Quarries as secondary habitats for protected plants and animal species get more and more important and increase in their significance to nature conservation in a landscape, which has been and is dramatically changed by humanity.

The quarry “Walhalla Kalk” in Regensburg contains a wide variety of different habitats which offer specific niches for many special animals and plants. A particular challenge is the planned housing development in parts of the quarry in 2050 due to potential for conflicts in the combination of humans and nature conservation.

Therefore a group of animals that is not only visually appealing, but also very resistant to disturbance was chosen. Selected butterfly species will be supported, conserved or reintroduced in the project area. A precondition for this project is that the food plants of the butterfly species are present. Therefore the special plants have to be sown, planted or supported (when they already exist). In this context the adjacent calcareous low-nutrient meadows will be also managed and improved.

As a consequence, networked habitats will be developed for the benefit of three butterflies, the Apollo Parnassius apollo, the Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius and the Danube clouded yellow Colias myrmidone and other companion species.

This habitat will not only be valuable for the nature conservation, but also visually appealing for humans.