Obersuhler Aue

Obersuhler Aue IUCN Category IV - Habitat / Species Management Area
Abandoned excavation water in the southern area.
location	South-east of Obersuhl , Wildeck municipality in the Hersfeld-Rotenburg district .
surface	68 hectares
Identifier	1632018
WDPA ID	164903
Natura 2000 ID	5026-302
Geographical location	50 ° 57 '  N , 10 ° 3'  E Coordinates: 50 ° 56 '35 "  N , 10 ° 3' 17"  E
Sea level	from 200  m to 210  m
Setup date	August 1990
particularities	Special protection as a nature reserve , Natura 2000 area and as part of a bird sanctuary .

The Obersuhler Aue is a large open grassland area in the north-east Hessian district of Hersfeld-Rotenburg . The area created by traditional grazing and mowing , which borders on Thuringia on three sides , has become a habitat for many species of flora and fauna that are worthy of protection. In order to preserve and protect the differently moist meadows and fallow land, the floodplain was declared a nature reserve in 1990 and later anchored as a flora-fauna habitat area in the Europe-wide network of protected areas " Natura 2000 ". As one of four sub-areas, the meadow area also belongs to the European bird sanctuary “Rhäden von Obersuhl and Auen on the central Werra”, which is an important breeding and resting area for endangered bird species.

location

The protected area is located southeast of Wildeck - Obersuhl in the Hersfeld-Rotenburg district. In the west, gravel mining areas and excavation waters border directly on the area and on its north, east and south sides the floodplain is enclosed by the nature reserve " Werraaue bei Berka und Untersuhl " in the Wartburg district in Thuringia .

In terms of nature , the Obersuhler Aue is assigned to the “ Berka Basin ” in the “Salzungen-Herleshausener Werratal”, which belongs to the main unit of the “ Salzunger Werrabergland ” in the “ East Hessian Bergland ”.

Berkaer Allee

The "Berkaer Allee", which crosses the protected area, is one of the few remaining lime tree avenues in Hesse.

In the eastern part of the national road 3250a crosses the protected area. As state road 1022, it connects the Thuringian towns of Untersuhl and Berka . In the times of divided Germany, both sides, the 560 meter long Hessian part, ended at the border fortifications of the GDR . The road could only be reached via the floodplain. This section of the street, known as Berkaer Allee, with around eighty trees that characterize the landscape, is considered a specialty because of the few remaining Hessian linden avenues . From a nature conservation point of view, on the other hand, the fragmentation of the area by the busy country road is a significant impairment.

Origin of the area

In the ice age of the earth's history , an extensive land lake extended into the depression created by the leaching processes of mighty salt deposits . Prehistoric finds suggest that this lake existed, at least in part, up to three thousand to five hundred years before the turn of the ages. As is assumed from the sediment left behind , it had an outflow to the west and a connection to the river system of the Fulda , until tectonic processes deepened the threshold at Hörschel and today's Werra was created. The remains of the former lake silted up over time, the area was gradually drained with a system of ditches and mostly cultivated as meadow and pasture land. Due to the increasing abandonment of agricultural land since the late 1980s, the tendency to fallow has increased . This development should be counteracted with the purchase of numerous parcels by the state of Hesse and the designation of a nature reserve.

Biotopes of the protected area

The floodplain area in the open landscape of the Werra Valley is characterized by large oat meadows and wet meadows . In the south-west a mosaic of wood , fallow land, sedge beds and reed beds as well as lakes and small bodies of standing water has formed from gravel mining . The need for protection arises primarily from the “nationwide significant characteristic of a large, uncut floodplain and its function as an important resting place and breeding biotope for meadow birds and as a habitat for a large number of rare and endangered animal and plant species”. According to the Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive , two types of habitat occurring in the floodplain are considered areas of community importance that must be placed under protection.

• Lean, lowland hay meadows

The central part of the protected area is occupied by wet meadows.

