Leipzig riparian forest
The Leipziger Auwald (colloquially also Leipziger Auenwald ) is an alluvial forest area that is predominantly in the area of the city of Leipzig . It used to be a softwood floodplain (alder) and was regularly flooded by the floods of the Pleiße , Weisse Elster and Luppe . Due to human influence (especially regulation of flowing water), a hardwood floodplain (ash, oak, maple) has prevailed today . The Leipzig alluvial forest is one of the largest preserved alluvial forests in Central Europe. Regardless of the diverse human interventions and the proximity to a large city, parts of the Leipzig alluvial forest have retained an extremely natural character.
location
The Leipzig alluvial forest today consists of a southern and a northern part. There is a certain ecological connection between the two through a corridor, which consists of the parks and green spaces, which lie along the Elster basin and Elster flood bed created for flood protection . Overall, it extends along the rivers for a good 30 kilometers and a width of two to five kilometers. The covered area is around 2500 hectares. Most of the inner-city forest is municipal property.
development
The Leipzig floodplain forest has changed constantly, with human intervention being an essential development factor. Due to clearing in the upper reaches of the rivers, an increase in anthropogenic input of sediments began around 7000 years ago, which were deposited as alluvial clay . This increased the surface level, flooding now occurred periodically, especially in spring. Already now, a change from softwood to hardwood floodplain started, especially the waterlog-resistant common oak found favorable conditions.
Massive interventions in nature began in the area of today's alluvial forest in the 12th century. Most of the non-flooded parts of the forest have been cleared. Mill ditches (such as the Pleißemühlgraben and the Elstermühlgraben ), canals and weirs were built in the following centuries to regulate the floods and later connect Leipzig to the water transport network. From the Middle Ages to the middle of the 19th century, the alluvial forest was managed as a middle forest.
In modern times, extensive river bed relocations were carried out by the Weißer Elster and Luppe. Despite the enormous expansion of the city in the course of industrialization, the forest area remained almost untouched. However, the floodplains were cut up by the development of the new industrial city areas in the west ( Plagwitz , Leutzsch ). Due to the destruction of the natural river courses and the elimination of periodic flooding as well as changes in management ( high forest with clear cuts) and increased nitrogen input, the species composition of the forest changed significantly in the 20th century. Pedunculate oak, in particular, is on the decline, while ash, sycamore and norway maple are on the rise. The elm has almost disappeared due to the phenomenon of Dutch elm disease, but it still occurs in the undergrowth and thus has the potential to gain a foothold again. Through targeted reforestation, alien species such as red beeches and poplar hybrids were introduced.
The Nahle outlet structure, built in 1954 after the floods of July 1954 and renewed in 2014, can flood the alluvial forest south of the Neue Luppe, including the Burgaue .
Significant parts of the alluvial forest south of Leipzig have been destroyed in the recent past in favor of open-cast lignite mining . Furthermore, the lowering of the groundwater level during the lignite mining contributed to the further drying out of the forest area. With the decline in open-cast lignite mining after reunification , parts of the riparian forest began to be flooded seasonally in the 1990s.
Current management aims to regain the condition of the forest around the middle of the 19th century in the long term: a diversely structured mixture of species and age classes with a significantly higher proportion of pedunculate oak than today (approx. 40% are targeted).
Flora and fauna
The flora of the alluvial forest shows diverse forms and aspects that have become rare in Central Europe.
The tree population and its age structure have changed significantly over the past 130 years. Elms and black poplars are rarely found; the share of pedunculate oak , which mainly makes up the older stock, is steadily decreasing and is now around 20%. The proportion of ash (30%) and maple (20%) with the younger stands, on the other hand, has increased significantly. Other typical tree species are linden , black alder , bird cherry and various wild fruit species. There are also many representatives of non-alluvial tree species such as robinia , red oak , red beech or horse chestnut .
In spring, the flora of the riparian forest unfolds its splendor of colors. There are numerous spring bloomers such as celandine , cowslips and, above all, such rare plants as the Märzenbecher , which has one of its largest occurrences in Germany. The formation of a hybrid between wood anemone and yellow anemone to form a pale yellow shape that bears the name Anemone lipsiensis (Leipzig anemone ) is unique worldwide . Later the wild garlic blooms , which covers the ground of the alluvial forest very densely and extensively and dominates for a while with a garlic-like smell.
The rich layering and structure of the trees and shrubs is the basis for the abundance of birds in the alluvial forest. This affects the number of species and also the density of breeding pairs. The middle woodpecker and the oriole are particularly typical . Furthermore, the alluvial forest is primarily the habitat of a species-rich insect fauna. Numerous species of beetles threatened with extinction have been identified.
