Background The coastal heaths and coppiced woodland near Cuxhaven are unique in Germany. This area by the North Sea is designated as a Natura 2000 site and borders a marine protected area, the National Park Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer. It is characterised by a mosaic of habitat types, such as dry heaths, sandy dunes, oak woodlands, raised mires and oligotrophic waters. There is no other area in Germany where this habitat composition occurs directly next to the sea. Until 2003, the "Truppenübungsplatz Altenwarde", located within the Natura 2000 site and covering some 600 ha, was used as a military training site. Overgrowth is threatening the open habitat types and some areas are in need of restoration after having been subjected to intensive training activities. The area is very popular with recreational users, including practitioners of erosive sports such as motocross. Furthermore, many visitors are unaware of the obligation to keep dogs on a leash and dogs are often let loose in the area, causing people to wander off marked paths, potentially damaging the habitat. Objectives The project aimed to improve the conservation status of coastal heaths and coppiced woodland in the Natura 2000 site near Cuxhaven. The project would restore open habitats, and would target threats such as overgrowth, invasion of alien species (particularly black cherry - Prunus serotina) and human disturbance. To maintain and develop the targeted habitats, the project would initiate grazing with large herbivores such as Heck cattle, wild horses (Equus przewalskii) and European bison (Bison bonasus). This would suppress the current invasion of shrubs and pioneer grass species. As a result, an area of some 400 ha of open coastal heath landscape with no or few trees would be established and maintained. Forestry measures would be implemented in an area of approximately 80 ha to convert monoculture coniferous forests to mixed deciduous and coppiced woodland. In addition, nine small water bodies would be revitalised or established. To establish a more considerate use of the area by visitors and recreational users, a visitor information and guidance concept would be implemented through the installation of a nature trail, an observation platform and information panels. Results The project was successfully completed in September 2009, achieving all its major objectives. The main target - to establish a grazing scheme involving Konik horses, Heck cattle and European bison - has been carried out on an area of some 300 ha. The first results of the detailed monitoring of the effects of grazing on the grassland habitats are very promising. The elimination of Prunus serotina with Heck cattle has proved to be very successful, while other woodland species, such as Crataegus sp. and Pinus sp. have also been successfully controlled through grazing. The implementation of the project has generated a lot of relevant know-how for other, similar LIFE projects. This includes knowledge of the types of fences that are suitable for grazing; how to ensure the availability of drinking water for the animals; how to manage their movements with electric fences; and how to observe and care for the animals through a subcontractor. Thus, the project offers examples of best practice for the use of robust grazers (Heck cattle, Konik horses, European bison) on coastal heathers and dry grassland. Another objective of the project was the conversion of forest plantations to natural oak-beech forests. This conversion has been successfully initiated on some 50 ha. Altogether more than 50 000 trees have been planted, mainly English oak (Quercus robur) and Common beech (Fagus sylvatica). The project has also created a number of new ponds, significantly increasing the population of many threatened species, including Leucorrhinia pectoralis, a dragonfly species listed in annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive. Upon completion of the project, the site was taken over by the federal trust “Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt” (DBU) as it is a site of national importance (”Nationales Naturerebe”). The DBU has drawn up a long-term management plan for the site based on the knowledge gained and lessons learned from the LIFE project. The main objectives of the Cuxhaven Coastal Heaths project, such as the maintenance and restoration of open heath lands and the conversion of forest plantations to natural forests, will be developed further after LIFE. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).