Thuringian forest goats: for the protection of endangered species in the Franzigmark
Thuringian forest goats: for the protection of endangered species in the Franzigmark
in the Environment Center Franzigmark, which is located north of Halle-Trotha, is currently playing a fascinating project that not only ensures the protection of endangered animal species, but also makes a valuable contribution to the preservation of regional biodiversity. The initiative of the BUND regional association Halle-Saalekreis, which has accommodated four Thuringian forest goats and some caracul sheep, shows how species-appropriate grazing can contribute to improving living conditions for plants and animals.
the bush as a challenge
The return of these rare animal breeds takes place against the background of a serious problem: the bushing of valuable dry lawn biotopes. Annemarie Hofmann from the environmental center explains: "We try to protect the last isolated dry grass biotopes." On the occasion of his summer tour "Special Saxony-Anhalt", Armin Willingmann, the country's Environment Minister, visited this innovative project and emphasized the importance of grazing. "Biotopes in open landscapes need care so that endangered animal and plant species in Saxony-Anhalt have a future," he said.
Financing and support
In order to secure the habitat of the endangered species sustainably, 104,000 euros flow from the federal-state community task "Improvement of the agricultural structure and coastal protection" (GAK) into the project "Trittsteine for cow shell and rock-gold star". By the end of 2026, these funds should help to maintain valuable habitats such as lime pioneering grass or lime pioneering corridors and to enlarge the stocks of endangered plant species such as the common cow clamp and the rock gold star.
The circulation of nature
The principle of grazing works as a natural cycle. The goats and sheep graze the shrubs, which gives the low vegetation space to grow. They also benefit from the property that the tingling and rolling of the goats creates free space on which plants can settle. This not only promotes biodiversity, but also attracts pollinators that are important for the reproduction of the plants. "With her fluffy hair, she protects against cold and evaporation and attracts many pollinators," notes Hofmann.
Future prospects for threatened species
The restoration of the biotopes connected by the goats and sheep is not only a glimmer of hope for the endangered species, but also an example of modern nature conservation methods that use natural processes. The employees of the environmental center are confident that the habitats created by the project will contribute to the stabilization of biodiversity in the region in the long term. "Bit by bit, we want to restore the biodiversity, protect and create a new habitat," says Hofmann.