Nature Conservation

Protecting the environment is just as important for us at Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG as having a good relationship with our neighbours. Environmental and noise protection are crucially important for us. It is therefore our declared aim as a responsible neighbour and as an important pillar of the regional economy to find a consensus between ecological and economic interests when planning and completing any extensions to buildings or erecting new structures – and take into consideration the concerns of local people too.

You can find all the information about protection measures, measurements and monitoring activities at Dresden and Leipzig/Halle airports here.

We are actively involved in protecting the natural surroundings and coordinate our activities closely with the responsible public authorities.

We should particularly mention the ecological replacement and compensatory measures designed to maintain valuable biotopes in the immediate vicinity of the airports because they are important ways of achieving this.

Green spaces make up most of the overall area of an airport. On average, green spaces account for 70% of the total area at the international commercial airports in Germany.

Air safety is the major priority when designing and managing green spaces at airports. A lack of obstacles and the load-bearing capacity are important criteria here, but also reducing the attractiveness of the space for birds that swarm or large birds, which can pose a risk to air traffic.

Der Flughafen ein Naturschutzgebiet

The proportion of paved areas at an airport is naturally high. However, it should not be forgotten that air traffic operates requires the lowest amount of space when compared to all the other means of transport.  (Quelle: ADV)

Compensatory measures and protected areas

Leipzig/Halle Airport

About 736 hectares of the overall site at Leipzig/Halle Airport involve green spaces, following the upgrading of the southern runway. These green spaces next to the air traffic facilities have been cultivated as so-called “airport meadows”. No fertilisers or pesticides are used at all when caring for these areas. Experts call this “starving” the green spaces. As a result, it has been possible to maintain or improve these parts of the airport site as valuable areas for protecting species and as biotopes.

When planning and designing the expansion of Leipzig/Halle Airport, it has been a special concern for all those involved to cater for the interrelationship between the environment and the airport in a responsible manner.

Numerous projects in the landscape management plan to create ecological compensatory measures have been and still are being implemented in order to maintain the biodiversity in the surrounding area. For example, 150 hectares of space during the building of the northern runway and 250 hectares of space during the building of the southern runway were covered with grass as compensatory measures.

The key elements in the ecological compensatory programme are the “Gerbisdorfer Graben” ditch, the “Gerbisdorfer Sandgruben” natural monument, the “Geländespeicher Nord” reservoir, areas to the south of Radefeld and Freiroda, the “Kalter Born” stream, the site of the former malt factory, or the “Alte Stadtbad Schkeuditz” (former swimming pool).

As a result, it has been possible to create areas in the immediate vicinity of the airport, for example, so that local residents can use them for recreational purposes. Attractive green spaces have been formed by dismantling paved areas.

The “Gerbisdorfer Sandgruben” partial project, which covers an area measuring 14 hectares, comprises extensive spawning waters, which were relocated, shallow water biotopes, wooded areas and meadows that are only mowed once a year.

The “Geländespeicher Nord”, which measures 28 hectares, is part of the biotope network of corridors to the “Gerbisdorfer Sandgruben”. The reservoir is primarily used as a rainwater retention basin. Stepping stone biotopes create connections between separated forest areas and biotopes and ensure a natural transition for flora and fauna. The measures here have included additional pond areas, the renaturation of streams and creating wooded areas, hedges and ruderal spaces.

A park-like landscape has been created on former arable land along the “Kalter Born”, a stream in the east of Schkeuditz (Altscherbitz). Various seating facilities are now available among the meadows, copses, hedges and rows of trees. The area therefore fulfils several functions at the same time. Firstly, the pressure on the ecosystem is eased by strengthening the soil in its natural functions, including its role in retaining water. This has created valuable habitats for species living in small-scale cultivated landscapes, e.g. hares, nightingales or red-backed shrikes. It has also given rise to a quiet area measuring about 18 hectares with a richly designed landscape, which is available as a recreation area for local residents living nearby. The area with its copses also acts as a screen from the railway line, the B6 main road and the apron area at the airport – as well as creating cold air and keeping the air pure.

Other compensatory measures include the creation of meadows in Grosskugel and Beuditz as well as planting trees in Döllnitz, Röglitz and Werlitzsch.

The goal of our efforts in providing ecological compensation is to partially restore the typical meadow-like landscape that is typical of this area and maintain habitats around Leipzig/Halle Airport.

Dresden Airport

The biotopes in the area covered by Dresden Airport have been identified in conjunction with the nature conservation authorities and both sides have agreed measures to maintain and care for them. It has been necessary to fell trees and convert green spaces as a result of construction work and the safety requirements for air traffic. Necessary compensatory measures have been carried out in conjunction with the nature conservation authorities at two protected landscape areas, which are located very close to the airport site:

  • Wilschdorf-Rähnitzer Sandhügelland
  • Moritzburger Kleinkuppenlandschaft

The Kleinkuppenlandschaft (small hilltop landscape) is considered unique in Europe. Gentle hills, the peaks of which are covered with oak, lime and hornbeam trees and alternate with moist hollows, are typical for this area. It is not only home to rare plants such as shepherd’s cress and buck bean, but also insects threatened with extinction, such as the caterpillar hunter beetle and the scarce large blue butterfly.

