Leipzig Riverside Forest

The Leipzig floodplain forest is a lowland forest area, which is for the most part on the territory of the city of Leipzig. He was formerly a softwood ( alder) and was regularly flooded by the high waters of the splices, White Elster and billet. Due to human influence (especially regulation of watercourses ) today a hardwood floodplain (ash, oak, maple) has prevailed. The Leipzig floodplain forest is one of the largest intact floodplain forest stands in Central Europe. Notwithstanding the diversity of human intervention and proximity to a large city parts of the Leipzig alluvial forest have preserved a very natural character.

Location

The Leipzig floodplain forest presently consists of a southern and a northern part. Between the two a certain ecological connection is given by a corridor that consists of the parks and green spaces, which lie along the flood control basin -scale water Elster Elster and flood bed. Overall, he has an extension along the rivers of over 30 kilometers and a width of two to five kilometers. The covered area is approximately 2,500 hectares. The urban forest is mainly municipally owned.

Development

The Leipzig floodplain forest has been constantly changing, with human interventions were an important factor in development. Due to deforestation in the upper reaches of the rivers began anthropogenically before about 7000 years an increased entry of sediments were deposited as Auenlehm. This increased the surface level, causing flooding it now especially periodically in the spring. Already established a conversion of softwood into hardwood floodplain, especially those sitting in water resistant oak found favorable conditions.

Since the 12th century the present alluvial forest was started in the area to make massive interventions in nature. The non- flooded portions of the forest were cleared for the most part. Mill races (like the Pleißemühlgraben and the mill race Elster ), channels and weirs developed in the following centuries, which should regulate the floods and later Leipzig connect to the water transport network. From the Middle Ages to the mid-19th century, the riparian forest has been managed as coppice with standards.

In modern times, long-range river bed shifts from White Elster and billet were made. Despite the enormous expansion of the city in the wake of industrialization, the forest area remained virtually untouched. However, the floodplains were cut through the development of new industrial urban areas in the west ( Plagwitz, Leutzsch ). The destruction of the natural river courses and the elimination of periodic flooding and changing management ( high forest with clearcuts ) and increased nitrogen deposition, however, the species composition of the forest in the 20th century changed greatly. Especially the character oak tree is on the decline, ash, mountain and Norway maple are on the rise. The elm has almost disappeared by the phenomenon of dying elms, but is currently in the understory and thus has the potential to regain a foothold. Through targeted reforestation site also alien species such as beech and poplar hybrids were introduced.

About the 1954 -built after the flood of July 1954 Nahle - outlet structure can be flooded, including the Burgaue during floods in riparian forest south of the new billet.

Major parts of the floodplain forest south of Leipzig were destroyed in the recent past in favor of the lignite mine. Furthermore, the activities carried out during the lignite mining groundwater depletion to further drying of the forest contributed. With the decline of the brown coal open cast mine after reunification was begun in the 1990s to flood parts of the floodplain forest back seasonally.

The current management aims to achieve long term the condition of the forest around the middle of the 19th century, as a diverse structured species and age class mixture with a significantly higher proportion than oak today ( are targeted approximately 40 %).

Flora and Fauna

The flora of the floodplain forest shows multiform forms and aspects, as they have become rare in Central Europe.

The tree population and its age structure have changed considerably in the last 130 years. Elms and black poplars hardly be found; the proportion of oak that makes the older stock especially decreased steadily and is now at 20%. The proportion of ash (30%) and maple (20%) with the younger stocks has increased considerably, however. Other typical species are linden, alder, bird cherry and several varieties of wild fruit. There are also many representatives of foreign tree species such as black locust auwald, red oak, beech or horse chestnut.

In spring, the ground flora of the floodplain forest displays its colors. There are numerous spring-flowering plants such as lesser celandine, cowslips and especially so rare plants such as daffodils, which this is one of his greatest occurrence in Germany. Unique in the world is a bastard formation between anemones and yellow anemones to a pale yellow form, bears the name of the anemone lipsiensis ( Leipzig anemones ). Later, the wild garlic, which covers the floor of the floodplain forest is very dense and large area and dominated with garlic-like smell for a while blooming.

The rich layering and structure of the tree and shrub inventory is based on the bird life of the floodplain forest. This affects the number of species and the density of breeding pairs. Especially typical are the middle spotted woodpecker and the oriole. Furthermore, the riparian forest is mainly habitat of a species-rich insect fauna. Many endangered beetle species have been recorded.

In 1991, the Leipzig Canopy project, which was created over ten years. Scientists at the University of Leipzig and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ explore with the help of a 40 meter high crane the treetops in the Burgaue. The crane can on a track (120 meters ) are moved and makes the exploration of the habitat in the canopy ( canopy research ) on 1.6 acres possible.

Reserves

The floodplain forest in its entirety is now a conservation area, in addition to the conservation areas are designated.

The protected landscape area extends from northwest to south across the city and covers a total area of approximately 5900 hectares. Besides the actual floodplains of Elster, billet, splices and Parthe the largely treeless outlying areas and large parts of the reclaimed and reforested land are included to the open pit Cospuden, including a portion of Lake Cospuden it. In this nature reserve and the Bienitz, a Endmoränenkuppe is from the Saale glaciation.

Designated nature reserves are the Burgaue (270 hectares), the Magpie and splices riparian forest (67 acres ), the area Lehmlache Lauer ( 49 hectares) and the circular cross- Luppeaue ( 598 hectares).

The Regulation of the Government Presidium Leipzig on 27 October 2006, the Leipzig floodplain forest was defined as an area of ​​4952 hectares as a European bird sanctuary.

Use

Approximately 1163 hectares of alluvial forest belong to the Leipzig city forest. Parts of the floodplain forests extend as far through the city, boundary- parks such as the Rose Valley even to the city center. You can riparian forest in many places easily reached on foot or by public transport. The road network of walking, cycling and riding trails in the riparian forest is sometimes so dense as in a park. In the area of ​​Leipzig floodplain forest are numerous destinations. The forestry use plays a minor role.

Floodplain symposium and day of the Leipzig floodplain forest

1991 organized city and University of Leipzig, together with conservation organizations, the first Leipzig Canopy Symposium. Scientists and conservation organizations can use this forum to present their auwald related projects and link. On the second symposium in 1994, the then Conservation Department of the City called the day of the Leipzig floodplain forest in life, which is celebrated every year since 1995 on April 16. In the course of the day including the riparian forest animal or the marsh plant of the year will be crowned. These are typical values ​​and protect living beings in the floodplain.

Attractions

Some popular destinations are:

• The 128 m high hill in the western Rosental Rosental, on which a 20 -meter high observation tower that overlooks both the city center as well as over large parts of the forest.
• The 143 -meter-high former rubbish dump near Leipzig - Möckern (now " Nahleberg ").
• Large meadow in Rosental with Zooschaufenster.
• Auensee Leipzig with the park train, playgrounds and boat rentals.
• Castle Park Lützschena with still partially preserved pavilions and monuments.
• Floodplain station Leipzig with various exhibitions, in particular about flora and fauna in the riparian forest.
• Domholzschänke at Kleinliebenau.
• Schlobachs court, riding stables and restaurant at Lützschena.
• Wild Park Leipzig in the southern floodplain forest, with game reserves, restaurants and playgrounds.
• Cospuden on the southern edge of the alluvial forest, destination with beach resorts, trail, observation tower and harbor.
• Clara Zetkin Park, park located between the northern and southern floodplain forest.