NSG Zachariassee

Summary

Zachariassee, a former gravel pit lake, is now a vital habitat for water and wading birds. It preserves a diverse cultural landscape with hedges and pollarded trees, serving as a breeding ground for waders.

Description

Zachariassee, a former gravel pit lake in the Lippe lowlands, has evolved into a significant nature reserve. It provides an essential resting, breeding, wintering, and feeding ground for water and wading birds. The area surrounding the lake preserves a characteristic cultural landscape, shaped by rows of pollarded trees and hedges. These rich grasslands and heath areas offer valuable breeding grounds for waders (Limicolidae). A key objective is also the restoration of the natural balance and the promotion of biological communities that thrive in the oligo- to mesotrophic waters. This area demonstrates nature's capacity to thrive within human-modified landscapes.