Das Projekt "Schutz und Entwicklung der Population der Jurinea cyanoides (Silberscharte) in dem typischen Planverbund auf kontinentalenb sandgrasheiden in der Naehe von Vilkach" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Landesentwicklung und Umweltfragen durchgeführt. The purpose is to increase the habitat available to Jurinea cyanoides to ensure the survival of the species and an augmentation of the number of individuals. The most suitable and urgent measure to achieve this end is purchase of the surrounding properties, as land lease gives no long-term guarantees. Points fo departure will be the two small nature reserves Astheimer Duerringwasen (2,6 ha) and Sandgrasheiden am Elgersheimer Hof (1,7 ha); around them orchards, asparagus fields and other cropland suitable for the development of xeric sand calcareous grasslands will be bought. Depending on its condition, each section acquired will either be left to natural succession, ploughed or scoriated to accelerate the leaching of nutrients; in certain places sand may deposited on the land. Public information will be kept discreet: as few visitors as possible and leaving the land alone, is the motto. On sandy river terraces in a great bend of the River main, near the Bavarian town of Volkach, is a tiny patch of habitat of a kind threatened with disappearance throughout the EU: dry, sandy steppic grassland, or, in scientific terminology, xeric sand calcareous grasslands (Koelerion glaucae). This is a sparse, natural grassland, criss-crossed by lichens and scattered with isolated twisted pines. Exceptionally important is the presence of the characteristic species for this habitat type, the plant Jurinea cyanoides, a priority species under the Habitats Directive. This is the only site in Bavaria where it occurs. The grasslands are mainly surrounded by arable land, where asparagus is grown on the poor soils, pinewoods and orchards. The grassland relicts are threatened by their small surface area - only a few hectares - which makes genetic impoverishment and greater sensitivity to disturbance a real menace, as well as by plans to quarry sand in the vicinity, which would mean that areas potentially suitable for expansion are lost.