A) Location

The quarry Nußloch is located approximately 12 km from Heidelberg at the transition from the Upper Rhein Graben to the Kraichgau. The village Nußloch is located 1 km northwest from the quarry and the village Wiesloch are in southwest of the quarry.

B) Overview - Mining and recultivation

  1. Permitted mining area of the quarry: 237.66 ha (status 2010)
  2. Mining status (eastern part of the quarry): currently mining 30-50 ha
  3. Recreational utilisation: Nature trail; the nature trail belongs to the “GeoPark Odenwald-Bergstraße”
  4. Recultivation status: 80 ha (status 2010)
  5. Measures included in the recultivation plan 2001:
  • Development of grasslands and meadows with scattered fruit trees
  • Development of linear tree lines / hedgerows to achieve a coherent network of groves
  • Development of fruit tree avenues to achieve a coherent network of groves
  • Development of areas for natural succession on bare soil
  • Development of south-facing open rock and loess walls
  • Development of wetlands with perennial and ephemeral small water bodies
  • Development of standing water bodies with shallow riverbanks
  • Development of a mixed deciduous woodland in accordance with the local conditions and near-natural woodland edges

C) Conservation areas

Landscape conservation area:

  • Bergstraße Süd, 226048 ha (overlaid)

Natura 2000 area:

  • 6618-342 Kraichgau Meckesheim, 890 ha (partial overlaid; west)
  • 6618-341 Kleiner Odenwald, 3569 ha (adjacent; north)
Описание на естествената среда, флората и фауната: 

A) Existent habitats: see biotopes

B) Habitats to be promoted

  • Neglected grasslands in semi nutrient habitats
  • Neglected grasslands in alkaline habitats
  • Grasslands with accumulations of heavy metals
  • Shrubs and groves
  • Open water bodies
  • Wet-dry habitats
  • Open quarry faces
  • Forests with natural succession

C) Species to be promoted

  • Grasshoppers
  • Amphibians
  • Reptile
  • Orchids

D) Species (2000)

  • Vascular plants and stoneworts: 436
  • Birds: 100
  • Amphibians: 12
  • Reptile: 6
  • Dragonflies: 18
  • Grasshoppers: 21
  • Butterflies: 39
  • Spiders: 116 (1990)
  • Other species: 30

E) Biotopes (2000)

  • Pond
  • Open water bodies
  • Laid open rock formation by anthropogenic factors
  • Loess wall
  • Sandstone wall
  • Scree pile
  • Anthropogenic rock dump
  • Adit
  • Flood grassland
  • Rich grasslands in semi nutrient habitats
  • Neglected grassland in semi nutrient habitats
  • Jaggy population of plants with high adaptation to mechanical pressure
  • Submerged and floating leaf vegetation of standing water bodies
  • Mudbank vegetation
  • Typha
  • Nitrophyte marginal vegetation
  • Mesophytic marginal vegetation
  • Marginal vegetation in dry and warm habitats
  • Population of nettles
  • Population of goldenrod
  • Population of Calamagrostis epigejos
  • Annual ruderal vegetation
  • Perennial ruderal vegetation of dry and warm habitats
  • Perennial ruderal vegetation from fresh to wet habitats
  • Grasslands with heavy metals (Violetea calaminariae)
  • Neglected grassland in alkaline habitats
  • Field groves
  • Copses of dry, warm and alkaline habitats
  • Copses of semi nutrient habitats
  • Copses of Prunus spinosa in semi nutrient habitats
  • Copses of wet habitats
  • Salix
  • Blackberry copses
  • Rose copses
  • Clematis population
  • Ivy population
  • Grove
  • Oak population in dry and warm habitats
  • Woodruff beech forest
  • Succession forest build of short-dated trees or with predominating broad leaved forest
  • Maple population
  • Robinia pseudoacacia forest
  • Needle beam forest
  • Afforestration area
  • Areas with buildings
  • Sealed road or place
  • Tracks with water bounded cover
  • Unfortified track or place
  • grassland track
  • Stockyard