„Moorschnucken“ and Redshank
The keeping of sheep is not only characteristic of dry grasslands and juniper heaths but also for the appearance of one of the largest lowland peatland sites in northern Germany, the 'Diepholzer Moorniederung'. The 'Diepholzer Moorschnucke' is an old breed of sheep which is very well suited to the extreme conditions of the peatlands and wet grasslands of the area. In April 1996 the 'Diepholzer Moorschnucke' was even registered as a trademark with the German Patent Office. This is an important step towards a modern marketing strategy. Only if the demand for the high-quality meat of this breed can be increased will it be possible to protect the 'Diepholzer Moorniederung' as an attractive cultural landscape into the future. One could say that the 'Moorschnucken' have a degree in landscape management. They maintain the habitats of Golden Plover, Snipe and Redshank. If there are no more sheep to graze the sites, they will become covered in scrub which will in time turn into forest.
