Burhagen nature reserve

Burhagen nature reserve in front of the quarry and the forest to the right of the quarry from the west

Burhagen quarry and NSG Burhagen (left of the quarry and behind) from the west

Area cleared in spring 2017 in the NSG above the quarry (brownish area)

Mowing in 2015 in a NSG area destroyed in 2017

NSG area destroyed in spring 2017

Burhagen nature reserve from the east

The Burhagen nature reserve with a size of 15.13 hectares is located southwest of Brilon . The area was designated as a nature reserve (NSG) by the Hochsauerlandkreis in 2008 with the landscape plan of the Brilon plateau . It is one of 31 nature reserves in Brilon, which belong to the group of limestone peaks with special prohibitions. The NSG is part of the 203 hectare FFH area Kalkkuppen near Brilon (DE 4617-303).

Area description

The NSG consists of grazed grassland and a beech forest on the Burhagen mountain. The subsoil of the mountain consists of lime. On the south-facing slopes in the south-east corner of the NSG there are well-defined grazed lime-lime lawns . Structurally rich, partly poor cattle pastures on the eastern slope connect this part with a beech forest on the back and the northwest slope of the Burhagen. It consists mainly of strong tree wood and is interspersed with individual spruce and forest stands with sallow willow. In the west, on a north-westerly sloping slope, a poor pasture is connected, which has fresher limestone grasslands in need of protection on the exposed terrace edges. The area is largely part of the FFH area. The limestone grasslands are largely legally protected biotopes in accordance with Section 30 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG).

The NSG designation of the north-west corner of the NSG is subject to a time limit, as this area was defined in the regional plan as an "area for the above-ground extraction of mineral resources". Rock mining can only be carried out according to a procedure in accordance with the Federal Immission Control Act (BimSchG).

In the spring of 2017, practically all woody plants in the "area for the above-ground extraction of mineral resources" were sawed off. Only a few trees remained at the edge of the quarry. Paths were pushed into the planned dismantling area and paved with gravel.

Protection purpose

The NSG was designated as a habitat for rare and endangered animal and plant species in order to maintain and optimize a species-rich biotope mosaic consisting of mostly extensively used poor grassland and a beech forest. As with all nature reserves in Germany, the protection designation pointed out that the area became a nature reserve “because of the rarity, special character and beauty of the area”.

Prohibitions

In addition to the normal prohibitions in nature reserves, the NSG Burhagen, as with the other 30 limestone peaks, has additional prohibitions. It is forbidden to fertilize, roll and drag the limestone peaks. No more than two livestock units per hectare may graze at the same time. Furthermore, mowing is only permitted from July 1st of each year.