1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Augsburg
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Management von Flussschotterheiden in Stadt Wald
Short description of the intervention
Management of natural lime-dry grasslands on gravel banks in Augsburg is conducted by the Landcape Association of the City of Augsburg (Bavaria, Germany). 300 ha of biotopes within the municipal area is maintained due to sheep grazing, mowing management, scrub clearance and reopening of potential expansion areas as well as further activities to create initial stages of immature soils and recreational purposes (Ref. 1).
Address

multi-sited NBS
Germany

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary
POINT (10.940510241569 48.310000875522)
POINT (10.927820918793 48.31117957287)
POINT (10.919855215022 48.284093362261)
POINT (10.934602707854 48.281344929938)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Google Earth Pro (November 5, 2020). Coordinates offer a rough approximation of extent of NBS.
Total area
3000000.00m²
NBS area
3000000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Public Greenspace Area
Website of the intervention
https://www.fh-erfurt.de/lgf/fileadmin/LA/Personen/Mueller/recentPub/RiegelFlus…
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
unknown
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2007
End date of the intervention
2011
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
1. To prevent the loss of biodiversity along the Augsburg city forest backwaters (Ref. 1)
2. Integration of protected biotope areas (Ref. 1)
3. Sustainable landscape management and development of water-related biotopes in the Stadtwald Augsburg (Ref. 1,4)
4. Creation of an integrated natural reserve Stadtwald Augsburg for the recreation of local citizens and tourists (Ref. 3)
Quantitative targets
Unknown
Monitoring indicators defined
1. Total number of guided tours conducted during the project period (Ref. 8)
2. From 2007 to 2011: species composition in the control areas near the water (Ref. 8)
3. From 2007 to 2011: proportion of water species (Ref. 8)
4. New plants species in the regenerated areas (Ref. 8)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Environmental quality
Soil quality improvement
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Water management (SDG 6)
Flood protection
Improvements to water quality
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Preservation of historic traditions
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Effective management
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Environmental education
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Tourism support
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Ecosystem-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect and enhance urban habitats
Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
Means for conservation governance
Raise public awareness
Implementation activities
1. To realize a connected habitat system linear structures such as embankments, river dikes, and transmission routes
are used (Ref. 1)
2. Return of streams to natural channels (Ref. 4)
3. Environmental education and dissemination of information among citizens (Ref. 1)
4. Uncleaned sewage and pollutants from intensively cultivated areas removed further from the protected area (Ref. 6)
5. Sustainable landscape management through controlled, historic grazing practices of animals (Ref. 1)
Type of NBS project
Maintenance and management of urban nature
Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Blue infrastructure
Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
Parks and urban forests
Large urban parks or forests
Amenities offered by the NBS
Unknown
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Flood regulation
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Tourism
Aesthetic appreciation
Recreation
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Please specify "other cultural service"
Environmental education services and dissemination of information among citizens (Ref. 1)
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Government-led
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
Augsburg Landscape Care Association (Landschaftspflegeverband City of Augsburg e.V.) (Ref. 1). The Association conducted management and oversaw the process of regeneration of natural lime-dry grasslands on gravel banks in Augsburg (Ref. 1). "The Landschaftspflegeverband Stadt Augsburg e.V. (LPVA), sponsored by the German
Federal Environment Foundation, for a project period of five years from 2007 to the end of 2011
Pre-alpine pine forests on river gravel in the nature reserve "Stadtwald Augsburg" with red deer
and Przewalski's horses grazed. The calculated total project costs amounted to € 249,752.50.
The requested funding share was 124,876.25 € (corresponds to 50%)" (Ref. 8).
Key actors - initiating organization
Public sector institution
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
National government
Regional government
Local government/municipality
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Unknown
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Yes
Please specify the "Regional Directive/Strategy"
European Water Framework Directive (Ref. 7) is mentioned in connection to the project.
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
The project takes into consideration restrictions and provisions of drinking water protection and the Forest Act for Bavaria (BayWaldG) (Ref. 1).
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
The NBS is realized within the requirements of the protected natural reserve „Stadtwald Augsburg“ (1)
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Environmental regulation
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
The project is realized within the Bavarian Nature Conservation and Landscape Maintenance Directive (Bayerische Naturpark- und Landschaftspflegerichtlinie (LNPR)) (Ref. 2).
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
Biodiversity strategy or plan
Municipal / city level environmental plan or programme
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
RIEGEL, G. & LUDING, H. (2007): Erhaltung und Entwicklung von Flussschotterheiden. – Arbeitshilfe Landschaftspflege. – Bayerisches Landesamt für Umwelt (Hrsg.), 39 S. (Ref. 1) The research project refers to the case of the Backwaters management in the city forest as an example in the overall evaluation of the methods of preservation and development of river gravel heaths.
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The project expenses are covered by the Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection of Germany (Ref. 2).
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€50,000 - €100,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
249,752.50 EUR
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
The estimated total project costs amounted to € 249,752.50.
The funding requested was € 124,876.25 (50%) (Ref. 8).
Source(s) of funding
Public national budget
Type of fund(s) used
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Urban offsetting model (biodiversity or water)
Green heritage model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Unknown
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Environmental quality
Improved soil quality
Water management and blue areas
Improved water quality
Increased protection against flooding
Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
Green space and habitat
Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
Reduced biodiversity loss
Increased number of species present
Description of environmental benefits
Environmental quality:
-Soil protection and amelioration: " Because of human impact and use change only very few small and isolated relicts of this natural wild river structures still remain in the ecosystem of the rivers Lech and Wertach. They are maintained due to sheep grazing, mowing management, scrub clearance and reopening of potential expansion areas as well as further activities to create initial stages of immature soils" (Ref. 1).

