The process of zoning in the Biosphere Reserve Rhön

Regine Albert

The Biosphere Reserve Rhön (BSR) - Part of a Worldwide Programme

Biosphere reserves are part of the international programme "Man and the Biosphere" (MAB), whose expressed aim is no longer to remove human influence from protected areas as is usual in the context of conventional nature-protection plans. The separation of man and environment should be abolished, as natural and human habitats are understood as one whole. The cultural landscape of the Rhön, resulting from the usage of land by small farmers, offers the ideal experimental area to model a concept of protection which includes the active effects of man on nature.

The Rhön was recognised as a biosphere reserve on the 7/03/91 by UNESCO. Through this acknowledgement came the requirement to protect the diverse landscape areas of the region. The Rhön is also one of the largest biosphere reserves, covering in total 184,939 hectares. It constitutes Europe-wide a habitat for endangered and highly specialised species which must be conserved. In this respect, the Rhön is a representative example of the world-wide preservation of habitats within the UNESCO strategy.

The establishment of zones - adjustment of differing spatial emphasis

The aim of establishing zones is to develop a representative protected area, in which all valuable habitat types, as well as all natural habitat types are included in sufficiently large areas. Zones comprise, ideally, of three surface categories which are structured according to the intensity of human intervention. In the Rhön there is a cluster of discrete zones, where the diversity of agricultural and cultural structures is taken into account by establishing several core zones which are physically separated from each other.

Establishing zones in the Biosphere Reserve Rhön

In 1991, the federal states involved in the BSR: Bavaria, Thuringia and Hesse agreed on a general framework plan which included:

Starting with one of the most significant aims of the MAB programme, the preservation of genetic potential, biotope mapping was carried out as an initial step. The protection status was established on the basis of ecological-biological criteria and land use objectives were derived from it. Accordingly, importance is placed on species and biotope protection in development planning, as the extinction of a species involves an irreversible loss of genetic potential.

Zone map

Zone map of BSR Rhön (Click for details (43kB))

The results of the stock-taking of the nature area were presented in an initial interim report by the concerned institutions. This report (1992) was the basis for planning the integrated development of the BSR Rhön. Public hearings of the report were made with community representatives. Suggestions for changes and additions were discussed. It was particularly stressed that the differing claims for land use should be in tune with each other. For example, positive development of extensive land cultivation should not be spoiled by measures taken to develop tourism.

Less problematic than establishing the core zone was to distinguish the maintenance zone. This was surprising, as socio-economic effects are to be expected through the realisation of nature protection-technical goals. Next to the core zone, the maintenance zone shows the most ecologically valuable elements of the landscape with the biggest claim for protection. In the Rhön, the maintenance zone was subdivided into zone A and zone B. Their higher nature-protection value is to be preserved by specific measures. Due to the high sensitivity of maintenance zone A, supporting measures are necessary, such as cessation of further development (traffic, housing, trade), measures of tourist guiding, as well as marking permitted walking areas.

Maintenance zone B (53,069 ha) represents further sections of the cultural landscape which should be protected for the preservation of the Rhön's individuality. The traditional practices of extensive agriculture should be continued and adjusted to improve its nature protection role.

These are cultivated areas whose future management should be undertaken following nature protection-specific criteria. Conflicts between farmers and representatives of nature protection organisations, sparked off by conflicting ideas of how to adjust cultivation, have prevented adequate cultivation up to now. Generally however, the application for protected status was welcomed by the communities, not least because they realised that the cultural landscape - as the most important asset of the Rhön - is to be preserved through specific maintenance measures.

After three years of the planning process and discussion with all the communities, authorities and associations, an integrated plan for dividing the area was presented in 1994.

Regine Albert
EU Research Project EQULFA
Dept. International Animal Husbandry
Steinstr. 19
D-37213 Witzenhausen
Germany

Tel: +49 55 4298 1203
Fax: +49 55 4298 1250
Email: albert@wiz.uni-kassel.de

26th February 1997