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Traditional agriculture: Preserving habitats in the Oberallgäu!
Find out how the Oberallgäu Landscape Conservation Association promotes traditional agriculture and species-rich habitats on the Imberger Horn.
Traditional agriculture: Preserving habitats in the Oberallgäu!
The importance of traditional agriculture for biodiversity in the Oberallgäu region was the focus of an exciting excursion by the Oberallgäu-Kempten Landscape Conservation Association. V. (LPV), which recently attracted around 20 interested people. The participants gained valuable insights into the diversity of habitats around the Imberger Horn, including scattered meadows, mountain pastures and hay meadows. Kathrin Schratt, an expert from the LPV, made it clear that human action is necessary to preserve these valuable pasture areas, because without traditional agriculture these areas would be overgrown by forest. Agricultural use reached its peak in the 19th century, and the preservation of these traditionally used meadows and pastures is of utmost importance for biodiversity.
A highlight of the excursion was the visit to the Strausbergmoos, which is considered the elite moor of the Bavarian Alps and has been undergoing extensive renaturation measures since 2012. The steps taken there, such as raising the Löwenbach and creating biotope networks, are intended in particular to stabilize the water balance. The LPV looks after 4.5 hectares of valuable meadows in this region, while adjacent areas are managed by local farmers.
Renaturation and biodiversity
The pastures of the Strausbergsattel provide a habitat for numerous plant and animal species, including the impressive arnica and silver thistle as well as the shy black grouse. From 2024, the LPV plans to create corridors and keep 1.1 hectares of poor pasture open. In addition, a project to reactivate a former mountain hay meadow was launched in the Retterschwanger Valley. This involves removing trees, installing an innovative cable car for hay collection and using goats to combat blackberries. The cornerstones are mowing with modern machines and manual work, with the first plant species already making a comeback.
The preservation of such hay meadows is not only important for nature conservation reasons, but is also possible through the support of farmers. They can apply for funding for the maintenance of flora-fauna-habitat hay meadows (FFH hay meadows), which, through their extensive management and sustainable care, represent important habitats for wild bees, butterflies and other animal species. These guidelines are anchored in the EU requirements for the Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive and have been strengthened by the Federal Nature Conservation Act.
Challenges and perspectives
Still, farmers face challenges. An increased demand for intensive forms of farming, such as silage production or the use of digestate from biogas plants, is causing a change in agricultural practices. These changes can harm the maintenance of valuable hay meadows, which are often only minimally fertilized and mown twice a year. Despite the debate about profitability, the social and ecological value of these meadows for the region is undisputed.
A visit to the Sennalpe Mitterhaus, where Benedikt Besler manages the land with around 50 young cattle and produces delicious cheese, rounded off the excursion. This proves once again how important the management of the Alps is: it not only keeps the landscape alive, but also ensures high-quality products and the preservation of our nature.
The Landscape Conservation Association offers comprehensive information and support to anyone interested in the care and importance of hay meadows and their contribution to biodiversity in their region. Preserving these habitats is not just a task for farmers, but for society as a whole.