ANLiegen Natur

Table of contents
ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 1 till 4 download full text (german only, 0,7 MB).

News of the Internet
ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 5 till 9 download full text (german only,0,5 MB).

Notes from nature and environment
ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 10 till 20 download full text (german only, 1,2 MB).

Andreas Zahn, Anika Lustig and Matthias Hammer
Potential effects of wind energy plants on bat population

Summary
The increasing use of wind energy can lead to conflicts with bat conservation, if bats crash into rotor blades of the wind turbine generators (WTG). Most commonly affected are the three species: the common noctule (Nyctalus noctula), Nathusius’ pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii) and common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus). In addition, the lesser noctule, northern bat, parti-coloured bat, serotine bat and soprano pipistrelle are common victims. The collision risk for species of the genera Myotis, Plecotus, Rhinolophus and Barbastella is assessed as very low fairly consistently. The lowest collision rates are measured in flat, open areas with intensive agriculture. The most collision-prone areas are located near the coast, on wooded hills and in mountain ridges. Even in flat, intensive-agriculture landscapes, wind turbines with an increased risk of collision can occasionally exist, for example, on flat, rolling hills, along migratory routes or in bat high density areas. The highest losses of bats to WTG were measured in late summer and the beginning of autumn after the disbanding of nursery colonies during the swarming and migration periods at wind speeds up to 8 m/s, temperatures above 13 °C, and dry conditions. Until now, no connection between colony losses in local bat populations and WTG proximity in Europe has been demonstrated, but data collected in the United States indicates a positive correlation. Estimates and calculations suggest that the observed high mortality rates near individual WTG can lead to a reduction in bat populations. It is, therefore, urgently necessary to establish meaningful monitoring systems for all bat species that are more affected by WTGs, so changes in population sizes can be detected in time. From the perspective of population biology, it makes little sense to define tolerable mortality rates for individual WTG or wind farms - as was performed in the past for practical reasons related to the approval process. Instead, while developing a colony monitoring strategy, acceptable WTG losses at the population level should be established.

ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 21 till 35 download full text (predominantly in german, 0,9 MB).

Jörg Müller
Bats in the forest – wind turbines as new risk

Summary
The search for new wind facility installation sites extended to the forests several years ago. The difficulties inherent in accessing the forest areas both on the ground level and in the canopy, has thus far impeded the collection of knowledge about bat activity in different strata of mature forests. Sampling bat activity from the forest floor to the tree crown revealed that collision-prone species regularly hunt about the canopy stratum in Bavarian forests and, therefore, would be endangered by the erection of new wind turbines in the forest.

ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 36 till 38 download full text (predominantly in german, 0,3 MB).

Andreas von Lindeiner
Wind energy and bird conservation

Summary
Non-governmental organizations involved in conservation regard wind energy as the most space- and energy-efficient form of renewable energy production as part of the efforts to prevent climate change and, therefore, generally support its further development. The goal of the Bavarian government is to build an additional 1,000 to 1,500 wind power plants (WPP) by the year 2021. This will create problems, especially in areas where sensitive large bird species, such as the red kite, white-tailed eagle, Montagu’s harrier, eagle owl, and black stork occur. This paper summarizes basic knowledge that will allow the assessment of the risks of collisions and that will support current discussions on the themes of wind energy and bird conservation. The most crucial factor to take into account in order to avoid casualties of birds through collisions with WPP is the appropriate evaluation of the construction site. To make an appropriate choice, the ecological requirements of each potentially affected species must be taken into account during the ecological impact assessment and the initial planning stages. Finally, we also discuss the framework that defines basic preconditions for the acceptance of WPP by conservation groups and the general public.

ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 39 till 46 download full text (predominantly in german, 0,8 MB).

Michael Grauvogl
The designation of wind energy priority areas in regional planning: An example from Upper Franconia

Summary
Summary of conference proceedings held at the ANL-symposium “Naturschutz und Windenergie/Conservation and Wind Energy” from the 9th to the 10th of July, 2012 in Hof. In Upper Franconia, the implementation of renewable energy has advanced significantly. Thus, the use of wind energy is affected by regional planning or conceptions, leading to the establishment of wind energy priority areas. Nature conservation agencies, along with other related agencies, are directly involved to prevent poor investments . The current wind farm size requires regional involvement. The landscape (or scenery) is an important aspect of consideration for the local population, which is also a basis for the calculation of the compensation payment. For such a challenging planning task, independent, yet binding, regional planning coordination is important.

ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 47 till 53 download full text (predominantly in german, 0,6 MB).

