Total site area (ha) : approx. 27.800 ha
Project site area (ha): approx. 662 ha
The Lower Peene Valley comprises approx. 1500 ha of the Peene Valley Mire. It is situated at
the Peene river mouth in the far northeast of Germany. The SPA is important for a number of
wetland bird species, of which the following breed in Peene valley: Botaurus stellaris, Milvus
milvus, Haliaeetus albicilla, Circus aeruginosus, Porzana porzana, Grus grus, Sterna hirundo,
Chlidonias niger, Chlidonias hybridus, Alcedo atthis, Luscinia svecica, Dryocopus martius,
Sylvia nisoria and Lanius excubitor. About 30 other Annex I species use the area as a resting
or feeding place, e.g. Gavia arctica, Cygnus cygnus, Aythya nyroca, Mergus albellus, Circus
pygargus, Aquila pomarina, Crex crex, Pluvialis apricaria, Asio flammeus, Bubo bubo,
Acrocephalus paludicola.
The Peene Valley is the best-preserved valley mire in Germany. It is a refuge for a large
number of species that originally inhabited valley mires, particularly percolation mires, in
Germany. Because of its national importance, Peene Valley was included in the German list of
valuable natural areas and landscapes of national importance (programme launched in 1979).
Several species occurring in the Peene Valley are unique for the whole of Germany or the
Northeast German Lowlands (Dactylorhiza russowii, Carabus menetriesi, Chlaenius
costulatus, Eriopygodes imbecilla) or have their current centre of distribution in this area
(Chlidonias hybridus, Porzana porzana, Luscinia svecica, Betula humilis, Primula farinosa,
Lycaena dispar). There are historical records of Acrocephalus paludicola, Asio flammeus,
Circus cyaneus and C. pygargus, Tetrao tetrix, Angelica palustris, Saxifraga hirculus and
Pedicularius sceptrum-carolinum.
Acrocephalus paludicola was a breeding bird in the Lower Peene Valley in the 20th century.
The last breeding season record in the planned project area was in 1978 (Schadefähre
island). The planned activities are intended to establish conditions that will enable resettlement
by Acrocephalus paludicola by enlarging the area of sedge vegetation that has
decreased in the course of drainage and due to succession.
The Lower Peene Valley includes a wide variety of wetland types and is a refuge for several
rare vegetation communities, plant and animal species. Remains of wetland types originally
widespread in Northeast Germany such as alkaline fens, transition mires, quaking bogs, and
calcareous fens with Cladium mariscus and Carex davalliana still exist in the Lower Peene
Valley. Here, rare species such as Betula humilis, Primula farinosa, Carex buxbaumii, Carex
hostiana, Calamagrostis stricta, Dianthus superbus, Epipactis palustris und Euphorbia
palustris grow. Castor fiber and Lutra lutra are common in stable populations. Bombina
bombina and Triturus cristatus occur. Among invertebrates, the stable populations of Annex II
species Carabus menetriesi and Lycaena dispar are especially important. Further peculiarities
are Lacanobia splendens, Eriopygodes imbecilla, Chortodes brevilinea, Archanara neurica,
Coenobia rufa (Lepidoptera), Chlaenius costulatus, Trechus rivularis (Col.: Carabidae),
Nanomius circumscriptus and Dorytomus salicinus (Col.: Curculionidae).
Acrocephalus paludicola previously occurred in the Peene valley, and the area may possibly
have been a centre of distribution for the species in the Pomeranian region. There is currently
no breeding population of the species in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, but the site is very close
to the Swina-Delta core distribution area of the species, just across the border in neighbouring
Poland.
The main reason for the dramatic decline is the anthropogenic transformation of sedge-rich
mires to grasslands by drainage, eutrophication, and succession. At present the Peene Valley
offers the best possible conditions for the steady reestablishment of Acrocephalus paludicola
habitats in Germany: Large areas of former sedge vegetation overgrown by Phragmites
communis could be transformed by mowing and/or grazing to a vegetation type with a
structure suitable for the species. The original hydrological regime of the mire could be at least
partly re-created. Acrocephalus paludicola occurs as migrating bird and may still occur during
the breeding season in this vast area.
