Connecting habitats, tying networks of life

Unspoilt wilderness can hardly be found any longer in this country. On the contrary: For the benefit of agriculture, settlements, streets and railway lines, ever more nature is disappearing. Thus, wild animals increasingly live in confined areas. And looking for new habitat structures has almost become impossible for them. Large cleared areas do not offer shy animals such as the wildcat and the lynx the necessary cover. Red deer, badgers, etc. are also threatened. Every year thousands of wild animals lose their lives when crossing very busy roads.

Beech forest with sunbeams: www.istockphoto.com

Nowadays, habitats suitable for wild animals are mostly very isolated from each other. The remaining populations of some wild animal species have therefore become so small and so far separated from one another that their survival, and with it biological diversity as a whole, is at stake.

Target species wildcat

The BUND puts great effort into the conservation of biological diversity within Germany and Europe. For this, the linking up of habitat structures is an important element. Biotope networking is guided by the demands of particular endangered species, particularly their habitat and living requirements. One of these target species is the wildcat. Many people do not know that these animals are living hidden in our woodlands because hardly anyone ever gets to see these extremely shy forest cats. By the way, wildcats are no wild domestic cats, but represent a species of their own.

wildcat behind branches, © Thomas Stephan

Already in the 1990s BUND activists in Thuringia started to explore the migration habits of wildcats. The idea emerged to tie a safety net for the wildcat together with politicians, authorities and citizens. A green network of life made up of bushes and trees for the wildcat and other forest inhabitants shall stretch across Germany. In 2007 the BUND presented the wildcat routing map to the public for the first time. In autumn of that year the first 20,000 bushes and trees were planted between the national park Hainich and the Thuringian Forest.

The information campaign has started

To continue the successes of the safety net, an extensive information campaign started on January 1, 2010. With exhibitions, adventure trails, planting days, on site visits for decision-makers and many other things it aims to show how important the networking of habitat structures is for the preservation of biological diversity. The project “Biotope Networking – Networks of Life” is promoted by EU funds as part of the LIFE+ programme. LIFE is a financing instrument of the European Union which financially supports measures within the EU benefitting nature and the environment. It contributes to the development, execution and updating of the environmental policy and the environmental regulations of the Community.

The legal basis for the green life network of the BUND is a binding EU directive adopted in 1992 by the European Community. The “habitats directive“ shall contribute to the conservation of natural habitats and wild living animals and plants. The member states have committed themselves to creating a European network of protected areas under the name “Natura 2000 network”; this will be home to valuable habitat structures and rare species.

You can also help establish this network of life. Support us with a donation or become active yourself.

Saving the Wildcats – One "like" at the Time

From now on, you can show your passion for wildcats, nature protection and biotope networking by liking the brand new facebook page "Wildkatzen retten!" (Save the wildcats!). We have posted a lot of pictures and have a mix of news from the project, wildcat news and other relevant information. www.facebook.com/wildkatze.bund

Regional wildcat conference took place in Hessen.

Wildcat Conference in Hessen, Germany

Different stakeholders from Hessen, Thuringia and Bavaria accepted the invitation of the BUND and discussed the protection of wildcats in December 2011 in Hessen. The BUND presented to the participants – members of the administration offices, hunters, forest rangers and environmentalists – the "Wildkatzenwegeplan", a plan to re-connect the forests. The next regional conference will take place in Lower Saxony, on 10th and 11th of July.

Wildcats in Schools and Kindergarten

The wildcat is coming to the classroom! We offer a variety of teaching and learning resources about wildcats, the conservation of biodiversity and forests for all ages. The package includes a free computer tool, with which pupils can experience the consequences that the defragmentation of forests have for a wildcat population. There are also a lot of game instructions and other activities for learning indoors and outdoors as well and two short movies. These resources are in German language, but we encourage people to use our resources, ideas, texts and instructions.

Sign up for the Biotope Network and Wildcat Newsletter

Get our Biotope Network and Wildcat Newsletter. You will receive an email four times a year, packed with biotope networking news and information about wildcats, forests and biodiversity in Germany and Europe. Subscribe now!

Flyer: More space for wild animals. More nature for us humans

To further enhance the interconnectivity of the forest, the BUND has started the information campaign “Biotope network – Networks of Life” together with partners and supported by LIFE+ funds coming from the EU. Learn more about the campaign, wildcats and the BUND with this flyer.

Download the flyer

Order the flyer

5 minutes to 12

Our new biodiversity campaign "5 minutes to 12" caught UNEPs attention and is now displayed at their Creative Gallery on Sustainable Communications. It shows a variety of endangered species – such as seals, bears and wildcats – being crushed between the hands of a clock. These animals have no time, and neither do we: we have to act now if we want these beloved animals around in the future.

Abstract: Biotope Network – Networks of Life: Promotion of a forest network system with an European Perspective

Germany's woodlands are isolated by agriculture, settlements and roadways. The BUND is working to create a forest network 20,000 km long consisting of green corridors made up of trees and bushes. This is the only way to ensure the survival of endangered forest animals such as the wildcat.

Download the abstract

Brochure "20,000 Kilometers of Mirgration Corridors. A Safety Net for the European Wildcat."

Basic Information in English. For further information please contact Christiane.Bohn@bund.net

This Brochure is not part of the information campaign "Biotope network – Networks of Life", which is supported by LIFE+ funds coming from the EU.

Download the brochure

Order the brochure

Drucken Seite versenden