Detailed description
To preserve our natural environment and landscape for biodiversity, recreation, education, and research, certain areas can be placed under protection. This can be done in so-called large protected areas; Hamburg boasts a national park that is also a biosphere reserve. Many are also familiar with nature reserves and landscape conservation areas, of which Hamburg has more than 30 each. These can fulfill additional functions as European or international protected areas, including Natura 2000 sites, bird protection areas, and Ramsar sites. Smaller, individual features, such as a group of particularly old trees, can be protected as natural monuments. All these protection categories fulfill important functions, and only their interplay unfolds a broad impact on nature, our environment as a whole, and on people and science.
Each protected area is precisely described: It specifies what is being protected, why it is protected, and what rules apply. Furthermore, measures for maintenance, development, or restoration are defined, if necessary. This ensures that nature is preserved for you and future generations.
In Hamburg, more than nine percent of the city's total area is designated as nature reserves, and around 18 percent as landscape conservation areas. Together with the Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park, this protects a wide range of habitats that you can explore.