Agroforestry in the Spreewald Floodplain, Germany Penka Tsonkova, Jaconette Mirck 08 April 2017 European Union’s Seventh Framework Program for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 613520

Description of the system Agroforestry in the Spreewald Floodplain, Germany Objective 1 To develop a cost-effective strategy for rejuvenating hedgerows in nature protected areas Objective 2 Valuation of hedgerow biomass to estimate the economic potential of the system

Top: Map of Germany with location Spreewald (inlay; Source: http://www Right: Aerial photo of the Filower area in Spreewald, where red line delineates the trial field (Source: Google Maps).

Main innovations Best and cost-efficient method for hedgerows rejuvenation harvest and planting designs in accordance with current conditions funding possibilities maintaining ecological functions (including natural rejuvenation) and ensuring protection for the newly planted trees

Methodlogy Perform initial vegetation assessment Step 1 Perform initial vegetation assessment Step 2 Select suitable tree and shrub species according to the site conditions Step 3 Design planting strategy. Arrange species and their proportion. Step 4 Determine costs – planting, fencing, harvesting – by public tender Step 5 Identify funding sources for investment and maintenance costs

Step 1. Initial vegetation assessment 1-I. Assessment of vegetation cover according to height (m) and relative cover (%) of herbal, shrub and tree layers in the 15 hedgerows 1-II. Assessing the initial vegetation by determining the relative proprtion of tree and shrub species in two contrasting hedgerows

Step 1-I. Vegetation cover according to height (m) and relative cover (%) Row   Herbal layer (<0.5m) Shrub layer (0.5-5m) Tree layer (>5m) 0-33% 33-66% 66-100% 1 x 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Step 1-II. Initial vegetation assessment Figure 1. Relative proportion of trees (A) and shrubs (B) in hedgerow 13

Step 1-II. Initial vegetation assessment Figure 2. Relative proportion of trees (A) and shrubs (B) in hedgerow 15

Step 2. Suitable species according to the site conditions Type Botanical name Height (m) Light requirements Soil Low nutritional value soil Medium nutritional value High nutritional value Wet Dry Long-lived trees Acer platanoides 25 Acer pseudoplatanus Carpinus betulus 15 Quercus robur Tilia cordata Tilia platyphyllos Ulmus glabra Ulmus laevis Fast-growing trees Alnus glutinosa 20 Populus nigra Populus tremula Salix Shrubs Rosa canina 3 Rhamnus cathartica 6 Viburnum opulus 4 Salix spp Frangula alnus Partial shade Shade Full sun

Step 3. Planting Strategy Initial rejuvenation strategy includes gradual renovation of three hedgerows by 60% and two hedgerows by 100%. The trees and shrub species selected are native species with main proportion of the currently predominating tree, i.e., Alnus glutinosa which comprised 70% of the trees present. The main shrub species is Rubus sectio Rubus which accounted for 40% of shrub species. Every sixth tree is long-lived. Long-lived trees such as Quercus robur will not be harvested. Figure 7.Relative proportion of trees (A) and shrubs (B) in hedgerow 13

Step 3. Selected tree and shrub species and their proportion Figure 3. Tree species Figure 4. Shrub species

Step 4. Costs for planting and fencing The costs of planting and fencing of five hedgerows differ depending on the planned activities, such as maintenance of trees and replacement of trees that did not survive (Figure 5). Fencing is mandatory in the area due to risk of damage for the newly planted trees by wild animals. The planting activities should be carried out in accordance with the local regulations preferably by a company that has experience with similar projects and knowledge of the area, such as company number 5. Planting 14€ m-1 Fencing 12€ m-1 Figure 5. Costs of planting hedgerows with total length of 1140 m and fencing hedgerows with total length of 1550 m obtained from local companies by a public tender

Step 4. Costs for biomass harvesting Harvesting and removing the wood from the site is costly, for example the fixed and variable cost amount to 45 and 46 € hour-1 for the use of a tractor and 66 and 46 € hour-1 for the use of a caterpillar, respectively. The usage of heavy machinery is generally problematic in the field due to the increased risk of compaction. Replanting of degraded hedgerows requires a significant investment and is possible only if an external funding source is found.

Step 5. Funding sources For restoring the historical look of the system by funding of investment costs such as planting and fencing measures: -Natural heritage and environmental awareness http://www.mlul.brandenburg.de/cms/detail.php/bb1.c.309533.de For mainaining traditional systems: Cultural landscape program (KULAP) Compensation payments for farms in less-favoured areas Compensation payments and income losses for farms in NATURA2000 http://www.mlul.brandenburg.de/cms/detail.php/bb1.c.203841.de

To know more about… Spreewald Biosphere Reserve http://www.spreewald.de/en/biosphere-reserve/ Funding possibilites for farmers in Brandenburg http://www.mlul.brandenburg.de/cms/detail.php/bb1.c.203 841.de

European Union’s Seventh Framework Program for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 613520 www.agforward.eu