Eselsbruch / Harlebachsystem nature reserve

Erlenbruchwald in the Eselsbruch / Harlebachsystem nature reserve

The Eselsbruch / Harlebachsystem nature reserve with a size of 168.59 hectares is located north of Wülfte on the border with the Paderborn district in the urban area of Brilon and includes the Eselsbruch, the Harlebach and tributaries with their floodplains from the source to the district boundary. The area was designated as a nature reserve (NSG) by the Hochsauerlandkreis in 2008 with the landscape plan of the Brilon plateau . The NSG goes partly to the district boundary.

Area description

The NSG is the Eselsbruch and Harlebach system. The Eselsbruch is the largest area in the Sauerland with peat moss, alder and birch forest. In addition to the streams of the Harlebach system, the floodplain is part of the NSG. In the floodplain there are swamp forests, alluvial forest relics and alder forests that accompany the stream. There are also areas with red spruce trees within the NSG . A special feature is that the NSG did not cut through any road.

Protection purpose

In the NSG, the marshes of the Eselsbruch, also the floodplain of the Harlebach and its tributaries are to be protected. 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”.