Ahretalsystem nature reserve

The Ahretalsystem nature reserve is a 35.76 hectare nature reserve (NSG) southwest of Züschen . The area was designated as a NSG by the Hochsauerlandkreis in 2008 with the Winterberg landscape plan . The NSG area has been part of the 2249 hectare FFH area Hallenberger Wald (DE 4817-301) since 2000 .

description

The NSG consists of the Ahre valley area and three secondary valleys. The NSG includes the valley locations with their grassland and some smaller forest areas. The grassland is mostly grazed with cattle . In addition to wet grassland on the valley floor, there are poor pastures on the valley slope in the NSG.

The Ahre stream runs through the NSG from its source to the Kranbuche location in Züschen . The Ahretal system with its source streams is an excellent example of particularly structured low mountain range brook valleys, partly with extensive, extensively used grassland in the Bachaue. In the slope areas of the NSG, poor pastures of the species-rich red fescue willow type prevail, and valuable wet and wet grassland near the streams. Many of the meadows in the NSG are extensively grazed with cattle in accordance with the specifications of the culture-landscape-care program of the Hochsauerlandkreis. The streams in the nature reserve meander largely close to nature. At the edge of the floodplains, sometimes also alongside the stream, there are many banks and small trees, as well as old individual trees and bushes. On the upper reaches of the streams, several small, old-wood rich beech and spruce stands near the stream. In the area of the “Junkern Ahre” and the “Schweinsjohanns Ahre”, there are larger, younger red spruce stands in the floodplains which, according to the landscape plan, are to be removed in order to create the original, continuous grassland use of the stream meadows.

The mass occurrence of the wig knapweed on the extensive lean grassland on the “Great Ahre” should be emphasized in terms of floristry. With several thousand individuals, this occurrence is one of the most important of its kind in North Rhine-Westphalia. Overall, the Ahre valley system is an extremely diverse and species-rich vegetation mosaic consisting of wet grassland and poor pastures. There are numerous endangered animal and plant species. The highly protected biotope complex of montane character is therefore, together with the nearby Walsbach, Berkmecke, Brembach and Haumecketal, of outstanding importance for North Rhine-Westphalia.

Protection purpose

The NSG is to protect the streams and the floodplain with its species inventory. As with all nature reserves in Germany, the protection designation indicated that the area was declared a nature reserve “because of the rarity, special character and beauty of the area”.