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Twenty theses were derived from literature- and experience-based analysis of nature conservation administration in the federal states in Part 1 of this article. These suggestions are intended to initiate a fundamental reform process in order to make nature conservation administration fit for the future in the 21st century. These concern: (1) organizational structures in order to be able to work more effectively and efficiently, as well as less hierarchically; (2) personnel improvements in order to promote job satisfaction and enable future skills; (3) legal, planning, and financial innovations in order to increase the effectiveness of administrative work; and (4) training, further and advanced qualification in order to counter the shortage of skilled professionals and to implement an ongoing qualification offensive. The challenges should be systematically tackled simultaneously in all federal states with the work processes coordinated nationwide at the same time. This article is intended as a constructive suggestion to leave conventional pathways and overcome perceived and real constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 2010 and 2015 several management projects funded by the Saxon state guideline “Richtlinie Natürliches Erbe" were carried out to save the only population of Gentianella lutescens in Germany in the “Osterzgebirge" (Eastern Ore Mountains) near the town of Altenberg (Saxonia). Ex-situ conservation cultures were established in the botanical gardens of Altenberg- Schellerhau and Marburg. Close to the last remaining occurrence of the species and on further former areas of its dispersal in the surrounding several sites were prepared, and altogether 159 juvenile plants and 42.300 seeds harvested predominantly from the ex-situ cultures were deployed. In spite of unfavourable conditions (such as dry summers, pests) and considerable additional efforts (watering during drought) stands could be established on six sites with altogether 175 juvenile plants and 464 adult flowering plants until July 2015. Even the initial population increased from 191 flowering individuals in 2009 and only 4 in 2010 to 1.660 flowering plants in 2015. This has probably been caused by a late date of after- mowing or sheep-grazing. The benefit of ex-situ conservation cultures and re-establishment as highly “technical“ measures of species conservation is discussed against the background of macroclimatic changes of their habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lady Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium calceolus) is an endangered European species listed in the Appendices II and IV of the Habitats Directive. Management measures are mandatory to ensure a favourable conservation status of existing populations. Within a four year study management measures were carried out in the county of Neumarkt i.d. OPf. (Bavaria). A monitoring was conducted by measuring light intensity and by investigating numbers of shoots, flowers and fruits. From 2011 to 2014 the numbers of shoots and flowers of C. calceolus increased in the 22 study sites. This increase was significantly higher in stands where clearances were carried out and where competition in the herb layer was reduced. Measurements of light intensity revealed that C. calceolus prefers a light intensity of 19 to 34% of total insolation. Experimental sowings in plots with removed vegetation provided first seedlings in the third year after sowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In accordance with § 44 BNatSchG, woodpeckers and birds of prey are particularly (and sometimes additionally) strictly protected. In the present study we examined whether the hiking tourism practiced in Hainich National Park (Thuringia) has negative effects on the occurrence and abundance dynamics of the mentioned species groups. Data from the National Park's woodpecker and bird of prey monitoring were evaluated. Regarding the number of woodpecker observations, no significant differences could be detected between monitoring sites near to trails (< 50 m) and those sites far-away (> 500 m). Observed numbers of great spotted and middle spotted woodpecker increased between 2005 and 2017 at monitoring sites near-to as well as on sites far-away from trails (even significantly for the great spotted woodpecker). In contrast, no species significantly decreased. There is also no significant correlation to the number of visitors, which increased in the same period. The number of occupied nests of 7 of the 8 species of bird of prey inhabiting the National Park decreased between 2002 and 2017; however, only significantly for the Sparrowhawk. The number of occupied nests of the goshawk, however, has increased slightly. There is no negative correlation between the decline of occupied bird of prey nests and the distance to trails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensification of agriculture is a major cause of the decline in butterflies, especially in grassland. The Europe-wide protected large blue butterflies, Phengaris nausithous and Ph. teleius, are special indicators for this process. Preservation of these species requires well balanced land use systems, whose implementation often presents a major challenge for farmers. Large-scale, extensive, and often year-round grazing can be a cost- and labour-efficient alternative for grassland management. The present study examines the dynamics of the number of individuals on five transects of subpopulations of the two large blue species under comparatively large-scale (13.3 ha), year-round grazing from 2003 to 2019. During this period, the sum of the daily individual maxima of both species on the five transects varied between a minimum of 5 (2011) and a maximum of 68 (2003 and 2018); the grazing density in GVE (cattle equivalent) / ha varied between a minimum of 0.3 (2003) and a maximum of 1.34 (2016). In the meantime, two sub-populations disappeared while one was repopulated. No statistically significant correlation could be found between the number of individuals and the grazing density in the study area. Flooding events are discussed as the main cause of abundance dynamics and local extinction events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]