clearing work on the Rothenthurm high moor
Realized:
2019
performed by:
Naturnetz Nordostschweiz
The moorland between Rothenthurm and Biberbrugg became nationally famous in 1987 thanks to the "Rothenthurm Initiative". As a result of this initiative, the largest raised bog in Switzerland (over 100 hectares in the cantons of Schwyz and Zug) was protected as a "raised bog of national importance". But even the traditional use of the wide meadows by farmers could not protect the moor from the constant nutrient input from the air. Another problem is that in many places the areas have been drained and have thus lost their "raised bog character". This meant that bushes and trees suddenly grew in this heathland where they had never existed before. Due to this change in the landscape, certain animal and plant species have disappeared (e.g. lapwing and curlew) or become rare (whinchat and meadow pipit). In the 1980s, around 42 whinchat territories were counted on the Schwyz and Zug sides. In 2018, there were only 11 on the Schwyzer side.
This decline in the population of these meadow breeders has not gone unnoticed by BirdLife Switzerland, which is why the "Meadow Breeders Project" was launched in 2016. The focus of this work is the Whinchat. The largest populations of this species are still found in the eastern Swiss foothills of the Alps. As part of this project, in consultation with the farmers, the meadows that were populated by the Whinchat were only mown after the breeding season. In addition, rods were set up as perches and large-scale clearing measures were carried out by local farmers, the forestry service and the nature network (since 2018).
The work with our community service members took place from October 14th to 25th. Using mattocks, axes and hatchets as well as using a Habegger (cable pull), poplars, willows, spruces, birches and alder buckthorn were removed and minor forestry work was carried out with a chainsaw. The removed wood was stored on the edge of the area and then chopped up by a local farmer. Even though the work was quite strenuous, we had the privilege of being able to work in a unique area. The autumnal coloring of the marsh meadows, the morning mist and the subsequent rays of sunshine were a unique natural spectacle.
There is still a lot of bush clearing work to be done in the area. We will not run out of work next year (2020). We are already looking forward to the next project and hope that our work will have a positive effect on the flora and fauna.