Naturland Foundation Saar

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Naturland Foundation Saar (NLS)

logo
legal form non-profit foundation with legal capacity under civil law
founding 3rd November 1976
Seat Saarbrücken
management
  • Udo Weyrath (curator)
Number of employees
  • Naturland Foundation Saar: 2
  • Naturland Ökoflächen-Management GmbH: 7
Website www.nls-saar.de

The Naturland Foundation Saar (NLS) is a non-profit , legal foundation under civil law based in Saarbrücken . It is the oldest German nature conservation foundation and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2016.

The purpose of the Naturland Foundation Saar (NLS) in accordance with the statutes is to acquire areas of valuable landscape ecology in order to secure, maintain and develop the habitats of threatened animals and plants as a basis for future generations.

NLS has three subsidiaries, Naturland Ökoflächen-Management GmbH ( ÖFM ), Imsbach Verwaltungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH ( IVEG ) and Biomasse Logistik GmbH .

target

According to its statutes, the foundation has set itself the goal of preserving the biodiversity of the plants and animals in our homeland and protecting, maintaining and developing the diversity of their habitats.

To this end, the foundation acquires ecologically valuable land and creates a network of protected areas in Saarland. Acquisition of land to protect the habitats of threatened animals and plants is one of the most effective and successful instruments of nature conservation. One focus of the foundation's work is the preservation, renaturation , maintenance and use of nature and landscape protection areas of the floodplains and floodplains as well as the local waters.

Furthermore, natural, soil and architectural monuments are preserved and cared for, provided that they are an integral part of foundation properties and have a meaning for the beauty, diversity and history of the country and the feeling of home of its residents.

Environmental information and education are of great importance . The foundation has taken over the sponsorship of the Saarland nature watch . This is responsible for looking after the nature reserves, the NATURA 2000 areas and the areas of major nature conservation projects throughout the Saarland . It sees itself as a mediator between nature and people. The Naturwacht Saarland is a competent contact for everyone who is interested in nature and is active in nature. An important task of the Saarland Nature Guard is to bring people back to nature in order to make them aware of its diverse beauty.

In addition to the continuous establishment of a state-wide system of protected areas for the protection, maintenance and development of the Saarland's natural heritage , the NLS works on a project basis. In its more than 40-year history, it has carried out numerous nature conservation projects at state, federal and European level. One focus of the concrete project work is on cross-border networking and cooperation with partner organizations in the greater region ( Luxembourg , France / Lorraine , Belgium / Wallonia , Rhineland-Palatinate ). The NLS is also involved in the establishment and development of a Europe-wide system of protected areas "NATURA 2000" on the basis of funding programs from the European Union.

The four key objectives of the foundation

The founders of the foundation set up the Naturland Foundation in 1976 with the intention of not only complaining about environmental problems and the exploitation of nature, but also actively doing something for nature and the environment. The focus was on the preservation of biodiversity and our natural heritage in the Saarland. The habitat of threatened animals and plants in our homeland should be sustainably protected and developed through the acquisition of ecologically valuable land.

Over the years, the foundation's activities for the protection of the Saarland's natural heritage have become considerably more diverse. They now go far beyond the mere acquisition of land, be it through innovative initiatives, participation in state, federal and EU funding programs or the establishment of subsidiaries. Biodiversity, sustainability and the preservation of our natural and cultural heritage are the driving forces behind all activities of the Naturland Foundation Saar. They can be summarized in four main objectives:

Protect nature - preserve life - secure the future
through acquisition of land to protect endangered animals and plants in our homeland
Restoring habitats
through the care, use and renaturation, above all of the areas of the floodplains and floodplains that are under nature and landscape protection as well as the local waters
Historical preserved
by preserving and caring for natural, soil and architectural monuments, provided that they are an integral part of foundation properties and have a meaning for the beauty, diversity and history of the country and the feeling of home of its residents and
Enjoy nature - sensitize people to the environment
through environmental information and environmental education. In 2005 the Naturland Foundation Saar took over the sponsorship of the Naturwacht Saarland, which is a competent contact for everyone who is interested in nature and is active in nature.

history

Initiator and honorary chairman Rainer Wicklmayr (2008)
Old NLS logo until mid-2015

The foundation was established on November 3, 1976 as a legal foundation under civil law. Pioneers and initiators were the former Saarland member of the state parliament and minister of justice Rainer Wicklmayr and the then state chairman of the Federal Environment and Nature Conservation Germany (BUND) and later environment minister Berthold Budell . The trigger for their activities was the observation in the late 60s and especially in the 70s of the last century that the large-scale destruction and change of habitats represented the greatest threat to animals and plants. The concept of building a system of protected areas was seen as an appropriate response to habitat destruction; According to the initiators, real estate in the hands of a responsible owner such as a foundation offered the best protection of the landscape from destructive interference.

The aim was to involve all of the Saarland's “green” associations as far as possible in order to achieve optimal efficiency and broad impact. On January 20, 1976, the first preparatory talks with “green” associations took place, the result of which was the establishment of the foundation.

The first protected area of the Naturland Foundation Saar was the area around a former brick factory in Dirmingen with an area of ​​almost 10 hectares. By 1985, eleven protected areas with a total area of ​​63 hectares were acquired, at the end of 2000 there were already 53 areas with a total area of over 500 ha.