Arnold Multerer
The impact of biogas raw materials on the utilized agricultural are

Summary
In Germany, the upgrading of renewable energy is leading to increasing expansions in the potential uses of bioenergy. In this context, bioenergy production, particularly from renewable raw materials, has become a central theme for various interest groups and is discussed controversially among the populace. Along with other issues, biogas plants have a strong impact on the cultivation of crops in Germany and the associated changes in land use. Objectively seen, however, four cultivated crop types dominate 90 % of the agricultural area: grains (excepting corn; 37 %), meadows and pastures (30 %), corn (15 %) and winter rapeseed (9 %). One-third of the corn is fermented in biogas plants to produce bioenergy, while the rest is used as fodder or sent on to the processing industry. The cultivation of crops for biogas plants has little impact on this distribution of crops, when the distribution of cultivated areas prior to the operation of biogas plants is compared to that known today. Additional, excessive construction of biogas plants in various regions rich in animal husbandry and processing, however, leads to above-average corn cultivation. Some alternative raw materials have the potential to be used as potential substrates in biogas plants. Appropriate conditions and requirements must be identified and fulfilled, so that the plant operator can achieve a commercially viable operation. This is the only way that one can ensure that biogenic waste and alternative plants will be increasingly used in biogas plants and that new plants that are based on an alternative raw materials concept will be built.

ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 54 till 60 download full text (predominantly in german, 0,7 MB).

Burkhard Beinlich, Heinz Anton Gockel and Frank Grawe
Shaping forest edges using the coppice-with-standards management syste

Summary
While the ideal structure of forest edges is well-known (Figure 1), forest edges look quite different in reality. From 2007 to 2011, a project funded by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food in the Weserbergland (Höxter County, Northrhine-Westphalia), demonstrated how existing forest edges can be profitably converted into sites rich in species and with diverse structure. The net income realized in the conversion was estimated at 14,000 Euros per km forest edge. Revenues that will be generated from harvests, which take place every 20 to 25 years, within the simple coppice that later develops are estimated at around 1,100 Euros per km. Positive side effects of the conversion include a drastic decrease in the cost of traffic safety provisions along roads.

ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 61 till 65 download full text (predominantly in german, 0,7 MB).

Gisela Kangler, Birgit Liebl-Schwindhammer and Annette Voigt
Fascinating wild rivers – social perception of wild rivers and its relevance for nature conservation and landscape planning

Summary
Wild rivers provide unique habitats from a nature conservation point of view. How rivers are dealt with, whether they are regulated or whether their dynamics are maintained or restored not only depends on use and nature conservation interests but also on expectations, longings and fears. According to a hypothesis, planning can only react appropriately to these emotions if social perceptions and values are expressed. This article analyses the typical cultural importance of wild rivers. It focuses on the Isar river as an example for using wild rivers as a guiding principle in planning. Practical insights, especially into the planning of hydraulic engineering projects, are provided for nature conservation and landscape planning. On this basis vague fears can be analysed and guiding principles can be found, thus reaching a broad acceptance.

ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 66 till 73 download full text (predominantly in german, 0,6 MB).

Thomas Blachnik
Suppression of the invasive neophyte creeping stonecrop (Sedum spurium) and restoration of grus habitats on diabase-rock sites in the Bavarian Vogtland

Summary
Diabase-rock sites in the region of the Bavarian ‘Vogtland’ are significant as habitats for certain rare and endangered plant species. Threats to these fragmented habitats include nutrient loads, woody plant succession and invasive neophytes. Some diabase-rock sites near the city of Hof (Northern Bavaria, Franconia) are highly disturbed by the invasive creeping stonecrop (Sedum spurium; syn: Phedimus spurius). On semi-natural grus surfaces and other habitats, the endangered species Dillenius’ speedwell (Veronica dillenii) and other Red List species are outcompeted by this invasive species. From 2010–2013, management measures and some monitoring on permanent plots were carried out as part of the botanical conservation program and with funding from the Bavarian Nature Conservation Fund. The Landscape Maintenance Association (“Landschaftspflegeverband“) of the city and administrative district of Hof took responsibility for project organization and execution. First results show that control of creeping stonecrop is necessary to allow expansion of remnants of the original vegetation and re-establishment of at least some for endangered species. Sowing of native plant seeds collected from undisturbed diabase-rock sites is an additional option.

ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 74 till 81 download full text (predominantly in german, 1,5 MB).

Matthias Dolek, Markus Bräu and Christian Stettmer
Let the waters flow! – but will that solve all problems in the peatlands?