Water management and blue areas
-Improved water quality: Uncleaned sewage and pollutants from intensively cultivated areas removed further from the protected area (Ref. 6).
-Increased protection against flooding: "Streams need space. They are dynamic habitats that erode and deposit, change their course, flood banks and floodplains. It is ideal if the self-dynamic development with these natural processes can be re-initiated through renaturation. In practice, however, the space required for this is often missing. Then at least the structural development within the existing water bed is to be enabled or the water bed is to be upgraded with "artificial" structural elements" (Ref. 6).
-Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems: From 2007 to 2011 the proportion of water species increased (Ref. 8).

Green space and habitat:
-Reduction of biodiversity loss: From 2007 to 2011 species composition remained largely the same on the control areas near the water (Ref. 8).
-Increased conversion of degraded land or soil/Increased number of species present: New plants started to emerge on the regenerated areas (Ref. 8).
Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Protection of natural heritage
Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Description of social and cultural benefits
Cultural heritage and sense of place:
-Protection of natural heritage/Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure: Sustainable landscape management through controlled, historic grazing practices of animals (Ref. 1).

Education:
-Support education and scientific research/Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits: Total number of guided tours conducted during the project period (1.7.2007 - 21.12.2011): 215 (of which schools / kindergartens: 65, associations and other institutions: 45, private groups: 105) (Ref. 8)
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
1. Total number of guided tours conducted during the project period (Ref. 8)
2. From 2007 to 2011: species composition in the control areas near the water (Ref. 8)
3. From 2007 to 2011: proportion of water species (Ref. 8)
4. New plants species in the regenerated areas (Ref. 8)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Water management (SDG 6)
Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Environmental quality
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
No specific information available as of November 5, 2020. Augsburg entered a partial second lockdown on October 30, 2020: "Due to the high incidence figures in Augsburg, the nationwide and Bavaria-wide measures in the Augsburg city area have been in effect since Friday, October 30th, 9 p.m. A maximum of 2 households can meet. Catering establishments are only allowed to sell to-go.

