At around 334 km long, the Havel is one of the longest side rivers of the Elbe – and a natural paradise without parallel. More than 1,000 highly endangered animal and plant species live on its riverbanks. The paradise for the rare common river swallow, kingfisher, the big curlew and river otter is acutely threatened by drained wet meadows, cleared wetland forests and banks forced into stone.
Together with the Naturschutzbund Deutschland and the support of the federal government and the states of Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt, we want to change this and make our contribution to preserving one of the most important wetlands in western Central Europe.
With its donation, the Lottoland Foundation is helping with the largest river restoration project in Europe. This involves reconnecting old branches of the Havel, revitalising flood channels, removing embankments and planting wetland forest. Among other things, 17 hectares of Havelland are being bought up and re-vegetated. Together, we are giving the common river swallow and many other animals and plants back their safe home.
