Species protection for the Great crested newt
Triturus cristatus
The great crested newt is strictly protected as a species listed in Annexes II and IV of the FFH Directive. Interventions in its spawning waters and terrestrial habitats trigger the access prohibitions under § 44 BNatSchG. greeNature plans and delivers the appropriate CEF and FCS measures in accordance with the BayKompV, from creating new fish-free water bodies through developing the terrestrial habitat to long-term management.
The Great crested newt at a glance
- Habitat: Fish-free, sunlit and plant-rich standing waters as spawning waters, plus a structurally rich terrestrial habitat with refuges (deadwood, stone piles, root zones) around the water body.
- Red List: Endangered in Bavaria (category 2), threatened in Germany (category 3, as at 2020).
- Protection status: Strictly protected, species of Annexes II and IV of the FFH Directive, prohibitions under § 44 BNatSchG.
- Conservation status: Unfavourable-inadequate in the continental region, unfavourable-bad in the alpine region.
- Typical measure: Creation of new fish-free spawning waters with connected terrestrial habitat and frost-proof winter refuges as an advance CEF measure.
Typical protective measures for the Great crested newt
Creating spawning waters
Creation of new, sun-exposed, fish-free and plant-rich standing water bodies, often as a complex of several small water bodies. As a CEF measure, the water bodies must be functional within the spatial context and before the project intervention takes place.
Developing terrestrial habitat
Enhancing the surroundings of the water body through extensively managed grassland, field margins, watercourse buffer strips, field copses and hedgerows. These structures serve as summer habitat and as a migration corridor between the water and the winter refuge.
Creating winter refuges
Creating frost-safe hiding places from deadwood piles, field-stone heaps and root stumps near the water body. Winter refuges are only effective in combination with the spawning water and terrestrial habitat and are therefore planned together.
Keeping water bodies fish-free
Avoiding fish stocking and, where necessary, removing existing fish. Fish stocking is regarded as the greatest threat to the larvae, which is why permanent fish-free status is a central goal of the measure.
Protection and implementation during construction
Amphibian exclusion fencing, deterrence and expert capture with translocation to prepared replacement habitats. Because of the species' small home range, careful supervision during construction is required.
The Great crested newt in these natural regions
All about the Great crested newt
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We plan and deliver the right CEF or FCS measure for the Great crested newt in your project.