In 1986, the work of the foundation was professionalized through the employment of a full-time managing director, who systematized and intensified the purchase of land. The NLS experienced a further increase in efficiency in 1987 when the Saarland Ministry for the Environment joined the community of founders. This step gave the foundation the necessary long-term planning security for its projects through regular financial support from the Ministry of the Environment.

Land acquisition and land development

The NLS is not promotional, but is operational itself. The foundation buys ecologically valuable land and creates a network of protected areas in order to safeguard the diversity of habitats and the biodiversity of the plants and animals in our homeland for future generations.

Acquisition of land to protect the habitats of threatened plants and animals is one of the most effective and successful instruments of nature conservation.

After 43 years, the Naturland Foundation has acquired over 800 hectares (as of 2019) ecologically valuable land in Saarland and linked a network of 114 protected areas across the country.

Class 10e of the Merzig district secondary school visited the protected area in Dirmingen on May 21, 1981 (front right Rainer Wicklmayr, former chairman of the NLS, back right Karl-Heinz Unverricht, former curator of the NLS)

The first protected area with an area of ​​9.7 hectares is the area around the former brick factory in Dirmingen, which became the property of the foundation in 1978. It was a donation.

The size of the individual protected areas varies between 0.08 hectares and 111 hectares. (Areas on the southern slope of the Peterberg near Eiweiler)

The foundation's subsidiary, ÖFM (Naturland Ökoflächen-Management GmbH) has so far acquired over 1,130 hectares of land and has been ecologically upgraded in around 200 projects. (As of 2019) The subsidiary of ÖFM, Imsbach Verwaltungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, owns a total of 77.6 hectares of land. (As of 2019)

As a member of the special-purpose associations of three major nature conservation projects, the Naturland Foundation is also involved in the property areas of the respective special-purpose associations. The special purpose association "Naturschutzgebiet Wolferskopf" owns a total of 172 hectares with a project area size of 340 hectares, the special purpose association "Saar-Blies-Gau / Auf der Lohe" with a project area size of 2,357 hectares around 663 hectares and the special purpose association "Illrenaturierung" has 1,161 Hectare project area over 408 hectares of property. In the overall balance sheet, the foundation is responsible for 5,669 hectares of nature conservation areas, of which 3,212 hectares are owned by the foundation, the subsidiaries ÖFM and IVEG and the special purpose associations. This corresponds to 1.3 percent of the Saarland's land area. (As of 2019)

Foundation bodies

The foundation consists of three organs: the foundation board, the foundation board and the curator. The Board of Trustees and the Board of Trustees conduct their business on a voluntary basis. The current curator of the foundation has been Udo Weyrath since 2019.

Donors and benefactors

According to the NLS statutes, founders and benefactors can only become legal entities . An exception was made here, however. In view of his services as spiritus rector of the NLS, Rainer Wicklmayr was granted the status of a founder as a natural person . In addition to him, the original community of founders comprised four "green" associations:

Board of Trustees

In the Board of Trustees all the donors and benefactors are represented, which each send one representative to the Board. It is the highest decision-making body of the foundation.

The Board of Trustees consists of 18 members (as of 2019). A term of office lasts five years. The Board of Trustees is basically responsible for all NLS matters and appoints the members of the Board of Directors and the curator. Rainer Wicklmayr was elected the only honorary chairman to date in 1988.

Board of Trustees of the Naturland Foundation Saar in August 2014

Later donors are / were:

The "Federation for Environment and Nature Conservation Germany e. V., LV Saar ”, the“ Friends of the Naturland Foundation Saar ”, the“ Protection Association of German Forest , Saar Section e. V. "as well as the" Association of farmers in secondary occupation e. V. "are no longer a member of the Board of Trustees as of 2019. The state agency for road construction has been added.

The Board of Trustees elects the Chairman of the Board of Trustees from among its members. The first chairman was Rainer Wicklmayr from 1976 to 1988. Thereafter, the respective environment minister of the Saarland traditionally took over the chairmanship.

The Minister for the Environment and Consumer Protection, Reinhold Jost, is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Naturland Foundation Saar. (As of 2019)

Foundation Board

The Foundation Board consists of five people and is elected for a period of four years. The Saarland Environment Minister can send another representative to the board if so requested.

The foundation board advises and supports the foundation board and the curator in their statutory duties. The board elects the chairman of the foundation board from among its members.

Five members are represented on the board of the NLS (as of 2019):

curator

The curator has to ensure the permanent and sustainable fulfillment of the foundation's purpose. He conducts the business of the foundation on his own responsibility in accordance with the resolutions and the guidelines and instructions of the foundation board. It takes all measures that are necessary to achieve or promote the purpose of the foundation. The curator has the position of a legal representative and represents the foundation in and out of court.

financing

The foundation and its projects are financed by funds from the Saarland Ministry of the Environment, Saarland Sporttoto GmbH and project-related grants from the public sector (state, federal government, EU). Further funding is raised through donations and cooperation with sponsors. The foundation is also financed to a small extent by donations and membership fees from the association for the promotion of the Naturland Foundation Saar. The financial and material resources available to the NLS may only be used for statutory purposes.

NLS projects (selection)

State level projects

Grazing projects

Extensive year-round large-scale grazing is an alternative to extensive land use and contributes to the sustainable development of agricultural retreats and to making them economically and ecologically valuable. Keeping the cultivated landscape open at the marginal yield locations has become more difficult due to the retreat of agriculture. If these areas grow over with bushes and become wooded, valuable habitats are lost and, with it, numerous plants and animals that depend on open, sunny soils. This also affects many foundation areas that have emerged from extensive agricultural use. Since the maintenance of these areas is expensive and the financial resources for nature conservation are becoming increasingly scarce, the foundation has looked for other options for keeping these locations open.

In 2009, the subsidiary of ÖFM in Alsbachtal near Marpingen started the first year-round large-scale grazing with Galloway cattle in Saarland. More were added between 2010 and 2012: Peterberg near Eiweiler, Weiselberg near Oberkirchen and Hölzbachtal near Rappweiler. The latest year-round grazing project in the Rohrbachtal with highland cattle started in July 2016. This is a cooperation between NABU St. Ingbert, the city of St. Ingbert, the Saarland Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection, the farmer who works the land and the foundation.

In recent years, extensive year-round grazing in semi-open pastureland with so-called robust grazing animals has proven to be particularly suitable for keeping the landscape open in Central Europe. Robust grazing animals can live outdoors all year round and shape the landscape in a low density, just as the wild ungulates used to practice in the natural landscape in earlier times. The robust grazing animals include, for example, various breeds of cattle such as the Galloway cattle , the Scottish highland cattle or the Heck cattle , various horse breeds such as the Konik or the Exmoor pony and many other breeds and species. Experience so far shows that semi-open pasture landscapes represent a cost-effective form of use and can help to preserve our natural heritage and our cultural landscape. Extensive grazing systems also open up the possibility of sensibly developing rural areas and putting them back in ecological and economic value. The creation of park-like pasture landscapes increases the recreational value of the landscape and promotes nature-based tourism and local recreation in structurally weak regions. Agriculture also benefits from this, as high-quality food is produced that can be directly related to the landscape and the experience of the region.

Projects at the federal level

Large-scale conservation projects

Large-scale nature conservation projects are the subject of the federal funding program for the establishment and safeguarding of parts of nature and landscape that are worthy of protection and are of national significance. The aim of the funding programs is to preserve the natural heritage of the Federal Republic of Germany. Funded projects must meet the following selection criteria: high level of representation, naturalness, closeness to nature and typical characteristics, spaciousness, danger, uniqueness, irreplaceability and exemplary quality.

The first major nature conservation project in Saarland called "Wolferskopf" was initiated in 1989 by the Naturland Foundation Saar. There are now four major nature conservation projects in Saarland; in which the foundation is involved in:

  • Large nature conservation project Wolferskopf (1989)
  • Major nature conservation project Illrenaturation (1992)
  • Large-scale nature conservation project "Saar-Blies-Gau / Auf der Lohe" (1995)
  • Large-scale nature conservation project, Landscape of Industrial Culture North (2015)

The foundation played a key role in initiating the first three major nature conservation projects. She is also a member of the special-purpose associations set up specifically for the implementation of the respective projects. The foundation has taken over management of the large-scale nature conservation projects “Wolferskopf” and “Saar-Blies-Gau / Auf der Lohe”. All three special-purpose associations continue to exist after the end of the funding phase and ensure the maintenance and development of the project areas in accordance with the respective maintenance and development plans. In 2015, the subsidiary of the foundation, Naturland Ökoflächen-Management GmbH, took over the property management of the fourth major nature conservation project, the Landscape of Industrial Culture North (LIK.NORD) .

Major nature conservation project "Wolferskopf"
Vosges cattle herd of suckler cows in the large nature reserve “Wolferskopf” with Saargau in the background

The project is supported by the special purpose association “Naturschutzgebiet Wolferskopf”, which includes the NLS as a managing member, the municipality of Beckingen , the city of Merzig and the district of Merzig-Wadern .

After agriculture continued to withdraw from marginal yield locations since the 1960s, the landscape began to be increasingly abandoned . The formerly extensively used meadows and pastures grew over. Plant and animal species that rely on open locations and that love light and warmth increasingly lost their habitat.

The guiding principle of the major nature conservation project is therefore the protection, care and development of the diverse, structured and traditionally extensively used smallholder cultural landscape on the Wolferskopf, in which numerous, rare, endangered and characteristic plant and animal species can still be found today. In particular, the orchid-rich grasslands and colorful flowery orchards with their communities are remarkable nationwide.

To keep the high-quality meadows open, a herd of suckler cows with cattle from the Vosges is used as animal landscape maintenance.

A show vineyard was built as a testimony to the earlier viticulture on the slopes of the Wolferskopf. In the 18th century, the state border between the Duchy of Lorraine and the Electorate of Trier ran exactly over the Wolferskopf. This former border line can be seen on the Grenzsteinweg, which was laid out in 1998.

An information center for the “Wolferskopf” nature reserve is located in the restored old train station in Beckingen.

The nature-friendly, extensive agriculture, which has made a significant contribution to the current state of the project area, in particular the grassland management, is of decisive importance for the future development of the project area. Extensive cultivation of the land is secured in the long term in over 30 lease agreements with local farmers . For example, two organic farms and fruit growers work the meadows and fields in the Wolferskopf area as a sideline. A consensus could be found between nature conservation and agriculture that still exists today.

Large-scale nature conservation project "Ill river margins program"

The overarching model for the major nature conservation project “Ill river margins project” was the preservation and restoration of a naturally stable and intact water system of the Ill and its tributaries with diverse habitats for plants and animals of the flowing waters and their floodplains.

Large-scale nature conservation project "Saar-Blies-Gau / Auf der Lohe"

From 1995 to 2011, the Federal Republic of Germany supported the major nature conservation project “Saar-Blies-Gau / Auf der Lohe” in the Saar-Palatinate district near Gersheim and Mandelbachtal in the southeastern Saarland.

Responsible for the implementation of the project is a special purpose association to which the communities of Gersheim, Mandelbachtal, the Saarpfalz district and NLS belong, which has taken over management together with the Saarpfalz district.

Here, too, the guiding principle is the protection, maintenance and development of the old, grown, diverse, structured and traditionally extensively used smallholder cultural landscape with the occurrence of numerous rare, endangered and characteristic plant and animal species. The aim of the project is the preservation and development of orchid-rich lime grasslands and the extremely colorful flowery, extensively used grassland, which are unique in Germany in terms of their area size and species endowment in the Bliesgau. Three former vineyards were replanted by replanting vines as evidence of earlier viticulture. Today they are farmed organically by the association of "Viticulture Friends in Bliesgau" according to old methods.

The cultural landscape center " Haus Lochfeld " was established near Wittersheim by the "Saar-Blies-Gau / Auf der Lohe" association . Here, connections between the landscape and its diverse uses are made understandable. In the outdoor area, a farm garden, herb garden, fruit teaching garden, berry garden, rose garden and show vineyard were created and a show apiary was set up.

Large-scale nature conservation project LIK.Nord

The nature conservation project Landscape of Industrial Culture North , or LIK.Nord for short, is the first major project of national and representative importance in urban-industrial space to be funded by the federal and state governments. The mining and iron industries have shaped the region between Neunkirchen and Illingen for many decades and the Saarland, like the Ruhr area, is a reflection of the industrialization processes that have partially massively redesigned the landscape for over 200 years. The very different site conditions resulted in a multitude of extraordinary habitats for plants and animals, which the major nature conservation project intends to preserve and develop with the aim of giving the mining and industrial landscape a new quality. To implement the project, the special purpose association LIK.NORD was founded, to which the city of Neunkirchen, the city of Friedrichsthal, the communities of Illingen, Merchweiler, Qui Various and Schiffweiler, Industriekultur Saar GmbH and the district of Neunkirchen belong. LIK.NORD is one of the five winning regions of the nationwide IDEE.Natur competition, which were awarded in 2009.

The project area has a size of 8,742 hectares, 2,423 hectares of which are in the core area. The maintenance and development plan (PEPL) is the basis for the development of the post-mining landscape . In it, the natural and socio-economic situation in the planning area as well as the development opportunities were analyzed, the fauna and flora were recorded and assessed, a concept was formulated and the goals and measures for the planning area were defined. The measures are bundled in four subject-related task areas, the so-called landscape laboratories:

Post-mining landscape, bird migration and wild pastures, reinvention of the miner's cow, and forestry and natural processes.

The property management for the major nature conservation project LIK.NORD has been taken over by Naturland Ökoflächen-Management GmbH (ÖFM) - a subsidiary of the Naturland Foundation Saar - as part of a Europe-wide tender since mid-2015. It encompasses the entire land acquisition negotiations for land and exchange areas as well as all licensing negotiations for soil investigations and accompanying measures relating to water management and landscape maintenance.

Projects at EU level

The Saarland as a core European border area in the Saar-Lor-Lux region has an important role to play in the development of cross-border nature conservation. Joint cross-border EU projects are being implemented with neighboring French, Luxembourg, Belgian and Rhineland-Palatinate partner organizations under the project sponsorship of the Naturland Foundation Saar. The European Union set up the Life financing instrument to support the NATURA 2000 network of protected areas. It supports projects for the conservation and restoration of rare and endangered habitats in Europe as well as animal and plant species within the NATURA 2000 protected areas.

Restoration and protection of arboreal grass and arnica meadows

Up until a few decades ago, grass turf and arnica meadows still dominated the landscape in the acidic soil in the low mountain ranges.

Today this habitat type is one of the most endangered types in Central Europe. Agricultural use of these areas is no longer profitable. The areas fall fallow and grow with bushes to create valuable habitat for often endangered plant and animal species.

In 2006, the Naturland Foundation Saar (NLS) submitted a Life-Nature application to the European Commission for the “conservation and regeneration of nebulas in Central Europe”. This international project is sponsored by the NLS, project partners in Luxembourg are the Fondation Hëllef fir d'Natur, in Belgium the nature conservation association “Réserves naturelles RNOB (NATAGORA)” and in Germany the “Stiftung Natur und Umwelt Rheinland” and the “Naturforschende Gesellschaft des Saarlandes” (Delattinia) ".

During the project period from 2006 to 2010, within the framework of the LIFE project, the nib grass and arnica meadows in 34 project areas on an area of ​​300 hectares were brought into a favorable state of conservation, the characteristic plants and animal species were promoted and the nib grass in Central Europe was networked. The project identified sustainable forms of use such as grazing projects and increased public acceptance of the European NATURA 2000 network.

The life project "Borstgrasrasen / Arnica Meadows" has made a significant contribution to improving the habitat situation and restoring the Borstgrasrasen and Arnika meadows in Central Europe. On around 300 hectares, the state of preservation of the arboreal grass and arnica meadows has been significantly improved.

Restoration and protection of dry lawns rich in orchids

Semi-arid limestone lawns with stands particularly rich in orchids belong to the priority habitats in Europe according to the Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive and are therefore of particular importance for the European natural heritage. With its deposits, the Saarland therefore has a high level of responsibility for the maintenance and restoration of dry grassland rich in orchids.

Because many of these areas are covered with bushes due to the abandonment of land use and have lost their ecological significance, the Naturland Foundation Saar submitted an application to the European Commission for a Life-Nature project for the "regeneration and preservation of dry grassland in Germany", which was approved in 2001 . The project sponsor was the Naturland Foundation Saar, which was responsible for the implementation of the overall project and the measures in Saarland. Project partners were the foundation "Nature Conservation Schleswig-Holstein", which implemented measures in Schleswig-Holstein, and Naturland Ökoflächen-Management GmbH (ÖFM), which carried out the maintenance measures in Saarland.

During the project period from 2001 to 2006, 25 hectares of land were acquired and in 13 Saarland project areas 100 hectares of bushy limestone semi-dry grass were cleared and hedges maintained over a length of around 9.7 km. Today the land is again used extensively for agriculture by local farmers within the framework of maintenance and management contracts.

Investigations within the scope of a monitoring have shown that the typical dry grassland species have migrated to the areas that were first maintained and repaired and that both the number of orchid species and the number of orchid individuals has increased. A particular success can be stated that in the project area “Area Böckweiler” a population of the globally endangered butterfly butterfly has newly established itself on the debushed areas.

Photo gallery for NLS projects

Naturland Ökoflächen-Management GmbH (ÖFM)

ÖFM managing director Eberhard Veith

The Naturland Foundation Saar founded Naturland Ökoflächen-Management GmbH (ÖFM) as a 100 percent subsidiary in 1998 in order to be able to use the opportunities offered by the eco-account issued by the Ministry for the Environment on January 1st, 1998. Until then, unavoidable interventions in nature and the landscape, such as the construction of a road or the development of a commercial area, had to be compensated for or otherwise compensated by the person who caused the interference in the spatial and temporal context of the interference. This led to temporal and spatial-functional problems.

The eco account now allows nature conservation measures to be planned and implemented independently of a specific intervention. These nature conservation measures can then be used later to compensate for intervention projects.

Mühlbach water renaturation before the renaturation measures by the ÖFM, same viewing direction

This opens up a wide field of activity for the ÖFM in that it uses suitable measures to convert areas of low nature conservation value into a more natural state and thus ecologically upgrade them. For example, by dismantling and revitalizing sealed surfaces or by renaturing developed rivers. The ÖFM carries out such measures in advance as part of the eco-account scheme and finances them. For each ecological advance service, points (= ecological value units) are credited to the so-called “eco account”. Those who interfere with nature and the landscape, for example in connection with construction work, can then acquire the points from the ÖFM at market prices and thus compensate for their own intervention. The intruder saves time by acquiring the ecopoints, as he can make the necessary compensation for his intervention at the same time as the start of construction and he gains planning and execution security. Nature wins because the measures make it biologically more efficient again. In addition, large-scale measures are possible with the eco-account, such as the creation of biotope network systems over several districts or the complete renaturation of rivers.

Mühlbach water renaturation after the renaturation measures by the ÖFM, same viewing direction


The ÖFM sets its programmatic priorities in the following areas
  • Floodplain program (flood protection measures through renaturation of rivers, unsealing of areas, floodplain forest and conversion of arable land into grassland)
  • Area program (area pool for compensation measures)
  • Dismantling program (demolition of campsites, weekend properties, repatriate farms or industrial wastelands, etc. In this way, the loss of space in Saarland is mitigated.)
  • Agricultural land program (revitalization of cleared agricultural landscapes, establishment of a network of natural areas (biotope networking))
  • Renewable energy program (leasing of property for the construction of wind turbines and photovoltaic systems)
  • Sustainability program (preservation of cultural landscapes that have grown over centuries)

Saarland Nature Guard

"Ranger" of the Saarland Nature Guard

Protected areas need qualified on-site support. For this purpose, the Saarland Nature Watch was set up in 2005 under the sponsorship of the Saar Nature Foundation. The employees of the nature guard are referred to as nature guards or rangers based on the first rangers at the end of the 19th century in Yellowstone National Park in the USA. While the ranger profession has long been highly valued in the Anglo-American region, it is still relatively new in Germany. The job description of the state-certified nature and landscape conservationist for the nature guardian or ranger has only existed since 1998 . In Saarland there are four full-time nature guards who take care of the nature reserves and NATURA 2000 areas. They see themselves as mediators between the local people and nature. The rangers cover a diverse range of tasks. In addition to the monitoring and regular control of the protected areas, they carry out extensive public relations work and are active in environmental education, species protection and biotope protection as well as conservation area maintenance. On average, the nature guards offer well over 100 tours each year with more than 2,500 participants, more than half of whom are children.

Imsbach estate and landscape park

Coat of arms of the Imsbach estate
Map of the landscape park and the Imsbach estate
Imsbach promenade through the landscape park with a seating nest

The Hofgut looks back on around 700 years of history. It was first mentioned as a settlement in 1310. The name Hofgut Imsbach appears for the first time in 1585.

After being destroyed in the Thirty Years War, it was rebuilt around 1715; the old courtyard house still standing today dates from this time. Around 1792/1793 the Hofgut was declared a French national property in the course of the French Revolution.

