Development of sustainable young mussels in NATURA 2000 areas in the Green Band Bavaria-Czech Republic.

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The Bach Systems Südliche Regnitz/Zinnbach, Höllbach, Mähringsbach, Perlenbach and Bocksbach in the border triangle of Bavaria-Saxony-Czech Republic (Lkr. Farm) is one of the few areas in Central Europe where there are even greater residual stocks of the endangered river pearl mussels. These streams are designated both on the Bavarian side and in the Czech Republic as part of the European protected area system NATURA 2000. The protection and preservation of these priority deposits is therefore of European importance. Stocks in these stream systems continue to decline sharply, although measures have been taken to improve the habitat for many years. However, until appropriate measures are taken to reduce sediment inputs and improve water quality, many years will go by. The strong sediment load is the main cause of the high mortality of young mussels, especially in the first 3 years. However, from an age of about 4-5 years, mussels in the streams are very well viable. In order to ensure the survival of the over-aged populations in our most important mussel streams for the next decades, it is therefore imperative that an effective breeding of juvenile mussels in larger numbers up to an age of about 5 years is required. Since a corresponding breeding of several thousand mussels can only be realised in a mussel breeding facility on site, a former mill building is to be converted and set up as a breeding facility. Only through this semi-natural breeding with subsequent releasing is a sustainable safeguard of the total population of river pearl mussels currently reduced to less than 30,000 specimens in the NATURA 2000 areas in the Bavarian-Czech project region. Accompanying measures are planned in the project area to optimise mussel habitats across borders, in particular to improve sediment quality in the streams and to reduce the erosion of shore. Extensive public relations and environmental education is used to inform children and young people in particular, in order to promote awareness of the value and importance of pearl shells, as well as the European protected areas in the Bavarian-Czech border area. The main objective of the project is to promote the populations of the river pearl mussels in the NATURA 2000 areas in the northern Bavarian-Czech border area. At the same time, the measures benefit a large number of other species and habitats, as well as overall biodiversity in the project area. The close Bavarian-Czech cooperation is decisive for the success of the project. Since many species and habitats occur across borders, sustainable protection and development can only be achieved through cross-border measures.

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