Moor Frog Islands near Sestelin - Part 1 (Year 1)
Protection of amphibians on arable land rich in small water bodies
In implementation
Our aim is to create a refuge for endangered amphibian species. This should benefit, among others, the moor frog, which is typical for north-eastern Germany. We also want to specifically promote insects and rare field wild herbs.
Über das Projekt
Initial situation
The project area is located on a sandy field with a large number of small water bodies. After the sugar beet harvest in autumn 2019, an area of 3.5 ha was taken out of use as an ecological priority area to protect amphibians. This area includes or borders a total of four temporary small water bodies of very different structure. In this way, spawning waters, summer habitats and hibernation structures for amphibians are interconnected.
Why here?
The municipality of Dargelin, where the project area is located, is characterised by its high occurrence of "Feldsöllen" (hollow forms shaped by the ice age and temporarily carrying water) and thus offers important habitats for endangered plant species, dragonflies, water beetles and amphibians. With about 100 field hollows and other small water bodies per square kilometre, Dargelin is one of the most structurally rich agricultural landscapes in the Greifswald hinterland. The potential for supporting endangered amphibian populations is accordingly high. In spring 2019, the occurrence of moor frogs and green frogs in the small water bodies within the project areas has already been confirmed. The song of tree frogs and the mysterious "toc toc toc" of the spadefoot toad can also be heard in the area in spring. The banks of the small water bodies offer a variety of nesting opportunities (not only) for wild bees and other insects. The planting of a perennial bee pasture in the immediate vicinity is planned as a further enhancement of the wild bee habitat. Already in the first year after the abandonment of use, the arable fields are home to arable wild herbs worthy of protection, e.g. the mouse-tail (Myosurus minimus) and the sand poppy (Papaver argemone), which are also included in the list of forewarned species in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
What would happen without the project?
On the recommendation of our nature conservation advisor and with the prospect of funding from AgoraNatura, we already decided last year to temporarily take the areas out of use as EFA fallows on a voluntary basis. Without financial compensation, however, we cannot abandon the cultivation of the areas in the medium and long term, and conventional farming would have to be resumed on the protected areas.
Amphibians present on the farmland at the time of cultivation would be exposed to a high risk of being injured or killed by tillage as well as by the application of mineral fertilisers and pesticides. The current amphibian populations would be weakened, and the spread of wild field weeds worthy of protection would be suppressed.
Concrete measures
The area is divided into three different management units: (i) self-vegetated fallow for amphibian protection; (ii) perennial bee pasture (iii) establishment of an extensive field to promote arable wild herbs. (Amphibians also benefit from measures (ii) and (iii)).
to (i): Self-vegetated fallow (focus: amphibians)
- as an interconnection between the field tarns/small water bodies
- No soil cultivation, no use of pesticides and fertilisers
- Mulching or maintenance mowing no more than once a year after 15 October (by this time the amphibians have already retreated to their winter quarters and can no longer be harmed).
(ii): Establishment of a perennial bee pasture (focus: pollinators)
- Adjacent to field copses and reed beds in the north-east of the site
- Use of a regio-certified seed mixture
- on an area of approx. 0.5 ha, adjacent to wooded structures
- No use of plant protection products and fertilisers
- Maintenance mowing/mulching 1-2 times a year, depending on the development of the area and to control problem weeds (not between 1 June and 15 July), if necessary in sub-areas.
- reseeding if necessary
(iii): Establishment of an extensive field (focus: arable wild herbs)
- adjacent to the fallow, but not directly next to the small water bodies
- for sowing cereals and other field crops: half seed rate
- optional in some years tillage (e.g. with disc harrow) without seeding
- No use of plant protection products and fertilisers
The total project area covers approx. 3.5 ha. In a first partial offer, these three measures are to be implemented on a total of 2 ha. If funding can also be secured for partial offer II, we can also extend the self-vegetated fallow with a focus on amphibian protection by a further 1.5 ha. A continuation and further financing of the project beyond the first three-year project phase is sought. To maintain the status of arable land, the area can be turned over after four years of soil dormancy. The most favourable time for this will be agreed with the project's nature conservation contact persons.