The Leipzig alluvial forest project started in 2001 and was scheduled to run for ten years. Scientists from Leipzig University , the iDiv research center and the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research - UFZ have been researching the treetops in the Burgaue with the help of a 40 meter high crane . The crane can be moved on a rail route (120 meters) and makes it possible to explore the habitat in the forest ecosystem on 1.65 hectares.
Protected areas
The alluvial forest is now a landscape protection area in which additional nature reserves are designated.
The landscape protection area stretches from northwest to south across the urban area and covers a total area of around 5900 hectares . In addition to the actual valley floodplains of Elster, Luppe, Pleiße and Parthe , the largely forest-free peripheral areas and large parts of the recultivated and reforested area around the Cospuden opencast mine , including part of the Cospudener See, are also included. The Bienitz , a terminal moraine from the Saale Ice Age , is located in this protected landscape area .
Designated nature reserves are the Burgaue (270 hectares), the Elster and Pleißeau forests (67 hectares), the Lehmlache Lauer area (49 hectares) and the cross-district Luppeaue (598 hectares).
With the regulation of the Regional Council of Leipzig on 27 October 2006, the Leipziger lowland forest has an area of 4952 hectares as a European bird sanctuary established.
use
Around 1163 hectares of the alluvial forest belong to the Leipzig city forest. Parts of the alluvial forest stretch far through the city and border over parks such as B. the Rosental even to the city center. You can easily reach the alluvial forest in many places on foot or by public transport. The network of footpaths, bike paths and bridle paths in the alluvial forest is sometimes as dense as in a park. There are numerous excursion destinations in the Leipzig alluvial forest. The forestry use plays a subordinate role.
Events
In 1991 the city and the University of Leipzig organized the first Leipzig alluvial forest symposium together with nature conservation associations. Scientists and nature conservation associations can use this forum to present and link their riparian forest-related projects. At the second symposium in 1994, the city's nature conservation office at the time launched the Leipzig Riparian Forest Day, which has been celebrated annually on April 16 since 1995. In the course of this day, among other things, the alluvial forest animal or the alluvial forest plant of the year is chosen. These are typical creatures that are worth protecting in the riparian forest.
The Association for Nature Conservation and Art Leipziger Auwald e. V. (NuKLA) tries to raise public awareness of the protection of the Leipzig riparian forest ecosystem with events and concerts. He has organized an alluvial ecology symposium every year since 2017.
Excursion destinations
Some well-known destinations are:
- The approx. 20 m high Rosental Hill in the western Rosental, on which there is an approx. 20 m high observation tower, which offers a view of the city center as well as large parts of the forest.
- The approx. 40 m high Fockeberg in the south suburb and the approx. 30 m high former garbage dump near Leipzig-Möckern (today “ Nahleberg ”).
- Large meadow in Rosental with Zooschaufenster.
- Auensee Leipzig with the park railway, playgrounds and boat rental.
- Lützschena Castle Park with some of the pavilions and monuments that have been preserved.
- Alluvial forest station Leipzig with various exhibitions, in particular about flora and fauna in the alluvial forest.
- Domholzschänke near Kleinliebenau .
- Schlobach's farm , riding stables and former restaurant north of Gundorf.
- Leipzig wildlife park in the southern alluvial forest, with game reserves, restaurant and playgrounds.
- Cospudener See on the southern edge of the alluvial forest, excursion destination with bathing beaches, circular path, observation tower and harbor.
- Clara-Zetkin-Park , park between the northern and southern floodplain forest.
See also
literature
- ENEDAS e. V. / Author collective: The Leipziger Auwald. A nature and adventure guide. Edition Leipzig 2013, ISBN 978-3-361-00685-0 .
- Gerd K. Müller (Ed.): The Leipziger Auwald - a misunderstood jewel of nature. Leipzig 1992.
- Gerd K. Müller: The Leipzig floodplains. State Ministry for the Environment and Regional Development, Dresden 1995.
Web links
- Stadtwald Leipzig on the website of the city of Leipzig
- Auwald Leipzig - Website of the Association for the Promotion of Environmental Education and Environmental Research e. V.
- private website - with information about the history, extent, soil and climate of the forest
Individual evidence
- ↑ The idea / projects. Nature conservation and art - Leipziger Auwald eV, accessed on February 15, 2019 .
- ↑ Alluvial ecology symposium. Nature conservation and art - Leipziger Auwald eV, accessed on February 15, 2019 .
Coordinates: 51 ° 19 ′ 1.9 ″ N , 12 ° 21 ′ 23.5 ″ E