The mowing meadow project in the district has begun: The areas are very important for insects and biodiversity. Our newspaper was involved in the investigation of a flower meadow.
Egling – It's just before 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning: crickets are chirping, birds are chirping, and the sun is shining from the sky. In the middle of a colourful flower meadow near the Pupplinger Au, Hannah Heither and Sarah Futterer are standing with a writing board and pen in their hands. Their mission: to save the natural meadows in the district. They work for the mowing meadow project (we reported).
Mowing meadow project in the district: Colourful flower meadows "enormously important" for biodiversity
For exactly this, the women examine the stock of the 0.9 hectare area. Carefully, Heither lets two yellowish grasses slip through her fingers. "This is smooth oats, which are rich in nutrients," explains the biodiversity advisor of the district office. She knows that colourful flower meadows like these are not only beautiful to look at, "but also enormously important for biodiversity".
Such hay meadows are among the most species-rich habitats in Central Europe. These must be protected.
Hannah Heither, Biodiversity Officer at the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen District Office
Many of the grasses and herbs growing there form important habitats for countless animals, such as grasshoppers and butterflies. "Such hay meadows are among the most species-rich habitats in Central Europe. It is important to protect them," says Heither.
In May and June, all project areas will be botanically recorded. In concrete terms, this means that Futterer walks across the meadows and gets an overview of their plant diversity, called "vegetation mapping" in technical jargon. Subsequently, the 28-year-old passes on her evaluation to Heither, including a recommendation to the farmers. For example, at the time of pruning or fertilizing the meadows.
Mowing meadow project: In May and June, all areas are botanically recorded
If the flowers and grasses are mowed too early, the plants cannot bloom – and fail as a habitat for many different insect species. "Some wild bees only get their nectar from a few specific plants," explains Heither. "They are highly specialized." Farmers who let their meadows grow can receive funding from the Free State through the contract nature conservation program. The implementation of the project is being carried out by the lower nature conservation authority in the district office together with the Egger natural area planning department from Klagenfurt.
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Futterer works for said company as a freelancer. "Look, there's a bellflower back there," says the 28-year-old enthusiastically, pointing to a purple goblet-shaped flower to the left. The plant is characteristic of mowing meadows, explains Futterer. She holds a clipboard in her hand, on which is a list of all possible plant species. "I always start with the grasses, but everyone has their own method."
Mowing meadows: Areas created by centuries-old traditional cultivation
The species-rich areas in the region were once created by centuries-old traditional farmers. In the meantime, however, many of the meadows and pastures are endangered. This is due, among other things, to the increasing pressure on farmers, who have to cultivate their land more and more intensively. At the same time, increased fertilization only promotes certain types of grasses. "Many insects lose their habitat as a result," reports Sarah Futterer.
Ultimately, the crux of the matter is that many farmers continue to manage their meadows in the same way as before.
Hannah Heither from the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen District Office
It inspects a total of 300 meadows in Bad Tölz, Dietramszell, Egling, Gaißach, Geretsried, Königsdorf, Lenggries, Wackersberg and Wolfratshausen. "Just because we record their land does not mean that farmers are obliged to participate in the support programme afterwards," explains Heither. "Ultimately, the crux of the matter is that many farmers continue to manage their meadows in exactly the same way as before."
The project in the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen is expected to last a total of two years. "For next summer, we are planning guided hiking tours to particularly flower-rich meadows as the end of the project," Heither reveals. Then she turns back to the grasses and herbs. Because until that happens, the women still have a lot to investigate. KOF
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