Conservation of dry heaths within the conflict between regulatory and funding law – Insights from a state-wide survey in the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg; [Der Schutz des Lebensraumtyps Trockene Heiden im Spannungsfeld von Ordnungs-und Förderrecht Erkenntnisse aus einer landesweiten Erfassung in Baden-Württemberg]

Abstract

Dry heaths are protected under the EU Habitats Directive. The present study used a state-wide survey of dry heaths in the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg. It was initiated in 2018 to open the habitats for agricultural subsidies. The aim of the work was to (1) analyse the area of dry heaths and classify the maintenance in terms of conser-vation, (2) identify possible threats, and (3) determine the scope of existing subsidies. In 2021, 1,265 patches were mapped and the conservation status of 1,017 of them was assessed. Overall, the total area is in a better conservation status than previously assumed. Today, dry heaths cover 646 ha in Baden-Württemberg. About 18 % of the assessed area has excellent, 60 % has good, and 22 % has unfavourable conservation status. Unwanted succession was observed on 13 % of the hab-itats. The total area is built up of many small patches. We found a sig-nificant correlation between the size of a patch or the proportion of contract conservation area and the conservation status: smaller areas or those with a lower proportion of contract conservation area have a worse conservation status than larger areas or those with a higher proportion of contract conservation area. Insufficient intensity of use and abandonment are the main threats for dry heaths in Baden-Württem-berg. On the basis of the map, agricultural subsidies were applied on 66 % of the total area in 2021. Creating such a map for agricultural subsidies has reached its limits of feasibility because the natural dynamics are difficult to handle. The administrative effort increased due to the processing of the map. © 2023, Verlag Eugen Ulmer. All rights reserved.