In 1812 Napoleon Bonaparte donated the estate to his deserving Colonel Charles Louis Narcisse Lapointe. He built a new residential building with a castle-like character and created a landscape park. After his death in 1855, his grandson Louis Albert Lapointe inherited the estate. In 1904 the manor chapel with family crypt was built not far from the estate after the death of Louis Albert Lapointe in 1904. After the Second World War, the Imsbach estate became state property and was used as a correctional facility from 1953 to 1965. The land was leased to farmers. In 1987 the estate was expanded to become the "Saarland Ecology Center Hofgut Imsbach Foundation". The renovation of the building and the construction of a hotel and restaurant complex followed. In 2006 the buildings and the surrounding areas became the property of the Naturland Foundation Saar (NLS) and its subsidiary ÖFM.

The estate is managed by Imsbach Verwaltungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbh (IVEG). The land use was realigned to 180 hectares. Among other things, 40 hectares of intensive arable land were converted into grassland and the historic landscape park was revived in a modern interpretation. The backbone of the land use is the pasture management operated by IVEG with old endangered domestic animal breeds. IVEG has been a recognized Bioland company since 2013 and has rear forest cattle, Swabian-Hall pasture pigs, Bavarian forest sheep, Galloway cattle, water buffalo and Konik horses.

Five elements as the basic principles of the landscape park

The landscape park is designed according to the ideas of the "Ferme Ornée", which wanted to combine the beautiful with the useful.

Five elements serve as the basic principles of the landscape park:

  1. Pasture farming as the backbone of land use with old, endangered domestic animal breeds
  2. Forest islands as hat and peasant forests to complement the pasture landscape
  3. Hedges, borders and herb gardens as formal and ornamental design elements
  4. Construction of the Imsbach promenade as a circular route to develop the landscape park
  5. Staging of special places along the Imsbach promenade: z. B. Gutskapelle, Weiherkaskade, picnic areas, sitting nests etc.

  • Hofgut Imsbach: building complex with restaurant

  • Inner courtyard with hotel restaurant

  • Chapel hill with wild daffodil meadow

  • Chapel with grave and memorial stone of Charles Louis Narcisse Lapointe

  • Grave plaque on the memorial stone

  • Hotel complex with Gutsweiher

  • Landscaped park with copper beech

  • Inside with grazing flock of sheep

In May 2016 Hofgut Imsbach opened an organic butcher's shop in Theley, where the organic meat from grazing animals is processed and sold. The region's first organic snack bar is right next to the butcher's shop.

literature

  • Naturland Foundation Saar (publisher): 10 years of Naturland Foundation Saar: 1976–1986. Editing: Eberhard Veith. Self-published, Saarbrücken 1986, OCLC 313440405 .
  • Bernd Trockur: 15th anniversary of the Naturland Foundation Saar. In: Nature Conservation in Saarland. Naturschutzbund Deutschland, Landesverband Saarland e. V. Jg. 22 (1992), No. 1, p. 27.
  • Axel Didion: Nature conservation and agriculture from the perspective of the Naturlandstiftung Saar e. V. In: Saar-Info - the magazine for the environment and nature conservation of the BUND Saar. Vol. 1998, No. 1, pp. 30-31.
  • Michael Wiesemann: A new Garden of Eden - the Naturland Foundation Saar's orchard project is going extremely well. In: Saarbrücker Zeitung. Edition Neunkirchen, vol. 1998, No. 256, p. L3.
  • Michael Wiesemann: Green Center for the State - the threads for environmental projects in Saarland come together at the “Naturland Foundation Saar”. In: Saarbrücker Zeitung. Edition Saarlouis, vol. 1999, No. 44, p. L5.
  • Naturland Foundation Saar (Ed.): The Naturland Foundation Saar. 25 years of applied nature conservation - a balance sheet. Editing: Eberhard Veith. Texts and Photos: Axel Didion. Self-published by NLS, Eppelborn 2001, OCLC 313935917 .
  • Helmut Paulus: Sage and the yellow rattle pot - the major nature conservation project “Saar-Blies-Gau / Auf der Lohe” is the largest project of the Saar Naturland Foundation; The old cultural landscape is to be protected and developed on 1300 hectares. In: Sunday greetings. 2001, No. 28, p. 3.
  • Alexander Arnold: Inventory of vascular plants to characterize areas of the Naturland Foundation Saar in the Wellingen / Saargau area, including the faunistic value. Thesis Univ. d. Saarland. Saarbrücken 2004.
  • Ingo Kowarik: Which nature do we want to protect and which are we ready to allow? A plea for an open nature conservation concept. Technical University, Inst. F. Ecology, Berlin 2006.
  • Dieter Gräbner: Wild orchids bloom on dry grass: the Naturland Foundation Saar purchases land and protects the local environment. (Foundations in Saarland. Part 11). In: Saarbrücker Zeitung. Year 2007, No. 17. S. B2.
  • Simone Schulz: Garden art, agriculture and poetry with William Shenstone and his Ferme Ornée “The Leasowes” in the mirror of his literary circle. Dissertation, Free University of Berlin, 2005. Online version