In addition, the following three regulations apply in the urban area:
Extended mask requirement in the city area (inner city area, playgrounds, main traffic axes, areas on the Wertach, Kuhsee and Hochablass)
Ban on alcohol consumption from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the entire public space
Retail businesses and public institutions: Disinfectant dispensers must be used at the entrance".
Available at: https://www.augsburg.de/umwelt-soziales/gesundheit/coronavirus/vor-infektionen-schuetzen
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Collection of monitoring data at specific time intervals during the project to aid evaluation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Measurements of biophysical aspects of the NBS (e.g. temperature, water flow)
Where can this data be accessed? Please include a link to a report or web-page.
http://lpv-augsburg.de/files/Downloads_Neu/Liebig_Heidemanagement.pdf
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
Yes
Link to monitoring/evaluation reports
http://lpv-augsburg.de/files/Downloads_Neu/Liebig_Heidemanagement.pdf
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Vegetation and species population monitoring in the project areas were conducted by from summer 2007 to end of 2011 by the Chair of Botany at The University of Regensburg (Ref. 8).
Link to the output of assessments
https://www.dbu.de/OPAC/ab/DBU-Abschlussbericht-AZ-22925.pdf
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
Yes
Link to GIS monitoring data
https://www.dbu.de/OPAC/ab/DBU-Abschlussbericht-AZ-22925.pdf
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Management von Flussschotterheiden in Augsburg
Landschaftspflege- und Naturparkrichtlinien (LNPR)
Wandern Touren im Alpenvorland um Augsburg
Enthaltung und Entwicklung von Flussschotterheiden
Problem Landschaftszerschneidung Lebensraumvernetzung durch Biotopverbund
Renaturierung von Fließgewässern Neues Leben für Flüsse und Bäche
Zu wenig Wasser und fehlende Anbindung an den Lech: An den Stadtwaldbächen gibt…
Beweidungsprojekt Stadtwald Augsburg
List of references
1. LIEBIG, N. (2011). Management von Flussschotterheiden in Augsburg. Available at: http://lpv-augsburg.de/files/Downloads_Neu/Liebig_Heidemanagement.pdf (Accessed: November 5, 2020).
2. Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz (n.d.). Landschaftspflege- und Naturparkrichtlinien (LNPR). Available at: https://www.stmuv.bayern.de/themen/naturschutz/naturschutzfoerderung/landschaftspflege_naturparkrichtlinien/index.htm#:~:text=Im%20Rahmen%20der%20Landschaftspflege%2D%20und,Neuschaffung%20%C3%B6kologisch%20wertvoller%20Lebensr%C3%A4ume%20gef%C3%B6rdert. (Accessed: November 5, 2020).
3. Regio Augsburg Tourismus (n.d.). Wandern. Touren im Alpenvorland um Augsburg. Available at: http://www.augsburg-tourismus.de/tl_files/augsburg_tourismus/broschueren/pdf/regio_wandern_2016_broschur.pdf (Website not available in 2020).
4. Wandern. Touren im Alpenvorland um Augsburg (2007). Enthaltung und Entwicklung von Flussschotterheiden. Available at: https://www.fh-erfurt.de/lgf/fileadmin/LA/Personen/Mueller/recentPub/RiegelFlussschotterheiden.pdf (Accessed: November 5, 2020).
5. Nature tips (2008). Problem Landschaftszerschneidung Lebensraumvernetzung durch Biotopverbund. Available at: http://www.naturtipps.com/landschaftszerschneidung.html#Ueberschrift2 (Accessed: November 5, 2020).
6. Nature tips (2012). Renaturierung von Fließgewässern Neues Leben für Flüsse und Bäche. Available at: http://www.naturtipps.com/fliessgewaesserrenaturierung.html (Accessed: November 5, 2020).
7. Stadt Zeitung (2016). Zu wenig Wasser und fehlende Anbindung an den Lech: An den Stadtwaldbächen gibt es viel zu tun. Available at: http://www.stadtzeitung.de/augsburg-haunstetten/politik/zu-wenig-wasser-und-fehlende-anbindung-an-den-lech-an-den-stadtwaldbaechen-gibt-es-viel-zu-tun-d17756.html (Accessed: November 5, 2020).
8. Landschaftsplfegeverband Stadt Augsburd E.V. (2007). Beweidungsprojekt Stadtwald Augsburg. Available at: https://www.dbu.de/OPAC/ab/DBU-Abschlussbericht-AZ-22925.pdf (Accessed: November 5, 2020).
Additional comments
References do not refer to NBS as an innovation, so it is kept as 'unknown' in this section.
Comments and notes
Public Images
Pictures of deer grazing on trees and grass in vegetated area
https://www.dbu.de/OPAC/ab/DBU-Abschlussbericht-AZ-22925.pdf