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Directorate of Public Works (DPW)  »  Environmental Division  »

Natural Resources

Conservation refers to the wise use, improvement, and protection of natural resources according to principles that provide optimum public benefit and support of the military mission for current and future generations.

The USAG Schweinfurt is situated in Lower Franconia, Bavaria. The topography is characterized by rolling hills.

Semi-Open Grassland

Semi-Open Grassland

Oak Forest

Oak Forest

The USAG Schweinfurt’s Local Training Areas (LTAs) are of high ecological importance. The diversity of habitats has encouraged a wide range of species to develop. Several threatened and endangered species, which are protected by state, federal, and European law, have been identified at the LTAs.

Some threatened and endangered species are present at the training areas all over the world as a direct result of the military mission. Land use and management practices at the training areas differ from the surrounding area, which allows specialized plants to become established. For example:

  • No application of pesticides and fertilizers since many years. This allows specialized species which need nutrient-poor conditions to thrive.
  • Training activity lead to disturbance of the ground. These disturbances create potholes where water accumulates and amphibians find a habitat.

The USAG Schweinfurt provides several habitat types of ecological value, for example nutrient poor grasslands, woodruff beach-forests, and bedstraw oak hornbeam forests. A number of European protected species have been identified during natural resource surveys at the LTAs, for example the Great Crested Newt, the Bechstein’s Bat and the Yellow-bellied Toad.

 

The USAG Schweinfurt’s Training Areas contain several designated nature conservation areas, including:

  • Nature Protection Area
  • Landscape Conservation Area
  • Natural Landmark
  • Protected biotopes
  • Protected forests

Moreover, parts of the Training Areas are part of the European protected network NATURA 2000.

The USAG Schweinfurt regularly conducts projects to enhance the habitats for threatened and endangered species.

An Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan was established at the USAG Schweinfurt to achieve optimum use of the LTAs while maintaining their environmental quality, ecological relationships, historical resources and quality of life programs separately. This plan is available at the DPW Environmental Division, Ledward Barracks, Bldg. #251.

LTA “Pfändhausen” is the largest training area in Franconia. It has a total area of 2,600 hectares, of which 350 hectares are used for maneuvers. LTA “Pfändhausen” has underwent an extensive Erosion Control Program between 1986 and 1993. This included, for example, reforestation of parts of the training area, reseeding, construction of dams and retention basins, and establishment of a road network.

Before Erosion Control Program

Before Erosion Control Program

After Erosion Control Program

After Erosion Control Program

The Environmental Division provides information material for the USAG Schweinfurt related to natural resources and their protection. Topical articles concerning natural resources are published in the bimonthly Environmental Newsletter.

In addition, leaflets have been published introducing special species, their habitat and their ecological importance. These can be picked up at our office. Download an example:

If you have any questions concerning Natural Resource Management within the Garrison, feel free to contact us at 09721-966795, DSN 354-6795, or visit us in our office at the DPW Compound near Ledward Barracks, Building # 251, Room 224.