The “Moritzburger Kleinkuppenlandschaft” protected area for birds is also part of the protected landscape area. This area is one of the most important breeding grounds in the Free State of Saxony for species of birds such as tree falcons, ortolan buntings, peewits, sedge warblers and honey buzzards. It is also particularly important as a habitat for other breeding birds such as kingfishers, small rails, garganey ducks, shoveller ducks, red-backed shrikes, marsh harriers, red kites and black woodpeckers.

As many as 59 different species of birds have been registered on the airport site during regular observations – as well as furred game (red foxes, brown hares) and small mammals (mice, moles, bats).

Measures to prevent bird strikes

The biotope survey conducted at Dresden International Airport in 2004 has been continued by the association known as the German Committee to Prevent Bird Strikes in Air Traffic. In addition to assessing the effectiveness of measures that have already been introduced, the association has highlighted other ways and possibilities of preventing or minimising bird strikes (collisions between birds and aircraft in the air). The areas outside the actual airport site have proven to be a major focal point for this. Other measures have been examined and introduced at the initiative of the air traffic authority here.

During the investigations to continue the biotope survey, it was discovered that the switch in managing the green spaces at the airport to a system involving long grass, which has been pursued during the last few years, has been successful. Using extensive cultivation, the green spaces have been turned into high-quality biotopes in nature conservation terms. This has taken place using the following measures:

  • waiving the use of any fertilisers and pesticides
  • mowing the grass once, but no more than twice a year
  • not mowing the grass for the first time before the middle of July

The amount of relatively long grass, which exists when following this kind of management system during most of the vegetation period, means that fairly large birds (e.g. birds of prey) in particular

  • can no longer spy out their prey in the high grass and
  • the site is therefore unattractive as a hunting ground for them.

As a result, it has been possible to continually reduce the number, length of stay and frequency of species that are relevant for bird strikes.

Reforestation at the airport: "Dreieckswald"

A new forest is being created between Leipzig/Halle Airport and Schkeuditz. The reforestation of the area, which measures 28 hectares, began in November 2015. More than 200,000 local trees have been planted. The cultivated area has developed well since then and is increasingly being recognised as a forest.

One tree is not necessarily the same as another


The selection of the local trees and bushes to match the site largely took place in order to provide noise protection. A high forest and noise protection hedges are growing on the area to the north of the Papitz district of Schkeuditz and to the east of the Leipzig-Lützschena boundary ditch.

The high forest consists of sessile oak, small leaf linden, hornbeam, field maple, wild cherry and mountain ash trees and a so-called forest mantle, which measures 3.8 hectares and comprises bushes and low-growing trees. The noise protection hedges consisting of conifers cover an area measuring 1.8 hectares. There are also some forest paths – and they account for 1.1 hectares of the total space. As a result, local residents will be able to use the forest as a recreation area in future.

We have invested approx. EUR 670,000 in cultivating this area at Leipzig/Halle Airport; it has been planned and realised by the city of Leipzig.

Dreieckswald as a research site for the ecology project group at the Maria Merian Grammar School in Schkeuditz 

The cultivated forest is an interesting research site for the ecology project group at the Maria Merian Grammar School in Schkeuditz, which has been cooperating with Leipzig/Halle Airport since 2008.  

From the outset, the pupils have documented the state of the new habitat and the developing biological diversity on the arable land, which was formerly farmed intensively. In addition to their field and laboratory work, they have been collecting weather data using the school’s own weather station with its sensors and have been recording leaf and soil moisture since 2015. As an airport, we have been able to support the young research scientists by purchasing the working materials and tools required for their experiments.

The district forestry expert, Martin Opitz, from the City of Leipzig Forests company, planned the work at Dreieckswald and has been looking after the new trees since that time. He talks more about the project in the video – and why the work of the pupils from the ecology project group is providing many benefits.

The airport promotes biodiversity

In order to boost biodiversity, a mixture of flowers, some of them blooming for one year, others for several years, were sown on a flower strip measuring 500 m2 in front of the Dresden Airport Center in April 2020. These flower beds are one small contribution towards maintaining biodiversity for bees, bumble bees, butterflies and other insects. The planning and completion work took place in conjunction with the “Flourishing Landscape Network” association. Dresden Airport receives advice, seeds and signboards as a partner in the BIENENBLÜTENREICH project.

Leipzig/Halle Airport is involved in the “Looking for dolls’ houses – flowering meadows for Saxony’s butterflies” campaign, which is an initiative of the Saxon State Foundation for Nature and the Environment and the Saxon State Association of the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union. (www.schmetterlingswiesen.de).