Web links

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Official Journal. Pp. 1625–1628 , accessed August 22, 2019 .
  2. ↑ Saarbrücker Zeitung: Natural landscapes know no borders. Retrieved August 20, 2019 .
  3. ↑ a b c Edoweb: Guide to the conservation and regeneration of grass turf in Central Europe. P. 3 , accessed on August 22, 2019 .
  4. ↑ a b Green nature instead of concrete. In: saarzeitung.de. Retrieved August 20, 2019 .
  5. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w magazine of NABU Saarland e. V. (Ed.): Nature conservation in the Saarland . No. 3 , 2016, p. 20-21 .
  6. ↑ Green nature instead of concrete | saarzeitung.de. Retrieved August 20, 2019 .
  7. ↑ Our subsidiaries. Naturland Foundation Saar, accessed on September 18, 2019 .
  8. ↑ a b c Krämer: "Naturland Foundation as a reliable partner for nature and species protection in the Saarland" | Saarland.de. Retrieved September 2, 2019 .
  9. ↑ a b c d e f g Edoweb: Guide to the maintenance and regeneration of grass grass in Central Europe. Retrieved August 22, 2019 .
  10. ↑ Preserve - protect - develop - Naturwacht Saarland. Retrieved August 22, 2019 .
  11. ↑ a b Naturland Foundation Saar (ed.): Activity report Naturland Foundation Saar 2016 . Saarbrücken November 2016, p. 2 .
  12. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Naturland Foundation Saar (Ed.): Activity report 2018 Naturland Foundation Saar . Saarbrücken November 2018, cover sheet, inside ( nls-saar.de [PDF]).
  13. ↑ Saarbrücker Zeitung: Natural landscapes know no borders. Retrieved August 22, 2019 .
  14. ↑ Natura 2000. In: Saarland.de. Retrieved August 22, 2019 .
  15. ↑ a b Official Journal. S. 1625 , accessed August 22, 2019 .
  16. ↑ Subsidiaries - Naturland Foundation Saar. Retrieved August 26, 2019 .
  17. ↑ a b Krämer: "Naturland Foundation as a reliable partner for nature and species protection in the Saarland" | Saarland.de. Retrieved September 2, 2019 .
  18. ↑ Our key objectives - Naturland Foundation Saar. Retrieved August 26, 2019 .
  19. ↑ a b c d ForumFMP of the TU Berlin. Retrieved August 26, 2019 .
  20. ↑ Preserve - protect - develop - Naturwacht Saarland. Retrieved August 26, 2019 .
  21. ↑ a b c d e f g h Rainer Wicklmayr (ed.): The unknown treasures of the Naturland Foundation Saar . 1st edition. Edition Schaumberg, Bexbach 2012, ISBN 978-3-941095-12-0 .
  22. ↑ The Naturland Foundation Saar - Naturland Foundation Saar. Retrieved August 30, 2019 .
  23. ^ Saarbrücker Zeitung: Home for threatened species. Retrieved August 30, 2019 .
  24. ↑ Protected areas - Naturland Foundation Saar. Retrieved August 30, 2019 .
  25. ^ A b Organization - Naturland Foundation Saar. Retrieved August 30, 2019 .
  26. ↑ Landtag> Detail> Reinhold Jost. Retrieved August 30, 2019 .
  27. ↑ a b Nature conservation and road construction - not a contradiction in terms! Naturland Foundation Saar and State Office for Road Construction institutionalize cooperation | Saarland.de. Retrieved September 2, 2019 .
  28. ↑ Donations - Naturland Foundation Saar. Retrieved September 2, 2019 .
  29. ↑ Grazing for biodiversity. Retrieved September 2, 2019 .
  30. ↑ a b Nature conservation with cattle. Retrieved September 2, 2019 .
  31. ↑ a b c d Saarbrücker Zeitung: Grazing project is presented. Retrieved September 2, 2019 .
  32. ↑ a b Grazing for biodiversity. Retrieved September 2, 2019 .
  33. ↑ a b Saarbrücker Zeitung: Another grazing project in the district: Scottish highland cattle are to move into the Rohrbachtal. Retrieved September 2, 2019 .
  34. ↑ Guidelines for the promotion of the establishment and securing of parts of nature and landscape worthy of protection with nationwide representative significance "chance.natur - Federal promotion of nature conservation". (PDF 176 kB) (Funding guidelines for large-scale nature conservation projects according to §§ 23 and 44 of the Federal Budget Code - BHO). In: Announcement of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety. Federal Gazette published by the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection, December 19, 2014, accessed on September 19, 2019 .
  35. ↑ a b BfN: Saar-Blies-Gau / Auf der Lohe. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  36. ↑ a b Wolferskopf large-scale nature conservation project. In: Naturland Foundation Saar. Retrieved September 2, 2019 .
  37. ^ Large-scale nature conservation project Natura-Ill-Theel. In: Naturland Foundation Saar. Retrieved September 2, 2019 .
  38. ^ Saar-Bliesgau / Auf der Lohe. In: Naturland Foundation Saar. Retrieved September 2, 2019 .
  39. ↑ Oliver Spettel: "Small Hallway Reform" for nature. In: Saarbrücker Zeitung. August 1, 2015, accessed September 2, 2019 .
  40. ↑ a b Participation report of the district of Merzig-Wadern 2018. (PDF) District of Merzig-Wadern, 2018, accessed on September 4, 2019 .
  41. ↑ a b c d Agricultural heritage project - Wolferskopf nature reserve, sponsor: Zweckverband Naturschutzgebiet Wolferskopf (c / o community Beckingen). Retrieved September 4, 2019 .
  42. ↑ Grenzsteinweg - Welcome to the Saarfels website. Retrieved September 4, 2019 .
  43. ↑ a b District of Merzig-Wadern: Municipality of Beckingen / District of Merzig-Wadern. Retrieved September 4, 2019 .
