Location
The quarries Leimen and Rohrbach were closed at the end of the 1960s. They are located at the northwest exposed hillside of the “Upper Rhine Rift” in the natural preserve “Neckartal-Odenwald”. This natural preserve is part of the natural region “Bergstraße”. From the tectonic point of view, the area lies on a fault-block in a rift edge area, about 180 m mean sea level, within small partitioned, extensivelyused old vineyards and orchard meadows.
Overview - Recultivation
The today’s protection area „Steinbruch Leimen (12 ha)“ can be characterized particularly by its calcareous loess-overburden in the hillside areas. They lead to the formation of different stages of dry and semi-dry grasslands, which form a unique mosaic of fringes and bushes and aquatic habitats. The borders of this area include the scarp of the former quarry and an agricultural area (in the east) with a tunnel system. This system provides several bat species a summer as well as winter habitat. Moreover the temporary ponds are habitat for rare species of amphibians. The former quarry Rohrbach covering an area of about 5.3 ha was provided to one half to vineyard cultivation and the other half was designed near-natural according to the restoration plan.
Preserve areas in close vicinity to the mining areas
· Natura 2000 area (6618-401) „Steinbruch Leimen“: overlaid/ quarry Leimen
· Natura 2000 area (6618-341) „Kleiner Odenwald: overlaid/ quarry Leimen
· Nature protection area „Steinbruch Leimen“ (21 ha): overlaid/ quarry Leimen
Existing habitats: Leimen (1996; 2003)
· Reeds
· Ponds
· Dry and neglected grassland
· Steep faces
· Tunnel systems
· Hedgerows, copses, bushes, scrub, hedgerow and forest succession
· Fragmentary dry grasslands
· Semi-dry grasslands; partly fragmentary
· Xerothermic fringe
· Xerothermic ruderal vegetation / ruderal vegetation (rich in grasses)
· Enduring ruderal vegetation
· Grassland
· Vegetation free of groves, moist and wet locations
· Vegetation-free surfaces (gravel, clay)
Existing habitats: Rohrbach (2007):
· Vineyards
· Grassland (strong affected by ruderal vegetation) with arable weeds
· Hedges
· Small groups of shrubs and groves
· Scrubs
· Copses
· Orchard meadows
· Wall of boulders and large stones
· Rubble heaps
· Trenches
· Water basin
Existing species: Leimen (1996)
· Vascular plants: 292
· Bats: 3 (1993, 2011)
· Birds: 48, especially Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)
· Reptiles: 3
· Amphibians: 7
· Snails: 21
· Grasshoppers: 19
· Butterflies: 27/ moths: 118
· Bugs: 140
· Dragonflies: 14
· Water bugs: 15/ water-scavenger beetles: 40
· Fishes: 3
Existing species: Rohrbach (2007; 2010)
· Birds:35, especially Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)
· Amphibians: 6
· Butterflies: 34
· Locusts: 16
· Ground beetles: 35
· Snails: 11
· Spiders: 94 (2010)
· Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis)
Protected species: Leimen (1996), e.g.:
· Bats
· Yellow-bellied Toad (Bombina variegata)
· Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)
Protected species: Rohrbach (2007), e.g.:
· Common medlar (Mespilus germanica)
· Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)
· Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)
· Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
· Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis)
· Yellow-bellied Toad (Bombina variegata)
· Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera)
· Blue -winged grasshopper (Oedipoda caerulescens)
· Italian Tree Cricket (Oecanthus pellucens)