Image Nature Conservation #0Image Nature Conservation #1

We have been maintaining so-called butterfly meadows at two of our compensatory areas since July 2019. We are making a small contribution to maintaining biodiversity through these flowering meadows for butterflies and other insects. The green spaces next to the Kalter Born stream in Schkeuditz and the Ostergraben ditch in Radefeld are only mowed once a year and do not receive any chemical fertilisers. We are planning to use other green spaces as flowering meadows.

Biomonitoring

Leipzig/Halle Airport is continually examining the air quality in the area surrounding the airport. Most of the experiments focus on contamination of the air by aircraft and apron operations. These voluntary experiments enable us to record the current level of contamination at the airport and in the surrounding area and make the evidence transparent for the general population.

So-called biomonitoring is being used as part of the experiments at the airport.

“Bioindication or biomonitoring is understood to be the use of organisms or communities of organisms, whose life functions are so closely related to particular environmental factors that it is possible to draw conclusions about these environmental factors.” (Quelle: ADV).

Biomonitoring with bees is another way of investigating the air quality in a particular observation area.

Bees can absorb damaging substances directly through water and air and carry them to the hive. Plants can also absorb damaging substances from the air, water or soil and pass them on to the bees via the nectar and/or pollen source.

Colonies of bees fly through their local territory very intensively and often cover an area measuring at least 12 km2. Examining the honey can indicate what kind of pollution exists in this area. It provides a picture of the environmental conditions in the harvesting area. The bees themselves act as the “biofilter”, so to speak.  They are very sensitive to pesticides and other chemicals. Bees can therefore be used as an indicator and information gatherer about any possible accumulation of damaging substances in pollen, wax and honey; this makes it possible to monitor and assess the emissions in the region that is under observation (Quelle: ADV).

10 colonies of bees have been currently set up in the vicinity of Leipzig/Halle and Dresden airports. Other sites are being planned.

Once the bees have transported the nectar, the honey that is obtained is tested for any polycyclic hydrocarbons, heavy metals and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene). An appropriately certified laboratory has not discovered any contamination at the sites.

LEJ Test results from honey samples (only in German)

DRS Test results from honey samples (only in German)

Leipzig/Halle Airport launched a new biomonitoring project to examine the quality of air in May 2020.

Active biomonitoring with standardised grass cultures has become established as a reliable and standard measuring process according to the latest technological standards. Leipzig/Halle Airport therefore opted to use ryegrass for biomonitoring.

Standardised grass cultures in line with VDI Standard 3957/2 were established at eight measuring points in May 2020 as representatives of feed crops. Just like kale, they are to be examined for the 16 EPA-PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons classified as “priority pollutants” by the US Environmental Protection Agency or EPA) and for eight selected metals. 
The process with a standardised grass culture makes it possible to record any persistent substances, which are deposited in particle form, but also gaseous substances and airborne particles – which is also possible when using biomonitoring with kale. The goal is to discover any heavy metals and inorganic trace substances (i.e. metals) and organic pollutants such as PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), which can be released through airport operations, then accumulate in the food chain and therefore have a damaging effect on people’s health.

Biomonitoring with kale

Both the airports used another biomonitoring project in 2008: by growing kale. This indicator plant makes it possible to discover polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which initially reach the air through exhaust fumes and later make their way to and into the soil from the earth’s atmosphere. 

200 plants were installed in a field measuring about 100 square metres in the western part of Dresden Airport. Some of the plants also flourished between the runway and taxiway H. Laboratory tests in the end confirmed that the quality was excellent. The cabbage heads, which contain a great deal of vitamin C, were finally prepared in the Hilton Hotel in Dresden and served as a side dish.

Kale plants, which were cultivated in a laboratory, were planted out at eight sites in the area surrounding Leipzig/Halle Airport between October and December 2008. The experiment was continued for the course of a natural vegetation cycle. The kale plants were placed in free-standing pots with their own water supply above the soil in order to register the air quality. This made it possible to ensure that the analysed pollutant content was exclusively due to possible contamination of the air by damaging substances.

The conclusion drawn by TÜV Süd:
After concluding the experiments, TÜV Süd (the German Technical Inspection Agency South) confirmed that it was unable to discover any evidence that airport operations had led to any significant accumulation of damaging substances in the bioindicator plants.  

 

Air pollutant measurement vehicle at Leipzig/Halle Airport

An air pollutant measuring vehicle belonging to TÜV Süd was deployed north of Dahlienweg in Schkeuditz/Papitz District between December 2009 and February 2011. The airport therefore completed another voluntary control measure in the wake of its analysis work using indicator plants and honey from bees.

When assessing the measurements over a period of 14 months, a sliding average was formed for twelve months. The airport therefore now has annual figures for three assessment periods. The measured figures complied with the levels required to protect people’s health during all the assessment periods.

The average measured concentrations of all the damaging substances were significantly lower than the relevant annual average thresholds.

Conclusion: all the results measured during the measurement period comply with the thresholds for protecting people’s health