Natural Park of Augsburg Western Forests e.V.

1. General information

Location and description of the intervention

City or FUA

Augsburg

Region

Europe

Native title of the NBS intervention

Naturpark Augsburg Westliche Wälder e.V.

Short description of the intervention

The Natural Park of Augsburg - Western Forests covers a 1,200 square kilometer of the natural area. Founded in 2007, the park aims at preservation and development the natural biotopes in the area. As a supplier of timber, as a guarantor for clean air and pure water, and last but not least for recreation seekers, it is of outstanding importance in Bavarian Swabia (Ref. 1).

Address

Augsburg
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 (10.794271813371 48.650164099171)

POINT (10.422025706526 48.482112920911)

POINT (10.577596718704 48.049180503066)

POINT (10.870293477738 48.316331056158)

NBS area image

Source of NBS area image

Google Earth Pro (November 1, 2020). Coordinates offer a rough approximation of extent of NBS.

Total area

1200000000.00m²

NBS area

1200000000.00m²

Type of area before implementation of the NBS

Natural Heritage Area/Untouched nature

Website of the intervention

http://naturpark-augsburg.de/

Timeline of intervention

Start date of the intervention (planning process)

pre-1990

Start date of intervention (implementation process)

2013

End date of the intervention

ongoing

Present stage of the intervention

Ongoing

Please specify "other" stage of the intervention

1. On May 30, 1974, the forest received a legal status of a nature park after the support of the Bavarian State Forest Administration, the government of Swabia and the district of Swabia, as well as many local authorities.
2. In 1988" The Ordinance on the Natural Park Augsburg - Western Forests" was issued by the Bavarian State Ministry for Land Development and Environmental Issues.
3. In 1992 the natural park information center "Naturpark-Haus" was opened in the Schwäbisch Volkskundemuseum Oberschönenfeld (modernized in 2013).
4. Since 1994, nature conservation and landscape conservation have been special aspects of natural park management.
5. Since 2000, the Naturparkverein has been offering a wide range of natural attractions, with many thousands of participants per year.
6. In 2013, a vision for the development of a natural park for the next 10 years was developed (3).

2. Objectives of the intervention

Goals of the intervention

1. To preserve, cultivate, and restore natural and historically characteristic landscape (Ref. 4)
2. To establish environmentally-friendly economic and regional development strategy (Ref. 4)
3. Sustainable management of natural resources (Ref. 4)
4. A natural and economically viable tourism (Ref. 4)
5. To preserve biodiversity in the area (Ref. 4)
6. A sustainable agriculture and forestry with its regional peculiarities (Ref. 4)
7. To develop naturally-oriented education (Ref. 4)

Quantitative targets

Unknown

Monitoring indicators defined

1. Number of biotopes in the area (Ref. 4).

Sustainability challenge(s) addressed

Water management (SDG 6)

Improvements to water quality

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)

Habitat and biodiversity conservation

Green space creation and/or management

Environmental quality

Air quality improvement

Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)

Environmental education

Health and well-being (SDG 3)

Creation of opportunities for recreation

Economic development and employment (SDG 8)

Economic development: agriculture

Economic development: industry

Tourism support

Cultural heritage and cultural diversity

Preservation of natural heritage

Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure

Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)

Sustainable production

Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?

Species-focused

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

Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem

Means for conservation governance

Manage biological resources for conservation and sustainable use

Public engagement

Implementation activities

1. Coordination and development of natural protection measures (Ref. 4)
2. The preservation of some characteristic landscape parts by preserving a sustainable agricultural and forestry economy practices (Ref. 4).
3. Planning procedures, especially in urban land use planning and construction (Ref. 4)
4. A close cooperation with the forest owners and optimization of the diverse protective and recreational functions of the forest (Ref. 4)
5. Dissemination of targeted information for local population on the importance of environmental protection (Ref. 4)
6. Installation of touring and information boards and other facilities along tourist routes (Ref. 4)
7. Sustainable implementation of state-subsidized landscape management measures in the existing areas of focus (Ref. 4)
8. Cooperation with NANU e. V. and other environmental education organizations (for instance, Swabian environmental stations) for joint advertising (Ref. 4).