The FFH-relevant habitat type covers around 25 hectares in the area. As a result of the intensification of agriculture, with increased fertilization and frequent mowing, this type of meadow has become rare in Germany. Most of the meadows are considered impoverished and only a few grasses populate them. The remaining meager hay meadows are only used extensively. The first cut is made later in the year and not before the main flowering time of the grasses, due to the lower growth rate. This late mowing allows a variety of plant species and grasses to establish themselves.

The stocks in the northeast half of the area are assigned to the plant community of the Glatthaferwiese. In addition to the dominant upper grasses meadow foxtail and woolly honeydew grass, there are also high proportions of lower grasses such as red fescue and common stalk grass as well as some colorful herbaceous plants such as meadow knapweed , common yarrow , meadow pea or meadow bellflower . The occurrence of the Great Wiesenknopf , with populations on almost all areas, is rated as significant .

• Natural nutrient-rich lakes

In the Pleistocene , alluvial sediments were deposited , which formed thick layers of sand and gravel that were exploited over small areas. Open water areas have emerged in the abandoned excavations . The water level of the rivers seems to fluctuate strongly, the shore zones dry out from time to time. The nature conservation value of the waters is seen primarily in their importance for the amphibian and dragonfly fauna .

fauna

The shape of the floodplain, as a large, open grassland area created by traditional use, which provides habitats for meadow birds and a large number of rare and endangered animal species , justifies the need for protection.

• Butterflies and grasshoppers

The meadows are habitat for many species of butterflies and grasshoppers . Worth mentioning is the occurrence of the dark blue-buttoned ants . It is one of those species that are so critically endangered that they are likely to become extinct if the disruption of their unusual life cycle continues. Since it is endangered throughout Europe and is considered a key species , it is listed as particularly worthy of protection in the Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive. Special protected areas must be designated for its conservation. Most of these moths have been observed in the reserve along uncut seams and the edges of fallow land.

Around twenty butterfly species were identified during the inspections as part of the basic data collection. The most common species was the great ox-eye , of which several thousand individuals were observed during the survey period. With the Golden Eight , the Brown Fire Butterfly and the Swallowtail , butterflies have been seen which, according to the “ Red List ” of Hesse, belong to the species that are threatened or whose number has noticeably decreased.

Ten species of the grasshopper fauna have been observed in the meadows, most of which are common and widespread in the cultural landscape. Only the marsh insect and the short-winged sword insect are two rare and endangered species that find a suitable habitat in the damp locations. The investigating scientists do not rule out that some other species, especially nocturnal and woody grasshoppers, may occur in the area.

• Amphibians

The shallow, sunny ponds in the meadows provide a habitat for the amphibians.

Of the amphibians, nine species find their characteristic habitat in the protected area. From a herpetological point of view, the large populations of yellow-bellied toads and crested newts are of great importance. According to Annex II of the Flora-Fauna-Habitat Directive , they are species to be strictly protected, for whose ecological needs protected areas are to be set up in the Natura 2000 network in order to preserve their populations. The yellow-bellied toad, which was named Lurch of the Year 2014 by the German Society for Herpetology and Terrarium Studies , and the crested newt have one of their most important populations in northern Hesse here, in the Obersuhler Aue.

Among the amphibians found in the protected area, there are two other species, the natterjack toad and the tree frog , which are protected throughout Europe by the Habitats Directive because their population is threatened. Common toads , green frogs , pond and mountain newts are also considered worthy of protection . They belong to the species whose numbers have declined noticeably, but which are currently not yet considered endangered.

• Birds

Around one hundred species of birds have been observed in the floodplain since the late 1960s. Among them are birds in particular need of protection , which are threatened with extinction according to Annex I of the Birds Directive , due to low populations, small areas of distribution or due to their special habitat requirements. They include with breeding territories in the floodplain Kingfisher , Gray-headed Woodpecker , Bluethroat , Red-backed Shrike , marsh harrier and Spotted Crake . Bittern , black-throated and red-throated divers were seen as migrants . Evidence of the night heron and corn crake was considered remarkable. White and black storks are regularly found foraging in the meadows.

