Background The project area of 4 640 ha encompasses the lower Franconian Muschelkalk limestone range along the Middle Main valley and the Fränkische Saale and Wern valleys in the counties of Bad Kissingen, Main-Spessart and Würzburg. Beside the natural calcareous dry grasslands that have rapidly taken over – covering the sites with their extreme (growth) conditions, there are also complexes of dry habitats of high nature value. These have developed on the hill slopes as a result of the cultivation of grapes for winemaking on the steeper slopes, traditional orchards, traditional grazing practices and hay-cutting. The arid large-area sites are home to dry communities of the highest nature value and are therefore also a priority for conservation according to the EU Habitats and Birds directives. The richness of Mediterranean and continental elements of flora and fauna also make the project area an important part of the biogeographical connection between the Rhone valley and the Steppenheide gebiete of Hungary and lower Austria. During recent decades, however, the abandonment of traditional land-use practices on the steep slopes has led to a loss of the arid grassland sites and subsequent loss of the valuable habitat types and associated species, especially birds; mainly as a result of natural succession. Farmland consolidation and intensification of farming methods endanger many of the typical vineyard structures; and semi-natural dry grassland habitats and the high value areas between the intensively used vineyards have become isolated and disconnected from one another. At the same time, the region – which has been shaped by viniculture – is an important area for tourism. Objectives The project’s overall objectives are to protect and improve the outstanding dry grasslands and cultural landscapes in the region; to improve habitat connectivity between the open grassland habitats and the adjacent lightly wooded, thermopile forests; and to thereby also help conserve biodiversity. Another goal is to create a more coherent network of Natura 2000 sites in the region, by carrying out actions in-between, as well as outside, the borders of the project area to help to combat the increasing isolation of the targeted habitat types. These goals will be accompanied by intensive public relations activities to assure the support of different stakeholders (including winegrowers and viniculture experts, farmers, foresters and the tourism industry). Specific project aims are: To restore 50 ha of dry grassland habitats, 20 ha of orchards with hay meadows, 6 ha of screes and rocks habitats, 25 ha of “light” forests habitats and 3 km of forest edges habitats; and To develop two demonstration vineyards and increase the connectivity between grazed areas (the project aims to restore some 36 ha of “Weideverbund”). These actions will also benefit five Annex II species of the Habitats Directive and four Annex I species of the Birds Directive. Expected results The expected project results are: The purchase of some 60 ha of land for habitat conservation/ development; The development of two demonstration vineyards with characteristic traditional structures (wildflower communities, dry stone walls etc.); The improvement of more than 50 ha of dry grassland habitat types (5130, 6110, 6210); Shrub removal on more than 20 ha of orchards with lowland hay meadows; Removal of non-native trees/shrubs on 6 ha of screes and rocks; The creation of an ecological network of pastures on 36 ha, with planting of native plant species; The improvement of 25 ha of low wooded areas (habitat 9150) and some 3 km of woodland edges, by the partial removal of invasive trees and shrubs; Creation of a network of ecologically important habitats on dry and nutrient-poor locations linking sites over an area of 100 km along the Muschelkalk limestone range (in connection with further extensively used areas within and outside the project area); To secure and improve the conservation status of the dry habitat types (5130, 6110*, 6210, 6510, 8160, 8210) and low wooded areas (9150); The improved conservation status of the target species Cypripedium calceolus, Euplagia [Callimorpha] quadripunctaria*, Lullula arborea and Lanius collurio; An improved supply of breeding areas and optimised foraging areas for the eagle owl (Bubo bubo); Stable and enlarged populations of Lanius collurio, Lullula arborea and Picoides medius; A marketing initiative for conservation-friendly products (e.g., grape, other fruit and sheep products); Improved acceptance of conservation measures on the farmed areas and the pro-active implementation of habitat connectivity measures by different land users; A positive perception of the site amongst local people and land users as an important cultural landscape with its typical traditional land-use forms (vineyards on steep slopes, orchards and sheep grazing); At least 50 000 visitors/yr will attend information events and use the infrastructure in the project area; and Considerably improved knowledge about the Natura 2000 network and its conservation aims (habitat types and species) amongst local people and visitors.