Key species

The beaver (Castor fiber) as a key species for integrative development of natural areas

 

 

Background

After re-introductions in Bavaria 50 years ago, the Eurasian beaver is continuously spreading along water systems in Germany. However, the increasing occurrence of the beaver within intensively used landscapes may lead to conflicts with forestry and agriculture. The situation becomes more problematic due to an increasing demand for agricultural land e.g. for energy plants. From a management point of view, current approaches and strategies are not adequate to alleviate the conflict potential.

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Although there was a noticeable change in the utilization of waters during the last decades, the structural and ecological status of almost all water bodies in Germany is still insufficient. Previously, the main efforts were concentrated on water quality, however nowadays the improvement of overall ecological condition is of major importance. The European Water Framework Directive requires the renaturation of water bodies on a large scale.

In light of the efforts to maintain biodiversity as well as concerns about climate change, restoration and the maintenance of moors have gained more and more attention from nature conservation and environmental protection. However, recent restoration concepts address moors as isolated and single areas rather than as elements within a network of habitats.

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Waterways are important habitat elements per se, but also can function as linkages. Thus, moors and waterways constitute habitat networks. The functionality of those networks depends on the ecological status of the elements. The beaver as eco-engineers can improve the ecological status of waters as well as of moors, and thus serve as catalyst for functional habitat networks.
As mentioned above, recent conservation schemes for moors and waters are following habitat specific approaches, and neglecting aspects of connectivity on landscape scale. Likewise, the beaver management is mainly conflict-management oriented without paying notice on how the ecological effects of the beaver could contribute to restoration schemes. 

Objective

The goal of this project is the development of integral conceptions and strategies to establish ecological functional habitat networks based on waters and moors as essential elements with the beaver as an ecological driver. Since dealing with intensively used cultural landscapes, those strategies have to cope with the demands of anthropogenic land use. Thus, efficient concepts should be capable of gauging both ecological and socio-economical requirements in order to support evidence based decision making concerning spatial prioritization of land use demands and conservation efforts. 

Approach

The project is conducted in a model region in the alpine foothills of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The region is characterized by numerous moors and water bodies and is regarded as a biodiversity hotspot. Beavers have been present in the area for approximately 15 years. Our method is based on spatial identification and quantification of both the renaturation effects that are caused by beavers, as well as the conflict potentials that arise with the occurrence of the species. Out of these analytical components we compile a tool that supports the identification of areas according to their suitability for the establishment of habitat networks in relation to socio-economic costs.

 


Duration:

01.04.2015 – 01.05.2016

Funding:

Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU), Kurt Lange Foundation, Ministerium Ländlicher Raumund Verbraucherschutz Baden-Württemberg (MLR)

Projektleitung:

Dr. Thomas Kaphegyi & Prof. Dr. Werner Konold

Mitarbeiter:

Dr. Thomas Kaphegyi, Yvonne Christoffers, Frank Philipps

 

 

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