Protected position

• Nature reserve

The history of the protection began in the 1980s. During this time, the floodplain was still surrounded by the GDR border systems in the north, south and east. With an ordinance of the District Directorate for Forests and Nature Conservation in Kassel of May 26, 1986, the area was secured for a planned landscape protection area for a period of three years. The temporary security was then extended in 1989 for two more years to five years, until in August 1990 52.52 hectares of the floodplain area were designated as a nature reserve. The purpose of the protection was: "to secure the variously moist alluvial meadows and fallow areas as breeding and feeding areas for rare, endangered bird species and to improve them through targeted care measures". Another designation, with an area now enlarged to around 68 hectares to the west, followed in 2002, with the additional aim of “preserving the grassland community created by the traditional use of meadows and pastures in the floodplain area and the wet meadows and wetlands that have become rare in our cultural landscape to protect as a habitat for many, in some cases rare and endangered, plant and animal species. ”The nature reserve has the national identification 1632018 and the WDPA code 164903.

• Flora-fauna habitat area

As part of the Flora-Fauna-Habitat Directive, the nature reserve was reported by the State of Hesse to the EU Commission in 2002 for the transnational network of special protected areas Natura 2000. Natura 2000 aims to promote biological diversity and to preserve or restore a favorable condition of natural biotopes. The FFH area, with almost the same size and delimitation as the nature reserve, has the number 5026-302 and the WDPA code 555520380 in the Europe-wide system of protected areas. The area boundaries and conservation objectives were set in the "Ordinance on Natura 2000 areas in Hessen “from January 16, 2008.

The habitat types (LRT for short) that are worthy of protection and are of community interest and must be designated as special protection areas for their conservation include "Lean flatland hay meadows" (LRT 6510) and "Natural and near-natural nutrient-rich still waters with spawning or frog-bite Companies "(LRT 3150). Decisive for the designation of the FFH area were also the populations of the dark blue-bellied ants with their reproduction habitats as well as the populations of the crested newt and the yellow-bellied toad. According to Annex II of the Habitats Directive, they are severely endangered and strictly protected species for which special protected areas must also be designated.

• European bird sanctuary

The Obersuhler Aue is one of four parts of the EU bird sanctuary "Rhäden von Obersuhl and Auen on the central Werra". The approximately 540 hectare area with the area number 5026-402 and the WDPA code 555537602 also includes the two FFH and nature reserves “ Rhäden bei Obersuhl and Bosserode ” and “ Rohrlache von Heringen ” as well as the FFH area “Werraaue von Herleshausen” ". The near-natural floodplain meadow landscapes of the protected area have wetlands, fallow land, reed beds, large sedge beds and open water areas. They are regarded as a nationwide important resting and wintering area for waterbirds, wading birds and wading birds and also as a nationally important breeding area for white storks, flukes , bluethroats and other strictly protected species in Appendix I of the Birds Directive.

• Adjacent protected areas

In connection with the neighboring Hessian nature reserves " Rhäden bei Obersuhl and Bosserode " and " Rohrlache von Heringen " as well as the Thuringian nature reserves "Werraaue bei Berka and Untersuhl", " Alte Werra ", " Dankmarshäuser Rhäden " and " Rohrlache between Dippach and Dankmarshausen " belongs the Obersuhler Aue to the network of the humid ecosystems of the Middle Werra Valley. The protected areas are an important part of the “ Green Belt ”. The major nature conservation project , which was declared a national natural monument by the decision of the Thuringian state parliament on November 9, 2018 , connects numerous rare habitats along the former inner-German border. As a national natural heritage, the Green Belt is counted among the most valuable protected areas in Germany, which should contribute to the preservation of biological diversity in the country.

