Steigerwald Nature Park
Encyclopedia
On 8 March 1988 the Bavarian State Ministry for State Development and the Environment designated an area of 1280 square kilometres (494.2 sq mi) in North Bavaria
, Germany, as the Steigerwald Nature Park . About half the area consists of protected landscape
s. The nature park is run by the Steigerwald Tourist Association and Steigerwald Nature Park (Tourismusverband Steigerwald und Naturpark Steigerwald e.V.).
The landscape is characterised by deciduous and pine forests, ponds and vineyards.
, Middle
and Upper Franconia
and surrounds their tripoint
which is marked by the Dreifrankenstein
("Three Franconias Stone"). It is located between the cities of Bamberg
, Schweinfurt
, Würzburg
and Nuremberg
. To the north it is bounded by the course of the River Main and to the east by the Regnitz
. Its southern boundary is formed by the Aisch
and to the west the Main again and an extension of the line from Marktbreit
via Uffenheim
to Bad Windsheim
.
's World Heritage Programme
by their conversion into a Steigerwald National Park. A study by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation
lists those parts of the Steigerwald that are considered particularly worthy of protection because of the presence of very rare stands of beech-forest and their great variety of species
. According to this proposal around 11,000 hectares, which accounts for just under 9 % of the national forest, should be converted into a national park. The interest groups of private and corporate forest owners, forestry
and agriculture
and people from across the political spectrum are trying to do this with particular regard to preventing the loss of jobs.
, along with the German forest scientist, Georg Sperber. At the end of April 2008, nature conservation clubs established the Friends of the Steigerwald National Park (Freundeskreis Pro Nationalpark Steigerwald), to collaboratively promote the national park idea. Within this grouping, nine regional and national interest groups are active, including the Federation for Nature Conservation in Bavaria, the State Federation for the Protection of Birds in Bavaria and the WWF Germany
(as of 13 Nov 2010). Since early October 2009, the group has run an information office in the market town
of Ebrach
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, Germany, as the Steigerwald Nature Park . About half the area consists of protected landscape
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
s. The nature park is run by the Steigerwald Tourist Association and Steigerwald Nature Park (Tourismusverband Steigerwald und Naturpark Steigerwald e.V.).
The landscape is characterised by deciduous and pine forests, ponds and vineyards.
Location
The Steigerwald straddles the Bavarian provinces of LowerLower Franconia
Lower Franconia is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria , Germany ....
, Middle
Middle Franconia
Middle Franconia is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is in the west of Bavaria and adjoins the state of Baden-Württemberg...
and Upper Franconia
Upper Franconia
Upper Franconia is a Regierungsbezirk of the state of Bavaria, southern Germany. It forms part of the historically significant region of Franconia , all now part of the German Federal State of Bayern .With more than 200 independent breweries which brew...
and surrounds their tripoint
Tripoint
A tripoint, or trijunction , is a geographical point at which the borders of three countries or subnational entities meet....
which is marked by the Dreifrankenstein
Dreifrankenstein
The Dreifrankenstein is a boundary stone that marks the tripoint where the three Franconian provinces of Upper, Middle and Lower Franconia meet in southern Germany. As part of the regional reforms in 1972 the boundary marker was moved around 7 kilometres as the crow flies to the southeast...
("Three Franconias Stone"). It is located between the cities of Bamberg
Bamberg
Bamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz, close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed by World War II bombings because of a nearby Artillery Factory that prevented planes from...
, Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt is a city in the Lower Franconia region of Bavaria in Germany on the right bank of the canalized Main, which is here spanned by several bridges, 27 km northeast of Würzburg.- History :...
, Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
and Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
. To the north it is bounded by the course of the River Main and to the east by the Regnitz
Regnitz
The Regnitz is a river in Bavaria, Germany. It is a left tributary of the Main and is in length.The river is formed by the confluence of the rivers Rednitz and Pegnitz, which meet in the city of Fürth. From there the Regnitz runs northwards through the cities of Erlangen and Forchheim...
. Its southern boundary is formed by the Aisch
Aisch
The Aisch is a nearly 68 km long tributary of the Regnitz in Middle- and Upper Franconia, in the state of Bavaria in southern Germany....
and to the west the Main again and an extension of the line from Marktbreit
Marktbreit
Marktbreit is a town in the district of Kitzingen in the Regierungsbezirk Unterfranken in Bavaria situated at the most southern point of the Main river. It is the birthplace of Alois Alzheimer who first identified the symptoms of what is now known as Alzheimer's Disease...
via Uffenheim
Uffenheim
Uffenheim is a town in the Neustadt -Bad Windsheim district, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 14 km west of Bad Windsheim, and 36 km southeast of Würzburg....
to Bad Windsheim
Bad Windsheim
Bad Windsheim is a small historic city in Bavaria, Germany. It lies in the district Neustadt an der Aisch - Bad Windsheim, west of Nuremberg....
.
