Procurement and Development of biotopes in Northern Bavaria

Visiting Lake Constance (by recommendation of the Heinz Sielmann Foundation) Dr Wolfgang & Dr Gisela Hennig met the well-known conservationist and ecologist Dr Peter Berthold, who introduced them to his project: “Biotope Network Lake Constance”. He explained to them that in our modern, intensely used and densely populated cultivated landscape, is has become increasingly difficult to procure a bigger pond or lake and turn them into biotopes for amphibians and wetland birds.
His appeal to “Buy small ponds - the birds will turn them into a biotope network themselves” struck a chord with the Hennigs.

The first step was to look for an expert in biotope development and management and they found one in Dr Pedro Gerstberger, botanist at the Department of Plant Ecology of the University of Bayreuth. They couldn’t have asked for a better fellow campaigner and advisor. The Hennigs then put their feelers out for anybody in the region that would be interested in selling their ponds.

Thanks to input and contribution of former patients (at the time the Hennigs still ran a joint medical practice) the first pond, situated in Forkendorf on Bayreuth’s southern city boundary, could be handed over to the Regional Nature Conservation Authority Bayreuth in autumn 2014. The hand-over was fast and smooth due to the fruitful cooperation with both the district administrator and the staff of the lower conservation authority - a special thank-you to Mr Hansjorg Behr for his invaluable help.
Soon after, a second pond could be procured in Forkendorf and was handed over for management to the Bavarian Society for the Protection of Birds (LBV). The costs of this were split between the Regional Council, the LBV and the Hennigs. Up until autumn 2019 this beautiful pond will still see some intensive commercial fishing; thereafter, it will be turned into a natural biotope which will feature extensive reedbeds, areas with floating vegetation and a pronounced shallow-water shoreline.

Despite all efforts, not everybody owning a pond can be swayed to sell them or have them turned into a biotope. The former fishponds in Hintergereuth (Ahornthal, County of Bayreuth) have become silted up by now and can hardly be recognized as water bodies anymore. A farmer in Eichenbirkig has agreed to let his pond be utilized commercially for a certain period of time while also complying with specified environmental and conservation standards. Our specialist and consultant Dr Pedro Gerstberger is there to advise and oversee the project.

Finally, in Sommer 2018, we managed to obtain a pond for the LBV in an alder swamp in Thurndorf (County of Neustadt, Upper Palatinate). This was made possible through financial assistance by the Regional Council and Lower Conservation Authority. Accumulation of fallen leaves of the surrounding alder trees have caused the pond to silt up. De-slutching it will be a prerequisite to restore biodiversity and provide amphibians with much-needed spawning grounds.