FAQ about the Sophienhöhe grazing project

Last updated: 28 June 2024

Project partners

Q: Who is involved in the project?
A: The project is managed by the Forschungsstelle Rekultivierung (Recultivation Research Centre). It is also responsible for biomonitoring. FREE Nature, a project partner, is a foundation based in the Netherlands that successfully implements large-scale, nature-based grazing projects throughout Europe. We can draw on over 25 years of knowledge and experience. Another project partner is NEULAND HAMBACH GmbH, which represents the interests of the local communities around the Hambach opencast mine. 

Q: Who owns the animals?
A: FREE Nature is the keeper and owner of the animals and thus also responsible for their welfare. At the same time, they advise us on herd management.

Q: What is the role of nature conservation organisations?
A: The environmental organisations are aware of the project at the local level and are monitoring its progress. They are not involved in the animals or their care. We are familiar with the negative examples of projects undertaken in the past. They were taken into account in our planning of the project. Animal welfare is our top priority.

Aims of the grazing project

Biodiversity and (semi-)open land

Q: Why do you want to settle wild horses on Sophienhöhe heights?
A: We want to promote biodiversity in line with the RWE biodiversity strategy while continuing to gently develop the Sophienhöhe. This also involves developing it for tourism. The wild horses thus contribute to nature and species conservation and at the same time are an attraction for sustainable tourism. This will help to further increase the acceptance of our high-quality recultivation efforts in the region. 

Q: To what extent can the animals contribute to species conservation and biodiversity in recultivation?
A: Grazing can make a major contribution to nature and species conservation because the existing very species-rich semi-open land is preserved in its structure in a sustainable and natural way. The animals also attract insects such as hoverflies and ground beetles, further increasing biodiversity. 

Q: Do you plan to monitor these positive effects as part of the pilot project?
A: The Recultivation Research Centre, in cooperation with the region's biological stations and renowned experts, is conducting extensive biomonitoring of vegetation, ground beetles, wild bees, butterflies and amphibians. Expert support is provided by recognised local nature conservation associations (BUND, LNU). 

Pilot project

Q: What are the goals of the pilot project and how long will it run for?
A: The aim is to introduce large-scale grazing on Sophienhöhe heights. The pilot project will test feasibility in practice. If successful, the grazing area may be expanded from around 25 hectares to up to 520 hectares in the medium to long term. During the interim use phase, some of the lake slopes will also be used temporarily while the lake is being filled.

Q: What are the next steps if the pilot phase is completed successfully?
A: Should the pilot project be a success, we intend to gradually introduce grazing to new areas, particularly open land, semi-open land and natural succession areas, in the future and as recultivation progresses. The grazing area will then extend to the edges of the mine lake as the Goldene Aue meadow is expanded.

Q: What are the special features of the selected area and why did you choose it?
A: The selected area is already a biotope that is very rich in species and structures, with meadows and water, and it is designated as open land, so it needs to be regularly maintained anyway. In addition, the pilot area is indirectly connected to other open land in the direction of the mine lake, thus enabling the project to be expanded as recultivation progresses. 

Infrastructure

Q: What infrastructure was built for the grazing project?
A: The area is fenced off by an electrified fence and is accessible to the recreation-seeking public via entrance gates and cattle grids. Rules of conduct for visitors with regard to the animals (do not feed or touch the animals, keep to the paths, keep dogs on a lead) are clearly displayed at these entrance gates and on the information signs in the area.

Q: Is the fence an obstacle for other wild animals?
A: The fences are permeable to all animals, including roe deer, fallow deer and wild boar. 

Q: What happens if the fence breaks down and the animals escape?
A: Regular maintenance will ensure that the fence does not develop any weak points or break down. Should the unfortunate event of an animal running away ever occur, we will catch it again with the help of the FREE Nature experts. In addition, visitors can report any damage via an emergency number. 

Q: Do you also have a mobile crush?
A: A temporary enclosure (crush) for catching animals for possible veterinary checks is set up and taken down as required.

Q: What about wolves?
A: There is no wolf population on Sophienhöhe heights. If, in the future, wolves migrate into the area and settle permanently, we will rely on the experience of our project partner FREE Nature. This experience shows that Konik horses have a very deterrent effect on wolves due to their pronounced herd behaviour and defensive nature. In areas where Koniks are kept with an established wolf population (e.g. Eastern Europe), such problems are very rare. What is more, the high game population (roe deer, fallow deer and mouflon) provides sufficient food for wolves, so that horses are not potentially attractive.

