Naturschutzgebiet Leutratal und Cospoth
NSG Leutratal und Cospoth is an important nature reserve in Germany, southwest of the town of Jena. The reserve is maintained by Naturschutzbund Deutschland. The reserve contains the valley of the river Leutra and beech forest. The nature reserve measures 582.9 hectares. The bedrock is Muschelkalk. In 2018, 23% of the reserve was pine forest and 16% broadleaf trees, 23% was xerothermic meadow, 9% brome semi-dry grassland and 14% agricultural use.
A huge variety of wildflowers grow in the valley, including at least 26 species of orchids. Other flowers in the reserve include Carthusian pink, purple gromwell and liquorice milk-vetch.
In 2007 the protected area was expanded by 441.4 hectares from its initial size of 141.5 hectares. During the Nazi era a motorway was built through the valley, however Angela Merkel's government had a 3 kilometre road tunnel built in 2014 to expand capacity of the Autobahn while reducing the impact of the road on the nature reserve.
The results of this work have so far been mixed. The burial of the Autobahn led to invasive non-native plant species including Bunias orientalis colonising the bare ground, which it is feared threaten to displace native wildflowers, however it has also already been observed that more bats are visiting the valley.
