Interim balance six years after it was founded: 45 percent of the area in the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park is classified as a nature zone.
An investigation reveals rare bird species such as dipper and wheatear.
Mainz - The requirement of three quarters of untouched nature in the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park could, according to the Ministry of the Environment, be realized more quickly than planned when it was founded six years ago.
The ministry replied to a state parliament request from the Green parliamentary group that the goal of a share of at least 75 percent by 2045 “will probably be achieved much earlier”.
At the end of this year, the nature zone will take up 45 percent of the total area of the national park, said climate protection and environment minister Anne Spiegel (Greens).
When it was founded in 2015, it was only 25 percent.
"In any case, the target of 50 percent after ten years will be met."
The route plan with a planned reduction in forest paths by a third or around 100 kilometers will be implemented as planned, said Spiegel. The game rest zone in the core area will also be expanded. "This brings the goal set for national parks under the Federal Nature Conservation Act, which is to enable a disruption-free process of natural dynamic development, closer in great steps."
According to the ministry, a survey of the bird fauna in September found 63 species, including rare and endangered birds such as dipper, wheatear, black stork and osprey. The studies of the flora that have been carried out so far have shown around 400 species of fungus. Among them is the extremely rare ocher-colored hydrabasidia (Thanatephorus ochraceus), a fungus that lives on deadwood and has a close relationship with orchids such as the orchid orchid (Orchis mascula). Studies on other groups of plants and animals are planned.
According to the ministry, the work on the EU-Life project "Slope moors in the high forest", which will be completed at the end of this year, is almost finished.
So far, trenches have been closed in over 1700 places in order to stop the decade-long drainage of the area for forestry.
However, some authors of articles for the first research volume on the national park also take a critical view of the clear-cutting of spruce trees associated with the project because of the associated increased solar radiation.
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The Green MP Fabian Ehmann, as the forest policy spokesman for his parliamentary group after the ministry's response to the request, was convinced that “activities such as the protection and restoration of moors not only bring benefits for climate protection, but also further biodiversity in the national park strengthen".
dpa