Type of NBS project

Maintenance and management of urban nature

3. NBS domains, ES and scale

NBS domain and interventions

Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented

Parks and urban forests

Large urban parks or forests

Amenities offered by the NBS

Educational or biodiversity trails

Services

Expected ecosystem services delivered

Provisioning services

Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)

Raw materials

Water (surface and ground water for drinking and non-drinking purposes)

Regulating services

Local climate regulation (temperature reduction)

Air quality regulation

Carbon storage/sequestration

Water purification / filtration

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"

educational services (naturally-oriented)

Scale

Spatial scale

Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level

Beneficiaries

Primary Beneficiaries

Non-government organisation/Civil Society

Private sector/Corporate/Company

Citizens or community groups

4. Governance and financing

Governance

Governance arrangements

Government-led

Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative

"On May 30, 1974, after substantial support from the Bavarian State Forestry Administration, the government of Swabia and the Swabian district as well as many local authorities, an association was founded with the aim of creating and later maintaining a nature park. In 1988 an important goal was achieved. The ordinance on the Augsburg - Western Forests Nature Park was issued by the Bavarian State Ministry for Regional Development and Environmental Issues" (Ref. 3). "The Augsburg - Westliche Wälder e. V. ( Nature Park Association ) is responsible for the care and development of the nature park. For this purpose, a maintenance and development plan was drawn up in 2004 , with the help of which nature conservation and human use should be reconciled" (Ref. 2).

Key actors - initiating organization

Regional government

Local government/municipality

District/neighbourhood association

Land owners

Public space owned by the city

Please specify other Key actors - Other stakeholders involved

1. The Natural Park of Augsburg - Western Forests cooperates with the various social groups connected to the forest to balance interests between them (Ref. 4). In particular: representatives of local municipalities, associations, landowners, and citizens (Ref. 4).
2. The quality management of the tourist infrastructure was created together with companies REAL West e. V. and Regio Augsburg Tourismus GmbH (Ref. 4).

Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)

EU body

National government

Regional government

Local government/municipality

Non-government organisation/civil society

Private sector/corporate actor/company

Citizens or community group

District/neighbourhood association

Other

Land owners

Public space owned by the city

Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used

Crowd-sourcing/Crowd-funding/Participatory budget

Dissemination of information and education

Policy drivers

NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy

Yes

Please specify the "Regional Directive/Strategy"

Directive 92/43 / EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora is a directive on the protection of the environment of the European Union (EU). It is also commonly referred to as the fauna-flora habitat directive (FFH Directive) or habitat directive (Ref. 7).

NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan

Yes

Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan

The landscape protection area in Germany is provided by the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG). Since landscape protection is subject to national law and the regulations are issued by the federal states, the protecting measures can differ significantly from region to region (Ref. 5).

NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan

Yes

Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"

1. Article 11 of the Bavarian Nature Conservation Act. The act defines the criteria for landscape protection and defines measurements particularly suitable for environmentally compatible recreational forms in the Natural Park of Augsburg Western Forests (Ref. 2).

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

Within the project "1000 Trees for the Future" („1000 Bäume für die Zukunft“ ) for the cultivation and cultivation of trees in the open landscape, design measures to enrich the natural landscape of the Natural Park of Augsburg Western Forests were conducted (Ref. 4).

If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.

Municipal / city level environmental plan or programme

Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project

Yes

Please specify

The Natural Park of Augsburg - Western Forests is a member of German Association for Landscape Care (Deutsche Verband fur Landschafte Pflege) (Ref. 6).

Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project

Unknown

Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project

Yes

Please specify

The city of Augsburg provides investment to a project development (Ref. 4). Private support is also provided to the National Parks Association by the membership fees (10 euros annual contribution) (Ref. 3).

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

Unknown

What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?

Unknown

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 total costs of the project are not mentioned in collected references.

Source(s) of funding

Public local authority budget

Crowdfunding

Type of fund(s) used

Earmarked public budget

Donations

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Business models

Urban offsetting model (biodiversity or water)

Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?

Public actor (e.g. municipality)

5. Innovation

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

6. Evaluation and learning

Impacts, benefits

Environmental impacts

Environmental quality

Improved air quality

Water management and blue areas

Improved water quality

Green space and habitat

Increased number of protection areas

Increased green space area

Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems

Reduced biodiversity loss

Description of environmental benefits

Environmental quality:
-Improved air quality: The nature park is described "as a guarantor for clean air and pure water" (Ref. 1).

Water management and blue areas:
-Improved water quality: The nature park is described "as a guarantor for clean air and pure water" (Ref. 1).

