Western Capercaillie Conservation
The habitats of Saxony’s last remaining indigenous western capercaillie populations are found in the Western Erzgebirge and the Vogtland.
Europe’s largest wood grouse is threatened with extinction in Germany and has been considered “extinct” in Saxony – and, as such, in our nature park – since 2015.
A working group coordinated by the nature park was founded to develop and carry out rescue measures. Unfortunately, none of these were successful.
The aims of the project were to:
Despite the loss of the western capercaillie populations, the habitats will be preserved as they are also used by other bird and animal species.
Black grouse conservation
There are a number of habitats with indigenous black grouse populations in the Erzgebirge.
This rare wood grouse is threatened with extinction – including the populations in the nature park.
To protect these remaining populations, a working group at the Saxon State Ministry for the Environment has been formed with the cooperation of the Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst (the state authority for forestry management), the nature park and tourism associations.
Its aims are to: