Survival Island Chronicles
In the heart of Germany, the city of Düsseldorf is taking strides towards sustainable urban green space management. The city's drainage authority has introduced a unique mowing program designed to boost biodiversity and conserve insect habitats in meadow areas.
The program, which employs a reduced mowing frequency and a specialized mowing technique known as the "Tellermaeh-Technik," aims to promote habitat heterogeneity and reduce disturbance frequency for the benefit of various insect species.
The "Tellermaeh-Technik" is a mowing technique that uses a rotary mower equipped with cutting discs, or "Teller" in German. This method allows for a more precise and gentle cut, minimizing damage to the grass sward and ground-nesting insects compared to conventional mowers.
Typically, the mowing schedule involves mowing only once or twice per year, often with a late-season cut to allow plants to flower and insects to complete their life cycles. This practice avoids frequent cutting that can destroy insect habitats and flowering plants essential for pollinators.
These practices help conserve insect habitats by maintaining flowering plants and structural diversity in the meadow vegetation, supporting a wide range of insect species, including pollinators and other beneficial invertebrates.
Supporting a healthy grass sward is also a priority. By avoiding overcutting, the program helps prevent weakening of grasses. The mowing technique maintains a balanced plant community, preventing dominance by aggressive grasses and promoting herbaceous diversity. The gentle cutting method of the Tellermaeh-Technik reduces soil and plant damage, helping maintain a stable sward structure.
This year, some flower strips on the Löricker Deich and the Lohauser Deich will be mowed only once as a trial. These meadows, part of Düsseldorf's ecologically valuable Deichwiesen, are crucial for the city's biodiversity.
The city drainage authority is working in cooperation with a landscape planning office to ensure the success of this innovative mowing program. This aligns with Düsseldorf's broader goals of green urban development and biodiversity conservation.
By implementing these practices, Düsseldorf is setting an example for other cities seeking to balance the needs of urban development with the preservation of valuable ecosystems and the conservation of insect habitats.
- To enhance the biodiversity of its meadow areas and support the conservation of insect habitats, Düsseldorf's drainage authority has incorporated environmental-science principles into its unique mowing program, such as the use of reduced mowing frequency and the "Tellermaeh-Technik."
- In an effort to promote sustainable living and home-and-garden practices, Düsseldorf's innovative mowing program emphasizes the importance of lifestyle choices that respect the environment, like avoiding frequent mowing and preserving flowering plants for pollinators.
