RAILWAYS AND NATURE PROTECTION – AN EXAMPLE FROM GERMANY

The ”Havelländisches Luch” Protected Landscape Area is well known as the biotope of great bustard. 100 years old railway from Berlin to Hannover crosses this territory. In 1991 it was decided that the railway connection would be rebuilt and electrified. As the protected area is characterised by a high degree of protection the option was chosen with the high-protected effect and the lowest costs (30 mil. DM). The reconstruction started in 1995 and according to the monitoring the construction activities had just a small impact on great bustards.