Safety for animals and plants: protected area expanded

Upgrading the Sanctuary: Expanding Habitats for Thriving Wildlife

In a move to safeguard endangered flora and fauna, the district of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, situated within the Thuringian region of Germany, has decided to expand and improve its existing nature reserve, the Greifenstein. The area, now referred to as "Greifenstein and eastern Gölitzwände", expanded from a modest 60 hectares to a more substantial 122 hectares. This enlargement equates to an almost three-fold increase in size, bringing the area's total expanse to roughly 170 soccer pitches.

Previously, the reserve consisted mainly of Greenstein Castle's surroundings and Kessel, a nearby forestry village. However, the upgrade brings the forested Gölitzwände area all the way up to Kleingölitz, with hiking trails such as the Fröbelwanderweg weaving through the terrain. These natural pathways are part of the broad "Natura 2000" network, which is dedicated to protecting the indigenous plant and animal species within the European Union.

The Gölitzwände is characterized by a shell limestone rock face, which is closely associated with warm and dry meadows, as well as adjacent forests, finding suitable habitat for myriad rare species. According to the Thuringian State Office for Environment, Mining, and Nature Conservation (TLUBN), this expanded nature reserve hosts an extensive variety of endangered birds, insects, beetles, and orchids.

As a fully-fledged nature reserve, the area is given a high level of autonomy, allowing it to largely remain untouched. Nonetheless, limited farming activities may still revel in the remaining forest sections, striking a balance between human presence and the sanctuary's natural environment. A notable section of the forest is earmarked for transformation into a type of primeval forest, further reinforcing the reserve's commitment to preserving and promoting native plant and animal life, such as the bat population that calls Thuringia home.

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Key Insights:

1. The extended Greifenstein nature reserve in Thuringia's Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district provides additional protection to endangered organic beings, like rare orchids.
2. Birthplace to various animal species, including protected bat and butterfly varieties, as well as beetles and orchids, the 122-hectare Greifenstein and eastern Gölitzwände reserve is now part of the broad Natura 2000 network.
3. The expansion of the Greifenstein nature reserve in the European Union aims to conserve the distinctive habitats of heritage plants and animals, like the unique flora and fauna nestled within the Gölitzwände rocky outcrops.
4. Home to the shell limestone rock face and the adjacent dry and warm meadows and forests, the Gölitzwände is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot by the TLUBN.
5. The transformed Greifenstein nature reserve admits only limited farming activities in certain forest areas, allowing primeval forests to flourish, while promoting the continuation and prosperity of native plant and animal species, such as the bat population in Thuringia.

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