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Pasture fences to guide visitors in the Thurauen

Realisiert:

2021

performed by:

Naturnetz Nordostschweiz

The Thurauen are located in the Zurich wine country, where the Thur and Rhine meet. With an area of almost 400 hectares, they form the largest floodplain area in the Swiss Mittelland. As a national conservation area and a refuge for countless animal and plant species, they attract many interested visitors to the region every day. A particularly popular and highly frequented excursion destination is the Thurspitz, where the Thur flows into the Rhine.


Unfortunately, large numbers of visitors can also disturb the local flora and fauna - especially if the marked roads and paths are left. For this reason, the nature network at Thurspitz has erected a new visitor guide in the form of a living pasture fence. The Zurich Nature Conservation Department and the Thurauen Ranger Service decided to take this step because in the past, visitors (sometimes even with dogs) had repeatedly used open paths to move off the paths. This intrusion into sensitive nature conservation areas disturbs animal species that nest there and seek shelter. The kingfisher, which breeds on banksides, suffered particularly badly at Thurspitz, and has recently lost some of its broods as a result.


In the future, the growing pasture fence will form a natural barrier to sensitive biotopes. For landscape maintenance and as an observation opportunity for visitors, wide passageways have been integrated into both fence sections, which can be opened like a gate if necessary. In the initial phase, the unnatural metal fence will serve as protection against beavers grazing. However, this protection will be removed as soon as possible.


Thanks to our efforts, the Thurauen meadows will be more peaceful away from the paths in the future. The kingfisher in the river bank caves, the tree frog in the spawning waters or the beaver in its burrow will be more than happy to accept this gift. Nevertheless, these beautiful places will remain accessible to visitors and who knows, perhaps these measures will lead to more exciting and beautiful encounters with kingfishers and the like in the future.

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