Area by province
Total park area: 1280 square kilometres (494.2 sq mi)| Province | Area | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Franconia Middle Franconia Middle Franconia is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is in the west of Bavaria and adjoins the state of Baden-Württemberg... |
634 km² | 49 % |
| Upper Franconia Upper Franconia Upper Franconia is a Regierungsbezirk of the state of Bavaria, southern Germany. It forms part of the historically significant region of Franconia , all now part of the German Federal State of Bayern .With more than 200 independent breweries which brew... |
216 km² | 17 % |
| Lower Franconia Lower Franconia Lower Franconia is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria , Germany .... |
430 km² | 34 % |
Area by district
Total park area: 1,280 km²| District | Area | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Bamberg | 214 km² | 16.72 % |
| Erlangen-Höchstadt | 104 km² | 8.13 % |
| Haßberge | 176 km² | 13.75 % |
| Kitzingen | 192 km² | 15.00 % |
| Neustadt a.d. Aisch - Bad Windsheim | 536 km² | 41,88 % |
| Schweinfurt | 58 km² | 4,52 % |
Protected landscapes by province
Total area: 675 km² (around 53 % of the park)| Province | Area | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Franconia Middle Franconia Middle Franconia is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is in the west of Bavaria and adjoins the state of Baden-Württemberg... |
34 km² | 5 % |
| Upper Franconia Upper Franconia Upper Franconia is a Regierungsbezirk of the state of Bavaria, southern Germany. It forms part of the historically significant region of Franconia , all now part of the German Federal State of Bayern .With more than 200 independent breweries which brew... |
216 km² | 32 % |
| Lower Franconia Lower Franconia Lower Franconia is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria , Germany .... |
425 km² | 63 % |
Ownership of the woodlands
Total area: 512.7 km² (around 40 % of the park)| Ownership class | Area | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Federal forest | 0.8 km² | 0 % |
| Corporately owned forest | 145.5 km² | 29 % |
| Private forest | 190.4 km² | 37 % |
| State forest | 175.9 km² | 34 % |
National park discussions
Since March 2007, there have been controversial discussions about the inclusion of parts of the northern Steigerwald Nature Park in UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
's World Heritage Programme
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
by their conversion into a Steigerwald National Park. A study by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation
Federal Agency for Nature Conservation
The German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation is the German government’s scientific authority with responsibility for national and international nature conservation...
lists those parts of the Steigerwald that are considered particularly worthy of protection because of the presence of very rare stands of beech-forest and their great variety of species
Species richness
Species richness is the number of different species in a given area. It is represented in equation form as S.Species richness is the fundamental unit in which to assess the homogeneity of an environment. Typically, species richness is used in conservation studies to determine the sensitivity of...
. According to this proposal around 11,000 hectares, which accounts for just under 9 % of the national forest, should be converted into a national park. The interest groups of private and corporate forest owners, forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and people from across the political spectrum are trying to do this with particular regard to preventing the loss of jobs.
Proponents
One of the first and most famous proponents of the Steigerwald National Park is Bernhard GrzimekBernhard Grzimek
Bernhard Klemens Maria Grzimek was a renowned Silesian-German zoo director, zoologist, book author, editor, and animal conservationist in postwar West-Germany.-Early years:Grzimek was born in Neisse , Upper Silesia...
, along with the German forest scientist, Georg Sperber. At the end of April 2008, nature conservation clubs established the Friends of the Steigerwald National Park (Freundeskreis Pro Nationalpark Steigerwald), to collaboratively promote the national park idea. Within this grouping, nine regional and national interest groups are active, including the Federation for Nature Conservation in Bavaria, the State Federation for the Protection of Birds in Bavaria and the WWF Germany
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
(as of 13 Nov 2010). Since early October 2009, the group has run an information office in the market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
of Ebrach
Opponents
Shortly beforehand, opponents of the national park had founded Our Steigerwald (Unser Steigerwald e.V.). Its members include over 3,000 private individuals (as at July 2010), 17 organizations such as the Bavarian Forest Owners' Association, various regional groups of the Bavarian Farmers Association and the Forestry Association of Lower Franconia as well as 14 of the communities that are envisaged to be in the national park area (as of 13 Nov 2010). Instead of a national park, opponents are voting for the stepping-stone approach by the Bavarian State Forests: that the Ebrach Forestry Commission takes part of the forest area out of use and links these stepping stones in the state forestry areas into a network connected by corridors. The remaining forest area would continue to be cultivated.Current situation
The Bavarian Environment Minister, Markus Söder, sees no future in a Steigerwald National Park as long as it is not supported by the general population. That this is currently not the case in the Steigerwald itself was stated by Söder in early November 2010 at the ceremony celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Bavarian Forest National Park.Maps
- Landesamt für Vermessung und Geoinformation Bayern: Naturpark Steigerwald - südlicher Teil. Umgebungskarte 1:50.000. Aischgrund, Bad Windsheim, Erlangen, Fürth, Kitzingen. Mit Wanderwegen, Radwanderwegen, Gitter für GPS-Nutzer. 6.3.2009. (ISBN 978-3-86038-426-8)
- Landesamt für Vermessung und Geoinformation Bavaria: Naturpark Steigerwald - nördlicher Teil. Umgebungskarte 1:50.000. Haßfurt, Schlüsselfeld, Kitzingen, Bamberg. Mit Wanderwegen, Radwanderwegen, Gitter für GPS-Nutzer. 6.3.2009. (ISBN 978-3-86038-428-2)
Sources
- Georg Sperber & Thomas Stephan: Frankens Naturerbe - Buchenwälder im Steigerwald. Bamberg: Fränkischer Tag 2008. 176 Seiten. (ISBN 978-3-936897-62-3)