District Administrator Allgaier was accompanied by the Mayor of Großbottwar, Ralf Zimmermann, the water buffalo managers Andreas and Uli Weigle, as well as Gerhard Fahr, and the initiator of the NatureLife project, President Claus-Peter Hutter. Together with the Director of the Stuttgart Natural History Museum, Prof. Dr. Lars Krogmann, the water buffalo core team was able to demonstrate the different biotope structures created by the grazing activities of the water buffalo and the diverse insect life that has settled there. This in turn provides food for the bird species that depend on it, whose polyphonic songs accompanied the nature tour between different meadows and pastures, marshes, watercourses, bushes and shrubs. "I was here two years ago and am amazed at how positively dynamic the floodplain landscape is developing thanks to the water buffalo," said the renowned zoologist and entomologist Prof. Dr. Krogmann, who also heads the Competence Centre for Biodiversity and Integrative Taxonomy at the University of Hohenheim.
"We simply have to give wild nature more opportunities again, even in agricultural landscapes, if we want to effectively stop species extinction. Wild animals and plants are not only found in strictly protected national parks, but also in open landscapes. Near-natural pasture ecosystems are of particular importance in this respect, and have received far too little attention in recent decades," explained Krogmann. At almost every step, the entomologist was able to show District Administrator Allgaier exciting insect life from mayflies to dragonflies, beetles, bugs, cicadas, bearded midges, hoverflies, butterflies, wild bees and other species groups. "The lush flora and fauna and the approach of combining nature conservation with climate protection, environmental education, local preservation and tourism promotion through grazing, which has ultimately been tried and tested over centuries, convinced me," said District Administrator Allgaier.
Positive results for nature and people
As Hutter was able to report, species conservation experts have underpinned the positive development of the ecological optimization of the water buffalo pasture as part of systematic surveys. The area is not only a breeding ground for many bird species, some of which have become very rare, but also a wintering and resting place. The bird species recorded include snipe, water rail, whinchat, stonechat, red-backed shrike, meadow pipit and various reed warblers.
Among the insect specialists, the presence of 26 dung beetle species alone is a minor sensation, four of which have national endangered status. Compared to five other water buffalo pastures in Baden-Württemberg, the number of species is even twice as high in some cases. "The work of the water buffalo with bite and bite is having an effect, which is why all experts are advising us to increase the number of animals and improve the financial basis of the association by selling young animals in view of the results, the amount of vegetation and the associated potential," said Hutter, summarizing the four years of work since the animals were introduced and a lead time of around eight years.
The social impact of the model project is also extremely positive "Our citizens have grown fond of the water buffalo, identify with the landscape and many people come to the Bottwartal from outside the district specifically because of the project, which ultimately also helps to promote tourism," noted Mayor Ralf Zimmermann in conversation with District Administrator Allgaier. The buffalo managers also feel this every day. The Fahr and Weigle families are bombarded with questions about the water buffalo and their conservation work when they are out and about in the area. "Even though the comprehensive nature, culture and wine trail, which includes the "Fünf W" (Five Ws), in which the project area is integrated, already provides many pictures and answers, many people are looking for a direct conversation," reported Gerhard Fahr and Uli and Andreas Weigle in unison. Companies and various institutions are also offering help. For example, teams from the Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Liederhalle (KKL) Stuttgart or the Ludwigsburg University of Education have already been involved in maintenance work such as building fences on several occasions, and Mercedes-Benz has also knocked on the door. All of this needs to be organized and requires an enormous amount of work, which is carried out on a voluntary basis by around two dozen helpers in addition to the core team.
"What is being achieved here for ecology and society cannot be valued highly enough and should set an even greater example for potentially similar grazing projects," said District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier and announced that he would be happy to come back to follow the development in person.
