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Saving biodiversity: Sensational lecture on cattle grazing!
On July 8, 2025, Caroline Dietzel will speak at the Mauritianum Altenburg about biodiversity development through cattle grazing in the Saale-Orla district.
Saving biodiversity: Sensational lecture on cattle grazing!
On July 8th at 7 p.m. an exciting lecture event will take place in the Natural History Museum Mauritianum Altenburg that will deal with a green topic: the development of biodiversity through cattle grazing. Speaker Caroline Dietzel will present the results of the Thuringian forest pasture project “Uhlstädter Heide”. In this project, the Naturforschende Gesellschaft Altenburg and Thüringenforst took the initiative to draw attention to the challenges of operating a forest pasture in Thuringia. This extraordinary project, which was launched in 2017, is unique in Germany and will cover an area of around 600 hectares until 2024.
The special feature of this forest pasture is the year-round grazing with a manageable herd of only 15 Taurus cattle grazing in a commercial forest. The pasture dynamics are intended to achieve positive effects for the flora and fauna. The aim is to promote biological diversity and support the preservation of rare habitats. So far, the focus has been on the development of plant species and their ability to adapt to climatic conditions, which is particularly important for endangered species.
The challenge of biodiversity in agriculture
At a time when over 50% of Germany's land area is used for agriculture, agriculture has a profound impact on the environment. It used to be seen as a guarantee of species and biotope diversity in the cultural landscape. But the intensification of practical use has had fatal consequences. According to the Federal Environment Agency, many species, such as the meadow blue, are under massive pressure. They have become losers after decades of landscape change and climate change. The habitats of these butterflies have declined significantly, endangering their populations. This development is not only evident in butterflies, but also affects numerous other species that rely on species-rich grassland.
The “Uhlstädter Heide” project therefore relies on active area management and the creation of biotope networks. Efforts aim to protect and restore suitable habitats to reduce the risk of extinction of endangered species. The experiences and botanical results of the project, which Caroline Dietzel will present in her lecture, should be of interest not only to experts but also to the general public.
Sustainable approaches for the future
A good knack for grazing cattle can be crucial to successfully implementing ecological measures. According to current reports, around 40% of all endangered ferns and flowering plants in Germany are anchored in grassland. This underlines the need to preserve this habitat and manage it sustainably. Unfortunately, mechanized agriculture, characterized by the use of pesticides and fertilizers, has displaced many natural landscape elements and thus also places of refuge for the local flora and fauna.
The lecture event not only offers a look at successful projects to promote biodiversity, but is also intended to raise awareness of the fundamental challenges in the field of nature conservation for the general public. If you would like to find out more about biodiversity development through cattle grazing, you should not miss this evening: [abg-net.de](https://www.abg-net.de/aktuelles/contente/kunst-kultur-freizeit/2025/07/vortrags Veranstaltung-biodiversitaetsentwicklung-durch-rinderbeweidung).
For further information about the biodiversity projects in the region, you can also visit the NATURA 2000 website: natura2000.nfga.de. The Federal Environment Agency provides information about the challenges and needs of agriculture on its website: umweltbundesamt.de.