Integration of Conservation Strategies of Plant Genetic ... - Genres

4.7 Middle Elbe
The biosphere reserve Middle Elbe includes one of the biggest flood-plain areas of Central
Europe. Flood-plain forests today belong to the most threatened ecosystems in Germany because
of the frequent artificial regulation of rivers. Typical animals of the flood-plains are Elbe-beaver
and red kite. Other rare species as white tailed eagle and short eared owl spend the winter in the
biosphere reserve. Vegetation is characterized by fluvial forests rich with field maple. The
pollution load of the rivers Elbe and Mulde threatens these ecosystems. But in the last years water
quality was improved considerably. For the first time on the European continent - in the 18th
century - an artificial park-landscape was created in the Dessau area. This "Dessau-Wörlitzer
cultivated area" was included into the biosphere reserve 1988. In this biosphere reserve there is
a strong programme to keep old orchard trees and crop seeds from ulmus minor and shoots from
pyrus pyraster.
4.8 Rhön
The biosphere reserve Rhön covers parts of the three Länder Bavaria, Hesse and Thuringia.
Origin of this low mountain range is the basaltic vulcanism of the tertiary. The special features are
about 50 big basalt cones with semi-natural forests and screes as well as the plateau of the "Long
Rhön" with high moors and mountain meadows rich in species which still remains without forests.
Characteristic species of the Rhön are black grouse and blessed milk thistle. They only can survive
with environmentally sound agriculture. But for economic reasons agriculture mostly is intensfied
or even totally abandoned today. In both cases precious habitats are in danger of beeing lost. One
of the tasks will be to reintroduce Thuringian goats together with sheep to keep the area open and
preserve the high diversity of plants and insects.
4.9 Vesser Valley-Thuringian Forest
The biosphere reserve represents a low range mountain landscape in the Thuringian forest. It is
covered to a large extent by forests - natural beech forests dominate the image. Many different
sites allow a high level of biodiversity. This was supported by the ecologically sound management
which was traditional during the past few centuries: Many additional habitats evolved. Examples
are multicoloured mountain meadows which only can be maintained by continuing respective
forms of land use.
4.10 Palatinate Forest
A low mountain range on new red sandstone which is almost completely covered by forests. It
is planned to design a cross-frontier biosphere reserve together with the French biosphere reserve
"Vosges du Nord". Many bizarre sandstone rocks are spectacular characteristics of the Palatinate
Forest. Viniculture has given the agricultural landscape its special feature. Especially the walls of
the terraces of old vinyards offer habitats to species attracted by warmth. A specific long term
monitoring programme of natural wood plots is performed there.
4.11 Bavarian Forest
The Bavarian Forest and the adjacent Bohemian Forest form the largest unitary forest in Central
Europe. The biosphere reserve lies in the centre of this low mountain range. About 95 % of its
surface is covered with forests, partly with natural mountain forests (mixed mountain forests and