Water buffalos save the biodiversity: Excursion to the countryside on July 6th!

Water buffalos save the biodiversity: Excursion to the countryside on July 6th!

On June 27, 2025, a new initiative for landscape maintenance started in the middle of Berlin, which reinforces the use of water buffalos. According to a press release from berlin.de under the direction of the district councilor for order, environment, roads and green areas, Christopher Schriner, this measure not only shows positive effects for landscape maintenance, but also contributes to reducing costs by dispensing with technical aids.

water buffalos have been native to Europe for thousands of years. These robust, sociable animals were domesticated before the last ice age and were widespread as farm animals until the Middle Ages. Today, they are primarily known to eat growing plants and create habitats for low -competitive plants. Their swings and stepping seals represent important spawning spaces for amphibians, and by scratching tree trunks, they reduce the growth of trees.

cultural and ecological heritage

like biorama.eu , the use of water buffalos in the European landscape could become more important in the future. In Central Europe, these animals were already kept as pets in the High Middle Ages, while around 15,000 water buffalos are still living in Romania. In Vienna they served as work animals until the Second World War. In a organic farm in the Waldviertel, Manfred Forthofer holds 51 water buffalos, which are not used for milk production, but for meat production. These animals do not need grain food and are known to spend a lot of time in the water, which underlines their role in landscape maintenance.

The EU's “Nature Restorization Law” aims to ecologically improve 20 percent of the European land and sea areas. Water buffalos could play a key role in maintaining wetlands and promoting biodiversity. However, the extensive pasture keeping, which requires large areas, faces economic challenges. Forthofer markets the meat of his animals directly, but has to fight with economic difficulties.

grazing projects strengthen biodiversity

In Germany, numerous grazing projects show how water buffalos can contribute to biodiversity. In the Jettenbacher valley room, where there has been a cooperation between nature conservation and local farms for over 20 years, water buffalos have also been in use since 2011. These projects have proven that irregular food for the animals promotes the variety of flora and thus also the livelihood of numerous animal species. The project received second place in the Bavarian Biodiversity Prize in 2018.

The connection between nature conservation and agriculture is further strengthened by the use of water buffalos. These animals create new small waters and prevent the silting up of waters, which receives habitats for different ways, including amphibians such as the yellow -bellied convenience. These initiatives are a positive example of how sustainable land use contributes to the preservation of biodiversity and to promote ecological habitats.

On Sunday, July 6, 2025, an excursion with the graduate biologist Gunter Martin takes place. From 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., interested parties have the opportunity to meet at the Waidmannslust S-Bahn station. Participation is free of charge, but not barrier -free. If you have any questions, the environmental office is available at the telephone number (030) 9018-22081 or by email at Environmental Tam.uwl@ba-mitte.berlin.de