The aim of the project is to provide relevant site-specific information as basis for the development of conservation strategies and action plans for the maintenance of Astragalus exscapus populations and the improvement of its habitats in Saxony-Anhalt. The project entails to undertake a) ecological investigations of habitats and populations b) site specific examinations and evaluation of the efficiency of current incentive measures and instruments to promote the species and c) further optimization of current measures and development of area wide principles to conserve the species and its habitats long term in Saxon-Anhalt.

Over the period from May 2014 to December 2015, the implementation of the project is structured in the following four steps.

1. Gathering and analysis of existing data concerning habitats and populations of the species in Saxony-Anhalt but also regarding current land use methods and conservation measures in these areas. 

2. Site inspections to verify the current conditions of habitats and populations and to identify the main stresses at the sites with deleterious impacts on conservation targets. 

3. Based on the data collected, a prioritized action list is to be established: firstly taking into account the level of endangerment of Astragalus exscapus in each habitat (threat assessment) and secondly also considering the prospects of conservation measures (feasibility analysis). 

4. First actions will be exemplary realized in selected areas.

The project deals with 56 Astragalus exscapus populations located in Saxony-Anhalt. In 2014 field surveys for gathering information about population size, vegetation structure and composition were carried out in 31 out of the 56 sites, where the species occurs. The sites investigated so far reflect a wide range of dry grassland habitats of different conservation status. In many cases the populations of Astragalus exscapus are situated in the best maintained parts of the dry grasslands, often surrounded by underutilized or even abandoned grasslands. However, we also find localities of the species directly threatened by severe occurrence of ruderal vegetation and scrub encroachment indicating deficiencies in the current land use practice. We observed in those areas having unfavorable conservation status only small populations of less than 30 individuals. Furthermore, observed changes in population sizes, compared to previous investigations, are often reflective of the general site condition and conservation status of the dry grassland habitats, i.e. decreased numbers of individuals were found on sites affected by a diversity of land use related factors with direct or indirect deleterious impacts on vegetation structure and composition. However, the abandonment of grazing or insufficient grazing intensities are the main causes of endangerment for Astragalus exscapus and its communities due to the formation of thick layers of accumulated plant litter and the favoring of more competitive species.

Conservation strategies and action plans should be implemented in a statewide program for the maintenance of Astragalus exscapuspopulations in Saxony-Anhalt. Measures should be carried out according to their degree of priority. In addition, further options beyond the conservation of the still existing populations should be discussed. For example, the reintroduction of the species, the establishment of new populations on suitable habitats or the enlargement of small populations due to seeding or planting might also be considered as measures to consolidate the persistence of the species within its distribution area in Sachsen-Anhalt. The still existing populations could be used as source sites. In this regard, a first step would be the collection of basic seeds from residual populations to build up an intermediate propagation system.