Rainer Wald: Over 1,000 insect species and alarming red list!
In 2023, the Rainer Forest in Straubing-Bogen will show a high level of biodiversity with over 1,000 insect species, including endangered species.

Rainer Wald: Over 1,000 insect species and alarming red list!
What's going on in the Rainer Wald in the Straubing-Bogen district? An exciting biodiversity project is attracting current attention. Loud Innpulse The mapping results from 2023 impressively show that over 1,000 insect species live here. Almost 100 of them are on the Red List in Bavaria, which underlines the critical situation of many species. This Red List serves as an important source of information to document the decline of species and to show the need for action in nature conservation, such as LFU Bavaria informed.
The Rainer Forest, owned by the State Association for Bird Protection (LBV) since 2009, extends over an impressive 250 hectares and is the LBV's largest protected area. Here you will find swampy forests, dry sand and gravel areas as well as impressive stands of old oak trees. This diversity provides a home for numerous species and shows how natural care with measures such as dredging ponds contributes to the preservation of habitats. Scientists estimate that even more species could be discovered with further mapping.
Special residents and conservation measures
Among the notable residents of the Rainer Forest are the critically endangered shoveler beetle and the extinct leaf beetle Longitarsus fulgens, which according to Innpulse were found. The endangered golden wasp species Chrysis leachii can also be found here. These discoveries are a stroke of luck in overall biodiversity efforts and support conservation in the region.
The maintenance of the habitats in the Rainer Forest shows how important nature conservation is for our environment. The conversion of spruce forests into natural deciduous forests and the renaturation of the water balance of the swamp forests are demanding but necessary steps to promote ecological diversity. The financial resources for these projects come from both the European Agricultural Fund and the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Health.
Legal framework for nature conservation
Another important aspect is the legal framework for nature conservation. The basic regulations can be found in the Federal Nature Conservation Act and the respective state nature conservation laws. It is crucial that these laws comply with constitutional, international and European law requirements. However, the federal states have the opportunity to make their own regulations, which are particularly important in the areas of nature conservation and landscape management, explains the website Federal Agency for Nature Conservation.
Overall, the Rainer Forest shows how active nature conservation can preserve habitats and promote biodiversity. The commitment of organizations like the LBV is an example of how, with a good hand and the right support, it can be possible to preserve nature for future generations. So it remains exciting to see what other species and natural treasures can be discovered in these forests in the future!