1. Agroforestry in the Spreewald Floodplain, Germany
Penka Tsonkova, Jaconette Mirck
08 April 2017
European Union’s Seventh Framework Program for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no

2. Description of the system
Agroforestry in the Spreewald Floodplain, Germany Objective 1 To develop a cost-effective strategy for rejuvenating hedgerows in nature protected areas Objective 2 Valuation of hedgerow biomass to estimate the economic potential of the system

3. Top: Map of Germany with location Spreewald (inlay; Source: http://www
Right: Aerial photo of the Filower area in Spreewald, where red line delineates the trial field (Source: Google Maps).

4. Main innovations
Best and cost-efficient method for hedgerows rejuvenation
harvest and planting designs in accordance with current conditions
funding possibilities
maintaining ecological functions (including natural rejuvenation)
and ensuring protection for the newly planted trees

5. Methodlogy Perform initial vegetation assessment
Step 1
Perform initial vegetation assessment
Step 2
Select suitable tree and shrub species according to the site conditions
Step 3
Design planting strategy. Arrange species and their proportion.
Step 4
Determine costs – planting, fencing, harvesting – by public tender
Step 5
Identify funding sources for investment and maintenance costs

6. Step 1. Initial vegetation assessment
1-I. Assessment of vegetation cover according to height (m) and relative cover (%) of herbal, shrub and tree layers in the 15 hedgerows
1-II. Assessing the initial vegetation by determining the relative proprtion of tree and shrub species in two contrasting hedgerows

7. Step 1-I. Vegetation cover according to height (m) and relative cover (%)
Row
Herbal layer (<0.5m)
Shrub layer (0.5-5m)
Tree layer (>5m)
0-33%
33-66%
66-100% 1 x 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

8. Step 1-II. Initial vegetation assessment
Figure 1. Relative proportion of trees (A) and shrubs (B) in hedgerow 13

9. Step 1-II. Initial vegetation assessment
Figure 2. Relative proportion of trees (A) and shrubs (B) in hedgerow 15

10. Step 2. Suitable species according to the site conditions
Type
Botanical name
Height (m)
Light
requirements
Soil
Low
nutritional
value soil
Medium nutritional value
High nutritional value
Wet
Dry
Long-lived trees
Acer platanoides 25
Acer pseudoplatanus
Carpinus betulus 15
Quercus robur
Tilia cordata
Tilia platyphyllos
Ulmus glabra
Ulmus laevis
Fast-growing trees
Alnus glutinosa 20
Populus nigra
Populus tremula
Salix
Shrubs
Rosa canina 3
Rhamnus cathartica 6
Viburnum opulus 4
Salix spp
Frangula alnus
Partial shade
Shade
Full sun

11. Step 3. Planting Strategy
Initial rejuvenation strategy includes gradual renovation of three hedgerows by 60% and two hedgerows by 100%.
The trees and shrub species selected are native species with main proportion of the currently predominating tree, i.e., Alnus glutinosa which comprised 70% of the trees present.
The main shrub species is Rubus sectio Rubus which accounted for 40% of shrub species.
Every sixth tree is long-lived. Long-lived trees such as
Quercus robur will not be harvested.
Figure 7.Relative proportion of trees (A) and shrubs (B) in hedgerow 13

12. Step 3. Selected tree and shrub species and their proportion
Figure 3. Tree species
Figure 4. Shrub species

13. Step 4. Costs for planting and fencing
The costs of planting and fencing of five hedgerows differ depending on the planned activities, such as maintenance of trees and replacement of trees that did not survive (Figure 5). Fencing is mandatory in the area due to risk of damage for the newly planted trees by wild animals. The planting activities should be carried out in accordance with the local regulations preferably by a company that has experience with similar projects and knowledge of the area, such as company number 5. Planting 14€ m-1 Fencing 12€ m-1
Figure 5. Costs of planting hedgerows with total length of 1140 m and fencing hedgerows with total length of 1550 m obtained from local companies by a public tender

14. Step 4. Costs for biomass harvesting
Harvesting and removing the wood from the site is costly, for example the fixed and variable cost amount to 45 and 46 € hour-1 for the use of a tractor and 66 and 46 € hour-1 for the use of a caterpillar, respectively. The usage of heavy machinery is generally problematic in the field due to the increased risk of compaction. Replanting of degraded hedgerows requires a significant investment and is possible only if an external funding source is found.

15. Step 5. Funding sources
For restoring the historical look of the system by funding of investment costs such as planting and fencing measures:
-Natural heritage and environmental awareness
For mainaining traditional systems:
Cultural landscape program (KULAP)
Compensation payments for farms in less-favoured areas
Compensation payments and income losses for farms in NATURA2000

16. To know more about…
Spreewald Biosphere Reserve
Funding possibilites for farmers in Brandenburg de

17. European Union’s Seventh Framework Program for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no