The project area is directly adjacent to three field marshes and a large sedge reed, all of which are protected biotopes.
Protected species
The moor frog (Rana arvalis) is a typical amphibian species in north-western Germany. A special attraction is the intense blue colouration of the males during the mating season. Due to a loss of wetlands and sufficient refuges in the agricultural landscape, its population is endangered in many regions. Like most native amphibian species, it is on the Red List throughout Germany. In Western Pomerania, moor frogs are fortunately still relatively common in the agricultural landscape - at least in not too dry years. We want to work to ensure that moor frogs and other protected animal and plant species find sufficient habitats in our region in the long term.
You invest in the following ecosystem services:
- Moor frogs (endangered according to Red List Germany and MV)
- Pond frogs (endangered according to the MV Red List)
- Tree frogs (endangered according to Red List Germany and MV)
- Lesser Spotted Eagle (potential foraging area within 3 km radius)
- Old pollarded willow, other woody plants, deadwood and reading stone piles at the edge of the temporary small water bodies provide nesting and retreat opportunities for numerous animal species
- Aphanes arvensis (Common lady's mantle)
- Myosurus minimus (Small mouse tail)
- Papaver argemone (sand poppy)
- P. dubium (seed poppy)
- Veronica hederifolia (Ivy Speedwell)
- Scleranthus spec. (annual knawel)
Further important species: Geranium spec. (cranesbill), Erodium circutarium (common heron's beak), Lamium purpureum (purple deadnettle), Matricaria chamomilla (true camomile), Papaver rhoeas (corn poppy), Rumex acetosella (small sorrel), Spergula arvensis (field park), Vicia spec. (vetches) as further HNV species.
Particularly supported are- Valuable arable wild herbs, HNV species Arable land/fallow land
Flowering sown wild herbs and cultivated plants (subplot 3) 37 sown species, spontaneous wild herbs (all subplots) and trees (Prunus avium) and shrubs (Prunus spinosa) at the edge of the plot
Colour variety white, red (spontaneous species), yellow, red, white, blue (flowering mixture)Matricaria chamomilla (true camomile), Matriciaria inodora (false beach camomile), Papaver spp. (poppies) = spontaneous; Echium vulgare (common viper's bugloss), Silene dioica (red campion), Daucus carota (wild carrot), Anthemis tinctoria (dyer's chamomile) = flowering mixture
Pollen plants for specialised wild bees in flowering mixturee.g. Echium vulgare (common viper's bugloss), Hypochaeris radicata (common pigletweed), Reseda luteola (dyer's woof), Cichorium intibus (common chicory)
Special habitat structures- Mouseholes, pithy stems approx. 2000 m²
- Adjacent: Reading stone piles, standing and lying deadwood n.a.
- Adjacent: grass felt in the reeds approx. 1500 m².
No use of insecticides
Per certificate: 0.1 - 0.3 kg N Ground water services (estimation/literature based value)
Total project: 20 - 60 kg N Ground water services (estimation/literature based value)
So everyone can experience the ecosystem service
- The area is accessible via a public street or path.
- Activities of environmental education and experiencing nature take place on / around the area.
The municipality of Dargelin is hardly developed for tourism. The beautiful landscape and roads with very little traffic are inviting for cycling tours, among other things. There is a table and benches for picnics right next to the project area. Especially during the evening hours, lingering here is very atmospheric and numerous animals can be observed.
Documentation in the implementation phase
The project starts on 01.07.2021 and exactly goes 1year , provided all certificates have been sold.
You will be regularly informed about the progress of the project. For this purpose, the providers can provide short news, picture or audio material. The providers are obliged to report at least once a year whether everything went well with the implementation. If there are difficulties from your point of view, please contact us, the provider itself or the certification body.
Neuigkeiten
The flowering area sprouts (04/21)
Dear investors,
Despite the still relatively cold temperatures, spring is coming
rapidly. In the last few days, the perennial flowering area on the site was
sown. The first plants are already sprouting.
The debit/water hole also carries water, great the frogs become
feel good!