Landscape conservation areas; designation

In contrast to nature conservation areas, landscape conservation areas primarily serve to protect the ecosystem and its functionality.

In addition to flora and fauna, important protected assets include soil, groundwater and surface water, climate and the landscape. An area can also be designated as a landscape conservation area due to its particular importance for recreation. Areas in which nature-friendly use by humans is to be preserved or reintroduced can also be placed under landscape protection. In comparison to nature conservation areas, abiotic resource protection is in the foreground.

As self-governing authorities, the administrative districts and independent cities are responsible for designating landscape protection areas by statutory order. If the landscape protection area extends beyond the area of a district or a municipality not attached to a district, the district is responsible for issuing the protected area ordinance.

Protected areas can be divided into zones with correspondingly graduated protection. If necessary, their surroundings can also be protected.

The state government is responsible for issuing ordinances on national parks. Legal ordinances on nature conservation areas are issued by the higher nature conservation authority at the government (see "Related topics").

The district administrative authorities (district administrations and independent municipalities) are responsible as lower nature conservation authorities for issuing ordinances on natural monuments and for issuing ordinances on protected landscape features up to a maximum size of 10 hectares. The higher nature conservation authorities are responsible for protected landscape features larger than 10 hectares (see "Related topics").