Nuremberg Airport's Innovative Aviation Experiment Now A Television Spectacle
Nuremberg Airport is making headlines with its innovative approach to lawn care, as it now uses water buffalo to maintain the moist meadows along the Bucher Landgraben area [1][3][4]. These five large animals, each weighing around 600 kg, graze the grass and plants naturally, helping to preserve the delicate ecosystem in an ecologically sustainable way.
The ecological benefits of this grazing project are significant. By preventing overgrowth of vegetation that could harm the wet meadow habitat, avoiding mechanical mowing that can damage sensitive soils and plants, supporting biodiversity by maintaining traditional meadow landscapes, and utilising the water buffalo’s natural adaptation to wet and marshy environments to promote healthy habitat conditions, the airport is making a positive impact on the local ecology [1][3].
The maintenance schedule typically involves grazing over several weeks each year. The water buffalo are brought in during the warmer months to graze the wet meadows extensively, thereby replacing machinery use and reducing the airport’s ecological footprint. The project is managed by the airport’s environmental department, with the lead buffalo named “Alma” and the group cared for onsite during their deployment [1][3].
Visitors can observe the water buffalo from viewing areas, but are advised not to feed or disturb the animals to protect their health [1].
This innovative project is a natural, sustainable lawn care approach that benefits ecology and reduces mechanical intervention at Nuremberg Airport [1][3][4]. The use of water buffalo is reported to be "completely without machines, quietly, effectively, and ecologically sensible."
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[1] Source: Nuremberg Airport Press Release [2] Source: ARD Show "Quizduell" [3] Source: Environmental Management Plan, Nuremberg Airport [4] Source: Water Buffalo Association of Germany
The innovative use of water buffalo at Nuremberg Airport, for lawn care, aligns with the field of environmental science, as it promotes a sustainable lifestyle by reducing mechanical intervention and promoting ecological welfare. The project, managed by the airport's environmental department, is a notable contribution to the home-and-garden sector, demonstrating how traditional meadow landscapes can be preserved beneficially for both the local ecology and the airport's surroundings.
