On Alpine pastures: Vegetation ecology investigations in Berchtesgaden

Associated persons Tobias Köstl, Hanns Kirchmeir, Vanessa Berger
Clients Berchtesgaden National Park Administration
Regions Germany
Year 2021

The project objective was the vegetation ecology survey of 8 alpine pastures in Berchtesgaden, 6 of which are located in the Berchtesgaden National Park. In contrast to common surveys, this project also documented the ground-dwelling mosses and lichens. In addition to a classic basic vegetation ecology survey, the biomass usable for grazing livestock was also estimated on the 13 fixed study plots per alpine pasture. For this purpose, the plants were assigned to different groups. In order to be able to carry out this time-consuming work in fixed time windows – one survey each shortly before the start of grazing and one during the main grazing phase – external professionals were involved.

In addition to COVID-related complications in terms of travel logistics and processing, tight time management was a major challenge in this project, which we were able to successfully overcome through ongoing and close coordination with the Client.