Summary
The project area is situated in the Federal Republic of Germany in the state of Baden-Württemberg in the middle Black Forest. It is a very important connecting link between southern Black Forest (see LIFE Nature projects Grouse-Feldberg/Upper Hotzenwald) and northern Black Forst (LIFE Grindenschwarzwald) for grouse and other species.
1155 m above sea level the Rohrhardsberg is one of the highest mountains in the project area, the two rivers Elz and Wilde Gutach border the project area area in the east and south. The project area ranges in altitude from 380 to 1180 m and is very rich in habitats and species. About 75 % of the project area are covered by forests, the rest is dominated by grasslands, first of all (150 ha) the priority habitat of species-rich Nardus grasslands (FFH-Code 6230*). Other priority habitat types are active raised bogs (7110*), bog woodland (91D0*), alluvial forests (91E0*) and Tilio-Acerion forests of slopes, scees and ravines (9180*).
The vast woodlands are of (national) importance for several bird species of Annex I of the Birds Directive as Aegolius funereus, Glaucidium passerinum, Tetrao urogallus and Bonasa bonasia. Most of all the hazel grouse Bonasa bonasia suffered a massive decline in the last ten years, making immediate measures very urgent.
The major objective of the project is to develop and optimize the habitats, most of all the priority habitat-types (FFH-codes 6230*, 7110*, 91D0*, 91E0*, 9180) and to develop viable populations of FFH- and Birds Directive species like Cottus gobio, Tetrao urogallus and Bonasa bonasia. The Rohrhardsberg region is an important stepping stone between northern and southern Black Forest, where other LIFE Nature project have taken place (Grindenschwarzwald, Integrated habitat protection for Grouse, Coop – Grouse and Tourism) or are being installed (Upper Hotzenwald). Other important objectives of the project are financing, organization and communication of NATURA 2000. Special efforts will be made to integrate the local population in NATURA 2000 management, to establish a forum for discussion and exchange of experiences as well as to offer educational activities.
Actions and means involved
- Development of habitat connexion between Nardus grasslands (reactivation of fallow land, expanding of pastures)
- Reduction of spruce in bog areas
- Renaturation of water courses/alluvial forests
- Controlled use of fire in landscape
- Management of low forests to conserve hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia) and other species
- Management of caipercaillie habitats (Tetrao urogallus)
- Conception and production of materials for public relations
- Different actions of communication of NATURA 2000
- Different educational activities
Expected results
- enlargement and connexion of *Species-rich Nardus-grasslands
- improvement of the state of *Active raised bogs
- development of *Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior
- improvement of water courses with Cottus gobio and Lampetra planeri
- efficient habitat management for two grouse species (Bonasa bonasia, Tetrao urogallus)
- important hints for financing and organizing NATURA 2000 management
- better acceptance of NATURA 2000 in local population
- exchange of experiences with other LIFE projects in mountain regions.
Visit the project description of the European Commission to learn more about the ‘Rohrhardsberg’-project.