Wild Boar and Biodiversity

A presentation about the research in Hainich National Park, Germany, where abandoned calcareous grassland systems were investigated. Specifically, the impact of wild boar Sus scrofa rooting behaviour on the diversity of vascular plants. The discussion covers the theory of disturbance and vegetation succession.

Hainich National Park in Thuringia, Germany is most known for its old-growth beech forests. However, fewer people know of its biodiverse semi-dry calcareous grasslands. These were historically held open by shepherding, to serve as military training grounds. When military training ceased and the national park was established in the 1990s, the majority of the grasslands became abandoned, and hence afforested. Remarkably, a part of the core area remained open, most likely due to the activity of wildlife.

One of these animals is the wild boar Sus scrofa, which is native to the area. In the winter, wild boar plough through the soil to search for food below ground, and this behaviour significantly impacts the environment.

Bob van Leeuwen travelled to Thuringia to examine the evidence. In this talk he will share his findings, which shed a positive light on the wild boar as ecosystem engineer, an animal that is conventionally known for damaging farmland and spreading disease

A PhD candidate at Wageningen University, The Netherlands, Bob van Leeuwen studies orchids and their associations with mycorrhizal fungi and soil chemistry. He focuses on anthropogenic impacts such as climate change, nitrogen deposition, and management. ‘Rewilding’ remains one of his passions.