  44. ↑ Major nature conservation project. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  45. ↑ a b Participation report of the municipality of Mandelbachtal 2017. (PDF) Municipality of Mandelbachtal, accessed on September 5, 2019 .
  46. ↑ Maintenance and development plan for the major nature conservation project “Saar-Blies-Gau / Auf der Lohe” 2nd extension. (PDF) Geo Concept Saar GmbH, April 30, 2009, p. 146 , accessed on September 5, 2019 .
  47. ↑ Saarbrücker Zeitung: Wine-growing hike around Haus Lochfeld next Sunday. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  48. ^ Saar-Bliesgau / Auf der Lohe - Naturland Foundation Saar. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  49. ↑ Cultural Landscape Center Haus Lochfeld. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  50. ↑ a b Mandelbachtal: Connect the cultural landscape center "Haus Lochfeld" to the power grid. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  51. ↑ Cultural Landscape Center Haus Lochfeld. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  52. ↑ About us. In: LIK.NORD. Accessed September 5, 2019 (German).
  53. ↑ a b c LIK info flyer. (PDF) Zweckverband "Landschaft der Industriekultur Nord", 2015, accessed on September 5, 2019 .
  54. ↑ a b LIK Nord- Zweckverb, L ,schaft der Industriekulturinfolik-nord deAltes Bergwerk Reden Alex, er-von-Humboldt-Straße 666578Schiffweiler / L, sweiler-Reden0 68 21 - 290 27 48: Reden experience. Accessed September 5, 2019 (German).
  55. ↑ partner. In: LIK.NORD. Accessed September 5, 2019 (German).
  56. ↑ a b c LIK.Nord | Saarland.de. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  57. ↑ PEPL LIK.Nord maintenance and development plan for the major nature conservation project Landscape of Industrial Culture North Volume 1: An overview of the landscape of industrial culture North. (PDF) Zweckverband LIK.Nord - Landschaft der Industriekultur, September 11, 2012, accessed on September 5, 2019 .
  58. ↑ Saarbrücker Zeitung: "Small corridor reform" for nature. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  59. ↑ Cross-border cooperation - Naturland Foundation Saar. Retrieved September 9, 2019 .
  60. ↑ a b c Regeneration and preservation of dry grasslands in Germany. (PDF) Naturland Foundation Saar, accessed on September 9, 2019 .
  61. ^ Saarland biodiversity strategy. (PDF) Saarland Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection, 2012, accessed on September 9, 2019 .
  62. ↑ a b c Stefan Meisberger: LIFE project “Preservation and regeneration of arboreal grass lawns in Central Europe” FFH area 6409-304 “Meadow north of Reitscheid”. (PDF) DELATTINIA Working Group for Animal and Plant Geographical Research, 2008, accessed on September 9, 2019 .
  63. ↑ a b c d e Annual Report Conservation Foundation Rhineland-Palatinate 2006. (PDF) Conservation Foundation Rheinland-Pfalz, 2012, accessed on September 9, 2012 .
  64. ↑ a b Stefan Meisberger: EU Life Project "Preservation and Regeneration of Borstgrasrasen in Central Europe": Results of the project-accompanying monitoring 2007 - 2010. (PDF) DELATTINIA, 2012, accessed on September 9, 2019 .
  65. ^ Arnikawiesen - Naturland Foundation Saar. Retrieved September 9, 2019 .
  66. ↑ a b Dry grassland - Naturland Foundation Saar. Retrieved September 9, 2019 .
  67. ↑ a b c Profile "ÖFM GmbH". (PDF) Forum FMP Forum Area and Action Pools, September 2006, accessed on September 18, 2019 .
  68. ↑ a b Lisa Kutteruf: Naturlandstiftung subsidiary ÖFM is turning 20: A successful manager for nature. Retrieved September 18, 2019 .
  69. ↑ a b c Eco account - Naturland Ökoflächen-Management GmbH Saarland. Retrieved September 18, 2019 .
  70. ↑ Britta Bauer Naturland Ökoflächen-Management GmbH: Compensation-integrated measures on an organic farm model project ELKE (development of extensive land use concepts for the production of renewable raw materials as a possible compensation and substitute measure). (PDF) In: Research Association for Roads and Transports e. V. (FGSV). Institute for Applied Material Flow Management IfaS, 2013, accessed on September 18, 2019 .
  71. ↑ Federal Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin: Nature conservation needs strong allies - BMU press release. Retrieved September 4, 2019 .
  72. ↑ a b Nature Conservation - Nunkirchen. Retrieved September 18, 2019 (German).
  73. ^ Jürgen Kautenburger, Thomas Kreiter and Joachim Sartor: Flood retention through the redevelopment of alluvial forest. (PDF) In: Wasserwirtschaft, Heft 11/12, 2002. 2002, accessed on September 18, 2019 .
  74. ↑ Flood protection measures, water restoration - Naturland Ökoflächen-Management GmbH Saarland. Retrieved September 18, 2019 .
  75. ^ City of Wadern: Ministry for the Environment is promoting the demolition of an emigrant farm in the Nunkircher Aue as part of the program. Retrieved September 18, 2019 .
  76. ↑ Dismantling and revitalization - Naturland Ökoflächen-Management GmbH Saarland. Retrieved September 18, 2019 .
  77. ^ Renewable energies - Naturland Ökoflächen-Management GmbH Saarland. Retrieved September 18, 2019 .
  78. ↑ Saarland relies on eco-energy. Retrieved September 18, 2019 .