The river Werra accompanies the Thuringian Green Belt from the Thuringian Mountains to the Eichsfeld region in North Thuringia, providing two big habitat lines adjacent to each other. Werra even forms the border for some kms. The inaccessibility protected Werra River from bigger impacts - except for saline inputs. In spite of the location in an industrialized region with potash mining and one of the most frequented highways (E40), this part of Werra contains several protected areas and important breeding and resting areas for birds (Dankmarshäuser Rhäden).
In 2004 BUND Thuringia has started to combine the BUND - projects 'Green Belt' and "Living Werra' (part of the German project 'Living rivers') in this region. On a length of 10 km there are measures to renaturate the river by reconnecting a bayou, flattening the river banks and transformation of fields into meadows. Information of the local population and projects with school classes promote regional acceptance for this project.
Contact: BUND Thuringia
Büro am Fluss
Tom Wey
Wintergasse 8
Image: LANASERV, K. Winter