Q: What is your position on the topic of forest grazing?
A: Initially, the aim of grazing is to keep the planned (semi-)open land free of growing trees and shrubs in the long term. This serves the purpose of land management, species protection and biodiversity. A possible expansion of grazing to forest areas can be considered at a later stage if needed and if the pilot project is deemed a success. Of course, forestry concerns will also be taken into account.

Horses

Q: Are the horses truly wild?
A: The horses that live here in the grazing area are so-called Konik horses, which is a pony breed from Central and Eastern Europe. Konik horses are a breed very similar to wild horses and they are characterised by the fact that they are very robust. This makes them well suited for the grazing project. Our Konik horses come from other grazing projects in Europe (especially the Netherlands), where they were born and raised in a herd of wild horses.

Q: Do the animals stay outside all year round?
A: The animals remain on the grazing land throughout the year. For cold winter days, the area includes a forest where the animals can find shelter. The area also has waterholes and enough grassland to ensure the animals are provided for. 
Only in snowy and icy winter periods is additional feeding and watering necessary, which we will then of course take care of.

Q: What happens if an animal falls ill?
A: We regularly observe the animals on site. In addition, the area is monitored by camera around the clock. If an animal behaves in a conspicuous manner or shows signs of illness or injury, it will immediately be examined by a vet. The vet is available 24/7 for emergencies at his practice and on call. The Düren district veterinary office has been involved in the project from a very early planning stage and we are in regular contact with the parties involved on site.

Q: What about hoof care?
A: According to the experts' experience, the hooves should wear down naturally through the different types of ground, just as they would in nature. But in individual cases, hoof care can be used as a corrective measure. Unlike domestic horses, which move much less during the day, hoof care every 6 weeks is not necessary.

Q: What happens when the animals reproduce and there are too many animals for the area?
A: Thanks to our cooperation with FREE Nature, we always have the option of moving animals to other project areas. In this context, our aim in any case is to regularly exchange animals to avoid inbreeding.

Q: How do you deal with the issue of potentially poisonous plants in the grazing area?
A: The issue of the lupine populations, which are dense in places, was discussed in advance with our project partner FREE Nature and biologist Dr Hettie Meertens of Ark nature. According to the experts' experience, there is no risk to the animals. This is because of the large number of alternative food sources. Animals also instinctively avoid poisonous plants. Foals learn very early on from their mothers which plants are edible and which are to be avoided. Plants that are potentially toxic to horses also occur in the areas of our project partner in the Netherlands, and they are avoided there as well. Furthermore, botanical monitoring of the horses' feeding behaviour is carried out, i.e. a precise record is kept of which plants the horses eat. The vegetation in the Goldene Aue meadow was already tested for its suitability for cattle and horses as part of the feasibility study conducted last year. The growing vegetation was considered suitable for implementing permanent grazing. That assumption has not changed this year. 

Q: Why use Konik horses rather than other animals?
A: Konik horses are very similar to Dülmen horses. Our animals belong to the FREE Nature Foundation, which mainly works with Konik horses. Therefore, they are also used in this project. In general, it was found that the pilot area of the grazing project on the Goldene Aue is suitable for cattle and horses. However, due to the limited size of the pilot project, only one species will be used at the beginning. Cattle and horses are social animals that need a certain herd size to live in a manner appropriate to their species. These herd sizes could not be achieved with both species on the land at the same time. With a potential medium to long-term expansion of the area, it will be possible for herds of both species to live side by side.
The grazing project is started with Konik horses because the available area is sufficient for a small herd of Koniks. With cattle, the herd would have to be further reduced in size. Konik horses are very resistant to disease and are capable of giving birth independently. Wild horses are also a major tourist attraction. 

Approval situation

Q: Is there a licence for grazing?
A: The horses graze on recultivated areas of the Hambach opencast mine. The rehabilitation objectives for these areas are defined in the lignite mining plan and have been approved via the final operating plan. A separate licence for keeping the animals is not required. But grazing is also already provided for in the revised lignite mining plan. In addition, the grazing area is designated as a common goal of the neighbouring municipalities for the development of the post-mining landscape in the master plan of NEULAND HAMBACH GmbH.
Regardless of this, we coordinated the realisation of the project in advance with the mining authority, the veterinary office of the district of Düren, the relevant lower nature conservation authority and representatives of agriculture and forestry.