Pollack and owl break forest

European beeches ( F. sylvatica ) in the reserve

The Seelbachs- und Eulenbruchswald nature reserve is located in the area of ​​the city of Freudenberg in North Rhine-Westphalia . The area covers 167.20  hectares , spread over two areas. A part of the protected area is also designated as an FFH area (DE-5013-301).

Geography and geology

The nature reserve is located west of the city of Freudenberg and is part of the Siegerland natural area in the Rhenish Slate Mountains . The climate in the urban area of ​​Freudenberg is described as Atlantic, rich in clouds and rain. The mean annual temperature is 8 ° C.

Area description

It is a large, contiguous and variously structured forest area, which is cut by two roads (L 562 and K 21). The protected area includes the largest contiguous mixed deciduous forest in the Freudenberg area; this area is a decisive factor for ecological stability and dynamism as well as biodiversity . A considerable part of the forest area is represented by red beech forests . These are old wood stocks with pronounced, stepped undergrowth corresponding to the originally native vegetation. Some areas show individual older spruce , English oak and sessile oak . Other accompanying trees are silver birch , mountain ash , willow , aspen and bird cherry . Standing and lying parts of dead wood are essential for numerous fungi, insects and birds; In particular, this gives woodpeckers a basis for foraging and breeding. In the mixed deciduous forests, an effective natural regeneration can be observed. Sometimes there are denser stands of conifers ( Douglas fir , spruce).

An essential part of the protected area: standing and lying deadwood

Other established, alien species are red oak and European larch . The aim of the protected area is to use natural forest management to transfer the stocks of alien woody plants to natural deciduous mixed forest; spruces should only appear in individual specimens. In the area there are numerous streams, headwaters as well as some alder- and sycamore-lined rivers.

Flora and fauna

Some of the notable plant species found in the area include:

• Little Wintergreen ( Pyrola minor )
• Woodruff ( Galium odoratum )
• Waldzwenke ( Brachypodium sylvaticum )

The following animal species are listed as particularly notable in the protected area:

• Birds
  • Black woodpecker ( Dryocopos martius )
  • Little Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos minor )
  • Middle Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos medius )
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos major )
  • Gray woodpecker ( Picus canus )
  • Green Woodpecker ( Picus viridis )
  • Jackdaw ( Coloeus monedula ; Syn.Corvus monedula )
  • Little Owl ( Aegolius funereus )
  • Red kite ( Milvus milvus )
  • Long-eared Owl ( Asio otus )
  • Woodcock ( Scolopax rusticola )
• Amphibians
  

  Common Frog ( Rana temporaria )
  • Common toad ( Bufo bufo )
  • Fire salamander ( Salamandra salamandra )
  • Common Frog ( Rana temporaria )
• Insects , butterflies
  • Greater Schiller Butterfly ( Apatura iris )
  • Imperial coat ( Argynnis paphia )

Protection purpose

The designation of the nature reserve was made for the purpose of maintaining and restoring typical communities of a contiguous forest area as well as the communities and species contained therein. The following are to be emphasized:

• Richly structured, near-natural, tiered, herb-rich red beech forests with pronounced natural regeneration in acidic grove beech forest (FFH habitat)
• Deciduous forests with bird cherry and sycamore maple
• Endangered and highly endangered, near-natural stream sections with alder-ash floodplain forests (primary FFH habitat) with softwood border
• swampy source areas
• Wet meadows with marsh marigolds (Calthion)

When designating nature conservation and FFH areas, the occurrence of medium-sized woodpeckers, black woodpeckers, gray woodpeckers and red kites (species of community interest according to the Habitats Directive) were given particular consideration. Furthermore, the preservation and development of the diversity of the landscape and the aesthetic value of the landscape are set as goals.

Hazards

Influences from humans, especially from equestrian sports, affect parts of the forest area. Rejuvenation with undesired softwoods can start from established coniferous wood. The desired natural regeneration of the hardwood stands can be endangered by game damage such as browsing and peeling . Since the vegetation is supposed to rejuvenate without additional protective measures, a regulation of the wild population is necessary. The actual browsing and peeling damage serve as an indicator for the necessary intensity of interventions in the game population.

Open grassland areas, which represent an important structural component and contribute to biodiversity, fall fallow and become bushy without human influence. As countermeasures, mowing the marsh marigold meadows (once or twice a year from July 1st, no grazing) or grazing other grassland areas (e.g. mowing sheep (from July 1st) or mowing (twice from July 1st)) .

swell

• District of Siegen-Wittgenstein, landscape plan Freudenberg ( PDF ) (accessed on July 9, 2019)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ City of Freudenberg, 7th amendment to the development plan of the city of Freudenberg, No. 24a ( PDF , accessed on July 9, 2019)

Web links

• Nature reserve “Seelbach- und Eulenbruchswald” (SI-076) in the specialist information system of the State Office for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection in North Rhine-Westphalia

Coordinates: 50 ° 54 '15.4 "  N , 7 ° 51' 14.1"  E