heide nature reserve is a highly structured heathland complex whose unique relief was shaped by military activity between 1945 and 1992. The broader site is maintained through a well-functioning year-round extensive grazing scheme with Heck cattle and Konik horses. Due to the large size of the Natura 2000 area and the presence of other protected wetland and aquatic habitats, project actions focus specifically on two sandy sub-sites: Oranienbaumer Heide Sued (2,81 ha) and Oranienbaumer Heide Nord (27,38 ha).
Both sub-sites support vital reintroduced populations established between 2011 and 2013 using donor seeds from Luebser Heuberg. Despite ongoing grazing, the primary ecological threat is gradual scrub encroachment and ruderalization, which restricts open sand availability.
Site Management
Conservation actions focus on stabilizing habitat quality and improving bare soil cover. Planned measures include repeated clearing of shrubs to reduce overall cover from 30 % to 10 %, while intentionally retaining partially shaded zones to protect young seedlings from climate-induced summer droughts. Management aims to increase the population at Oranienbaumer Heide Sued from 17 128 to 22 000 rosettes and at Oranienbaumer Heide Nord from 1 369 to 2 000 rosettes.
In addition to habitat management, both sub-sites will support broader research and conservation efforts, including seed collection for hybridization experiments, seed banking at the Berlin Botanical Garden, genetic leaf sampling, soil parameter testing and long-term population monitoring.
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.