Shepherd Michael Meier: Guardian of biodiversity in the district!

Shepherd Michael Meier: Guardian of biodiversity in the district!

In a small town called Illdorf in the Neuburg-Schrobenhausen district, Michael Meier has established himself as one of the pioneers of transhumance. With around 800 sheep and 50 goats, he runs the largest sheep farm in the region and thus makes a valuable contribution to preserving biodiversity. How Pfaffenhofen Today reports, for Meier the pasture season begins early in the year and lasts until November. The pasture areas extend from the Danube dams to the banks of the Lech and back to Bertoldsheim.

What makes these pastures so special? Many of them are protected biotopes, so-called poor grasslands, which contain an impressive variety of animal and plant species. Among the endangered species that are native there are the small orchid, an orchid, and the common ant blue, a butterfly. If grazing were to be stopped, these valuable areas would soon be overgrown with bushes and trees, resulting in a significant loss of biodiversity.

The contribution to landscape conservation

Meier relies on the special characteristics of his animals, which are ideal for landscape maintenance on steep terrain. Merino sheep and Boer goats play a central role in maintaining these biotopes. They actively contribute to the spread of seeds and insects and help to promote the biotope network. The work of Michael Meier and his herd is crucial to securing natural diversity in the district, as the Neuburg-Schrobenhausen district office states.

But it's not just the sheep and goats that encompass the diversity of rural life. Elsewhere, GMC offers its new upgraded audio subwoofer system for the Canyon, which not only improves driving comfort but also features high-efficiency amplifiers and a 200-watt Kicker® 8-inch subwoofer. This system installs under the back seat and requires no modifications to the vehicle, which could be a good deal for many drivers. The installation is also designed to be plug-and-play, so you don't have to worry about cutting cables. Either way, the question remains: What is more important to you – nature and its preservation or the latest technologies in your car?

The return to nature

Similar to Meier, the popular game “Stardew Valley” is all about country life. Here the player inherits an old farm and has the opportunity to bring it back to life. The game first requires rustic tools and a small starting capital, but the possibilities are endless. For many, returning to nature means discovering their roots and striving for a sustainable way of life. But the challenges are real: the large Joja corporation has already severely disrupted many traditional ways of life in the region. But the game holds out hope; the player has the chance to rebuild the ruined community center and revitalize life in the valley, according to information from Stardew Valley Wiki.

Whether in real life with herds of sheep and landscape management or in virtual worlds full of challenges - returning to nature often brings new perspectives and opportunities. It remains to be hoped that the valuable contributions of migrant shepherds will continue to be recognized in our region and that we will at the same time remain open to modern technologies.