According to the Heinz Sielmann Foundation, climate change is threatening one of the botanically most valuable nature reserves in Brandenburg. The Ferbitzer Bruch in the Döberitzer Heide, a landscape for rare plant species, has changed dramatically in the past drought summers since 2018, as the foundation announced on Thursday.
“Sensitive plant species that are endangered throughout Germany, such as helmeted orchid, viper’s tongue, and pink pink, are becoming increasingly rare. To this end, we frequently map all-world species such as meadow daisy, buckhorn or thistle that can cope with drought,” explains Jörg Fürstenow, who carries out the botanical mapping for the Heinz Sielmann Foundation. The landscape has changed massively in a very short time.
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Rare orchids such as loosestrife and loosestrife would also slowly disappear. According to the expert, plants such as felt sedge, marsh sweetheart or marsh gentian have already disappeared or are about to become extinct in the area.
According to its own information, the Heinz Sielmann Foundation has been observing the Ferbitzer Bruch and its low moor for 16 years. Vegetation and soil moisture are regularly recorded on permanent study areas. The data therefore showed that the available groundwater continues to fall.
With the disappearance of plant species, the animal world is also changing. According to the foundation, particular fritillaries and fritillaries can no longer find their food plants. According to the foundation, their stock is also declining.
Wetlands like the Ferbitzer Bruch are natural CO2 reservoirs. The foundation warned that the drying out of the wet fen soil would lead to the further release of stored CO2. According to its own statements, it is now looking for ways to reverse this process together with local partners and stakeholders.
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The water balance in the landscape is to be stabilized in a species protection project. The suggestion: before the precipitation flows into the Havel, the water can be held back longer in the Ferbitzer Bruch.
According to the foundation, a landscape of high nature conservation value has developed over the past few decades on the 6,000-hectare former Döberitz military training area. In 2004, the Sielmann Foundation acquired around two thirds of this area in order to secure it for nature in the long term. Nursing measures and projects are implemented with funds from the EU, the federal government and the state of Brandenburg as well as with the Heinz Sielmann Foundation’s own funds. (dpa)