Green space and habitat:
-Increased green space area/Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems (local habitats for local species): The typical Swabian countryside with its nature and practices preserved (Ref. 8).
-Reduction of biodiversity loss: Rare animals such as storks or kingfishers feel comfortable and multiply in the natural park. The beaver again inhabits the entire natural park (Ref. 8)

Economic impacts

More sustainable tourism

Description of economic benefits

-More sustainable tourism: Up to one million people visit the natural park every year (Ref. 8).

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts

Achieved impacts

Indicators

(Ref. 8) Indicator: number of park visitors. (Ref. 8) Indicator: area (in km) of trails and cycling paths created.

Environmental, social and economic impacts

Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)

Environmental quality

Health and well-being (SDG 3)

Economic development and employment (SDG 8)

Cultural heritage and cultural diversity

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

As of November 1, 2020, Ref. 1 indicates: "Corona info: 7-day incidence in the Augsburg district exceeds the threshold of 100 new infections / 100,000 inhabitants
Those returning from risk areas must report to their responsible health department immediately after entering the country. More information under "Important information for travelers returning"; Appointments for the test center are now possible .; Party traffic is largely normal again. Appointments are still necessary for the building authorities, registration offices, foreigners and driving license authorities" (Ref. 1).

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

Observation (including virtual surveillance methods)

Where can this data be accessed? Please include a link to a report or web-page.

http://naturpark-augsburg.de/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/naturparkverein-index-l…

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

https://www.lfu.bayern.de/natur/schutzgebiete/schutzgebietslisten/doc/lsg_schwa…

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

Impact assessment mechanism

Name of any specific impact assessment tools

Unknown

Use of GIS in mapping impacts

No evidence in public records

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

7. Sources

References

Web links relevant to the intervention

Naturpark Augsburg - Westliche Wälder

Großschutzgebiet Naturpark

Naturparkverein

L e i t b i l d Naturpark Augsburg – Westliche Wälder e. V. Ein Naturpark zum A…

Landschaftsschutzgebiet

Landschaftspflegeverband Stadt Augsburg

Richtlinie 92/43/EWG (Fauna-Flora-Habitat-Richtlinie)

Naturpark Augsburg

List of references

1. Augsburg Landkreis (2017). Naturpark Augsburg - Westliche Wälder. Available at: https://www.landkreis-augsburg.de/leben-im-landkreis/freizeit-tourismus/naturpark-augsburg/ (Accessed: November 1, 2020).
2. Augsburg Gruner Westen (2017). Großschutzgebiet Naturpark. Available at: http://naturpark-augsburg.de/naturpark-augsburg/das-schutzgebiet-2/ (Accessed: November 1, 2020).
3. Augsburg Gruner Westen (2017). Naturparkverein. Available at: http://naturpark-augsburg.de/naturparkverein/ (Accessed: November 1, 2020).
4. L e i t b i l d (2013). Naturpark Augsburg – Westliche Wälder e. V. Ein Naturpark zum Anfassen. Available at: http://naturpark-augsburg.de/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/naturparkverein-index-leitbild.pdf (Accessed: November 1, 2020).
5. Wikipedia (2017). Landschaftsschutzgebiet. Available at: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landschaftsschutzgebiet (Accessed: November 1, 2020).
6. Landschaftspflegeverband (2017). Landschaftspflegeverband. Stadt Augsburg. Available at: http://lpv-augsburg.de/landschaftspflege/weidestadt-augsburg/weidetiere-und-projekte/beweidung-mit-przewalskipferden/ (Accessed: November 1, 2020).
7. Wikipedia (2017). Richtlinie 92/43/EWG (Fauna-Flora-Habitat-Richtlinie). Available at: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richtlinie_92/43/EWG_(Fauna-Flora-Habitat-Richtlinie)#Verfahren_der_Schutzgebietserkl.C3.A4rung (Accessed: November 1, 2020).
8. Wanderkompass (2017). Naturpark Augsburg. Available at: https://www.wanderkompass.de/Naturpark/naturpark-augsburg.html (Accessed: November 1, 2020).

Attachments

Attachment	Size
Map of the protected areas, source: http://naturpark-augsburg.de/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/npkarte_052009_k01.pdf (663.98 KB)	663.98 KB

Comments and notes

Comments

Unfortunately, no info on innovation for this NBS was found.

Public Images

An open field with trees and a building with a steeple in the background

http://naturpark-augsburg.de/naturpark-augsburg/das-schutzgebiet-2/