Summary
During recent years peatland renaturation programs with a focus on species protection have been increasingly supplemented by activities designed to regenerate active peatlands for climate protection. It is widely assumed that species and habitat protection benefit from such climate protection projects. This assumption is scrutinized. We carefully examine the effects on characteristic species of mires, which should benefit from rewetting, as well as effects on species typical for dry habitats in peatlands. For characteristic species of peatlands, the rewetting period is indentified as critical, because essential resources and habitat features may get lost before they are re-created in other locations by changing water levels. This potential threat must be considered during all mire regeneration projects, for example, by a spatially and/or temporally stepwise rewetting strategy. Dry bogs and fens are also important as secondary habitats. During rewetting, such habitats should be conserved as far as possible by spatial differentiation. Additionally, the creation of new secondary habitats (within peatlands and outside) should be included in planning. In both dry and re-wetted peatlands, minimizing the existing tree and shrub cover is often as important for habitat and species protection as maintaining a positive water balance.

ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 82 till 89 download full text (predominantly in german, 0,7 MB).

Sabine Hennig
Innovative ways to provide information and communicate in the field of nature conservation: examples from large protected areas

Summary
Modern information and communication technologies (ICT) are widely used throughout large protected areas in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This is demonstrated by a wide range of Web 2.0 applications and services that are used to support management objectives in these areas. Nevertheless, the full potential of modern ICT due to their popularity with the general public has still not been entirely exploited. Many existing applications still need to be optimized improved and new approaches must be integrated to provide appropriate digital solutions. If standards and guidelines on web design, usability, accessibility, internet and multimedia cartography, social media and mobile solutions are considered, high-quality applications can be developed. In addition, it is important to provide resources that support the development of these innovative applications and creative concepts in such a way as to link the technology with nature-related issues and, thus, meet the objectives of environmental communication and education.

ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 90 till 102 download full text (predominantly in german, 0,8 MB).

Helmut Kudrnovsky
Open Data and free and open source software for geographic information systems (FOSSGIS) – a tool for (voluntary) nature conservation?

Summary
Open data stored in databases accessible via the internet can be viewed and processed by free and open available geographic information systems. This article shows examples where this kind of data ca be accessed and how it can be used for nature conservation.

ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 103 till 107 download full text (predominantly in german, 0,5 MB).

Uwe Kießling and Andreas Zehm
Commodification of biodiverse Molinia meadows as trademarks

Summary
The landscape of the Allgäu Region (Southern Bavaria), highly popular with tourists, is characterized in many areas by Molinia meadows. To maintain these species-rich meadows on a long-term basis, they must be mowed, which presupposes that a sensible, economic utilization plan will be developed. Within the framework of the LEADER-project "Allgäuer Steueverwertung", the commercialized usage of the material could be improved obviously. It was important to increase public awareness about the value of the mown litter through publicity campaigns and consultations with local landowners and stakeholders. Many innovative uses for the materials were tested and the exchange of information about unique technical developments and materials between producers and consumers was initiated. The article summarizes the results of the project.

ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 108 till 116 download full text (predominantly in german, 0,9 MB).

Stefan Marzelli
Transfer of INTERREG-Project results for practitioners – the EU funded project WIKIAlps

Summary
Numerous projects in the EU Alpine Space Programme address different aspects of spatial development in the Alps. In order to close the gap between pilot projects and spatially relevant decision-making in Alpine regions, counties and municipalities, project results need to be compiled, interlinked and made available in a user-friendly way. The Alpine Space Project WIKIAlps has set out to achieve these objectives and started under the internet adress www.wikialps-project.eu/ a wiki of spatially relevant projects within the Alpine Space Programme.

ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 117 till 119 download full text (predominantly in german, 0,3 MB).

Magdalena Meikl, Ana Gimeno, Stefanie Mühl, Alexandra Pitt, Martina Winkler and Ulrike Berninger
Alpine and fire salamanders in Austria and Europe: a Sparkling Science project conducted in collaboration with schools at the University of Salzburg

Summary
Alpine and fire salamanders are protected animals in Austria and Germany. A research group from the University of Salzburg is working together with partner schools from all over Europe on a project to study the distribution and protection of these species. A primary tool of the project is the website www. alpensalamander.eu, in which distribution data of both salamander species could be collected in a database. The children learn about the biology of salamanders through workshops and excursions and afterwards, became more active in nature. During the project, more than 11,000 salamander data points were collected, updated distribution maps were produced, and local protection measurements could be implemented.

ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 120 till 124 download full text (predominantly in german, 0,6 MB).

Hannes Krauss
The Abtsdorfer Lake and its watershed – the Academy combines research with a school project-seminar

Summary
The increasing eutrophication of the Abtsdorfer Lake has been the focus of research work by the Academy for several years. Since 2013, the Academy has conducted a project-seminar in cooperation with the Rottmayr High School in Laufen, during which the students are involved in dealing with this problems. Simultaneously, the Academy wants to promote implementation-oriented research in particular.

ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 125 till 126 download full text (predominantly in german, 0,2 MB).

Books, booklets and information offers
ANLiegen Natur 36/1 (2014): Pages 127 till 133 download full text (german only, 0,5 MB).