Protect nature: Hike in Affental shows species-rich beauty!

Protect nature: Hike in Affental shows species-rich beauty!

On May 25, 2025, an exciting hike took place in the picturesque Affental near Retzbach, which was organized by Marco Handel from BUND Nature Conservation and Christiane Brandt from the Main-Spessart Landscape Conservation Association. The participants had the opportunity to experience one of the most species-rich natural landscapes in the region up close, which not only impresses with rare plants but also with vibrant poor grasslands. This special landscape provides a habitat for many protected species, including orchids and wild apples, which require special care and keeping the areas open.

During the maintenance operation, Handel and his team took the initiative to mark plants worth protecting and remove trees. Particular attention was paid to buckthorn and the endemic whitebeams, which need to be protected. The dead wood remained in the area and provides valuable habitat for fauna and insects. In order to avoid over-fertilization, removing the cuttings was a central point during the event. Cuttings were piled up in piles to create shelter for animals.

Sustainable surface care

The organizers plan to use grazing animals to maintain the area in the future and at the same time are checking the water supply for these animals. In order to protect the valuable poor grassland, invasive locust trees were removed. Their wood will be used for pasture posts in the future, which represents an environmentally friendly solution.

The participants in the excursion loudly called for more political priority for nature and climate protection. The BUND Nature Conservation and the Landscape Conservation Association emphasized the importance of the upcoming local and mayoral elections. They appealed to citizens to find out about the positions of the candidates. After all, nature conservation is not a side issue, but an investment in the future and an imperative that requires great attention.

The threat of invasive species

Invasive species pose a serious threat to biodiversity not only regionally, but also throughout Germany. According to an analysis by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, invasive species are the main cause of danger in 24 of 1,200 endangered Red List species groups. Well-known native species, such as the peony and the large pond mussel, have been pushed back or even eradicated by invasive species in the last two decades.

There are currently around 900 established neobiota species recorded in Germany, which corresponds to around one percent of the total 74,000 species. The largest group among these neobiota are the plants, the so-called neophytes, with around 470 species. The increase in invasive species is closely linked to global trade and transport.

The federal government is taking preventive measures to counter the effects of invasive species. If climate conditions continue to change, this could encourage the spread of invasive species. This makes efforts to preserve and maintain natural habitats all the more urgent in order to protect native species that are already highly endangered.

The Monkey Valley event not only highlighted the beauty of nature, but also raised awareness of the challenges facing our ecosystems. It is up to us to take the right steps to preserve biodiversity for future generations.