Tourist development

The border hiking trail “Green Belt” and the “Werra-Burgen-Steig X5” run between the nature reserves “Werraaue bei Berka and Untersuhl” and “Obersuhler Aue”.

The floodplain can be reached by bike and hiking trails from Obersuhl and Berka. The protected area is easily visible from Berkaer Allee, which crosses the protected area. In the area between the Aue and the Thuringian nature reserve “Werraaue bei Berka und Untersuhl” run the border hiking trail “Green Belt” and the “ Werra-Burgen-Steig X5”.

literature

• Bioplan Marburg: Basic data acquisition for monitoring and management for the FFH area “Obersuhler Aue”, area no. 5026-302 . Client: Kassel Regional Council, Marburg 2002.
• Lothar and Sieglinde Nitsche, Marcus Schmidt: Nature reserves in Hessen, protect-experience-maintain. Volume 3, Werra-Meißner district and Hersfeld-Rotenburg district . cognitio Verlag, Niedenstein 2005, ISBN 3-932583-13-2 .

Web links

Commons : Obersuhler Aue  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ The natural areas of Hesse and their main units. In: Environmental Atlas Hessen ; accessed on May 13, 2020.
2. ↑ With the change of state, the name of the street also changes.
3. ↑ Alena Nennstiel: "Hessian section of Berkaer Allee between Berka and Gerstungen is being renovated." In: Hessische / Niedersächsische Allgemeine (HNA). September 26, 2018; accessed on May 13, 2020.
4. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} Bioplan Marburg: Basic data acquisition for monitoring and management for the FFH area "Rhäden bei Obersuhl and Bosserode".
5. ↑ Statements of the FFH area report. In: Bioplan Marburg: Basic data acquisition for monitoring and management for the FFH area "Rhäden bei Obersuhl and Bosserode". P. 4.
6. ^ Red list of butterflies in Hesse . (PDF; 275 kB) In: Nature Conservation Information System of the State of Hesse “Natureg-Viewer”; accessed on May 13, 2020.
7. ↑ Red List of Reptiles and Amphibians in Hesse . (PDF; 3.6 MB) In: Nature Conservation Information System of the State of Hesse “Natureg-Viewer”; accessed on May 13, 2020.
8. ^ Ordinance on the temporary safeguarding of the future "Obersuhler Aue" landscape protection area of May 26, 1986. In: State Gazette for the State of Hesse, edition 24/86 of June 16, 1986, p. 1258 f.
9. ↑ Quoted from the ordinance on the "Obersuhler Aue" nature reserve of August 7, 1990. In: State Gazette for the State of Hesse, issue 34/90 of August 20, 1990, p. 1697 f.
10. ^ Ordinance on the "Obersuhler Aue" nature reserve of July 25, 2002. In: State Gazette for the State of Hesse, edition 28/2002 of July 15, 2002, p. 2582 f.
11. ↑ "Obersuhler Aue" nature reserve. In: World Database on Protected Areas; accessed on May 13, 2020.
12. ↑ FFH area "Obersuhler Aue". In: World Database on Protected Areas; accessed on May 13, 2020.
13. ^ Ordinance on the Natura 2000 areas in Hessen in the Law and Ordinance Gazette for the State of Hessen. Part I - No. 4, dated January 16, 2008.
14. ↑ Profile of the FFH area 5026-302 "Obersuhler Aue". In: Website of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN); accessed on May 13, 2020.
15. ↑ "Rhäden von Obersuhl and Auen on the central Werra". In: World Database on Protected Areas ; accessed on May 13, 2020.
16. ↑ Profile of the EU bird protection area "Rhäden von Obersuhl and Auen on the central Werra" on the website of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN); accessed on May 13, 2020.
17. ↑ "The Green Belt Thuringia - National Natural Monument". In: Website of the Thuringian Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Nature Conservation; accessed on May 13, 2020.