EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

through their respective regional authorities
or other administrative bodies.
Th e protected area categories diff er in terms
of dimensions, protection purpose, and
protection aims with the consequent
limita tions of use. Th e paramount protected
area categories are: nature conservation
area, national park, biosphere reserve, landscape
conservation area, and nature park.
Th ey may superpose one another in part
or even be equivalent. Owing to their size,
national parks, biosphere reserves, and
natural parks rank among the large-scale
protected areas.
According to national legislation, the German
extension nomination includes areas
located in four national parks and one
biosphere reserve. Th e relevant protected
area categories are briefl y explained in the
following:
National parks (§ 24 BNatSchG)
National parks are areas that have been
designated in a legally binding manner,
that enjoy uniform levels of protection and
that
1. are large, largely unfragmented and
have special characteristics,
2. fulfi l the requirements for a nature conservation
area in the greater part of their
territory, and
3. in the greater part of their territory,
have not been aff ected by human intervention
at all, or to a limited extent
only, or are suitable for developing, or
being developed into, a state which
ensures the undisturbed progression, as
far as possible, of natural processes in
their natural dynamics.
5. PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PROPERTY
Biosphere reserves (§ 25 BNatSchG)
Biosphere reserves are areas that are to be
protected and developed in a uniform,
consistent manner and that
1. are large and are typical representatives
of certain landscape types,
2. fulfi l the requirements for nature conservation
areas in the greater part of their
territory, and most of the requirements
for landscape reserves throughout the
rest of their territory,
3. serve the primary purpose of preserving,
developing or restoring landscapes
shaped by traditional, diverse forms of
use, along with their species and biotope
diversity as evolved over time, including
wild forms and formerly cultivated
forms of commercially used or usable
animal and plant species, and
4. illustrate ways of developing and testing
forms of economic activity that are especially
conserving of natural resources.
Nature conservation areas
(§ 23 BNatSchG)
Nature conservation areas are areas that
have been designated in a legally binding
manner and in which the special protection
of nature and landscapes as a whole, or
of individual parts thereof, is required for
the following reasons:
1. in order to preserve, develop or restore
living spaces, biotopes or communities
of certain species of wild fauna and fl ora,
2. for reasons of science, natural history or
national heritage, or
3. because of their rarity, special characteristics
or outstanding beauty.
From the perspective of spatial planning,
nature conservation enjoys priority in such
territories. Alongside with the national parks,
they are signifi cant areas for the preservation
of biodiversity in Germany. Th e protection
of core zones in biosphere reserves
The nominated component
parts Jasmund,
Serrahn, Hainich, and
Kellerwald are embedded
in national parks.
National parks are subject
to legal protection as per
Federal Nature Conservation
Act.
The nominated component
part Grumsin lies
within a biosphere reserve.
Biosphere reserves are
subject to legal protection
as per Federal Nature
Conservation Act.
Nationale
Naturlandschaften
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