Last updated: June 2024
The project of Nature Oasis Auwiesen is creating new habitats for animals and plants in Stuttgart. The project is one of a total of six “Neckar pearls” that are to be completed by 2022 as part of the Neckar Landscape Park master plan in Stuttgart. In the project with a predominantly ecological focus, grassland in the Neckaraue near the Aubrücke is to be transformed into a near‐natural, ecologically valuable wetland biotope. In the course of straightening the Neckar, the wet and floodplain biotopes that were typical and widespread in the floodplains have been lost. The aim of the project is to restore these habitats for animals and plants, which have become very rare today. A network of marshes, water surfaces, islands, and bushes is to be created in the district of Hofen. On an area previously used as grassland, new habitats will be created for rare animals and plants, which are dependent on water areas. Initially, the planned implementation time was 2016-2022, but now it has been delayed and is expected to start by the end of 2021. (2, 7).
Stadt Stuttgart
https://www.stuttgart-meine-stadt.de/stadtentwicklung/masterplan-neckar/auwiesen/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
- In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Riverbank/Lakeside greens
Key challenges
- Environmental quality
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Project objectives
1. Increase the biodiversity in the area (2);
2. Protect and regenerate ecologically valuable water biotopes (3);
3. Regulate the water level of the Neckar river (3);
4. Create access to nature for pedestrians and cyclists of Stuttgart (3);
5. Create a nursery for fish (3).
Implementation activities
The first plans for the revitalization of the area are completed (3). Some of the trees on the area behind the golf course in the Wagrainäckern have been felled. The city is replacing the trees with native species such as oak, maple and hornbeam. With this renaturation measure, a new wet biotope with water surfaces and islands, bushes and reed areas is created between the golf practice facility and the Aubrücke. Trees have to be cleared for the redesign. In order to create a balance, elsewhere - there, where it was cleared - native species were planted. The surface is modelled in such a way that water areas of different depths are created. The extensive shallow and alternating water zones are soon to be „conquered“ by extensive reeds. Moist shrubbery, moist tall herbaceous corridors and soft and hardwood floodplain areas are to develop on the banks and on land. The deepwater zones remain largely free of vegetation, and floating leaf communities can form on partial areas. The “Ikone” project stands for the integrating conception of the Neckar catchment area and is part of the “Neckar Experience Area” master plan. Realization is expected in 2022. (1, 3, 4)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Promote environmentally-sound development in and around protected areas
- Create new habitats
- Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Means for conservation governance
- Public engagement
- Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore ecological connectivity
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: Elderly people, People with functional diversities
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Regional government
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project was commissioned to a planning bureau Luz Landschaftsarchitektur by the city of Stuttgart. In 2016 first plans for the project were presented to citizens under the "early public participation". The planning documents could be viewed by the public from 17 October to 4 November 2016 during the opening hours of the planned exposition at the office for city planning and urban renewal. During this period, statements and correction to the project could be made in writing form by the public. In November the Stuttgart citizens had a possibility to discuss the project with planners and representers of the local municipality (2).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The Naturoase Auwiesen is one of the six "Neckar pearls" as part of the master plan "Landscape Park Neckar" (3). In order to complete the project, funds from the local municipality as well as from the Association Region Stuttgart will be allocated (3).)
Financing
Total cost
€2,000,000 - €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- Public regional budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Stuttgart - meine Stadt Facebook Page. Source link
2. (2016). Neue Heimat für Fisch, Frosch und Co. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 14th September, 2020.
3. Mostbacher-Dix. P. (2016). Renaturierung der Auwiesen in HofenKinderstube für Neckarfische, Available at: Source link. Accessed on 14th September, 2020.
4. Haußmann. D. (2018). A natural oasis is created from gravel pits. [translated] Available at: Source link. Accessed on 14th September, 2020.
5. Schumacher. J. (2019). Clear cutting for the Auwiesen natural oasis. [translated] Available at: Source link. Accessed on 14th September, 2020.
6. Stadt-Stuttgart (no date) NECKAR ADVENTURE AREA - AUWIESEN NATURAL OASIS: Renaturation of the typical floodplain habitats. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 15th October, 2020.
2. (2016). Neue Heimat für Fisch, Frosch und Co. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 14th September, 2020.
3. Mostbacher-Dix. P. (2016). Renaturierung der Auwiesen in HofenKinderstube für Neckarfische, Available at: Source link. Accessed on 14th September, 2020.
4. Haußmann. D. (2018). A natural oasis is created from gravel pits. [translated] Available at: Source link. Accessed on 14th September, 2020.
5. Schumacher. J. (2019). Clear cutting for the Auwiesen natural oasis. [translated] Available at: Source link. Accessed on 14th September, 2020.
6. Stadt-Stuttgart (no date) NECKAR ADVENTURE AREA - AUWIESEN NATURAL OASIS: Renaturation of the typical floodplain habitats. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 15th October, 2020.