Promotion of official signposting of Natura 2000 areas

Within the framework of the EAFRD funding (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development), the district as lower nature conservation authority was granted funding in the amount of € 120,000.

Between October 2021 and September 2022, these funds will be used to officially mark the Natura 2000 sites, protected areas of bird sanctuaries and sensitive riparian areas of the Elbe River with a total of 600 signs in accordance with § 22 para. 4 BNatSchG.

Natura 2000 is characterized by an interconnected network of protected areas throughout the European Union, which has been established since 1992 on the basis of the Flora-Fauna-Habitat Directive (FFH Directive; Directive 92/43/EEC). This network is intended to ensure transnational protection of endangered wild animal and plant species and their natural habitats.

The signs are to be erected selectively at the access points to the protected areas.

According to § 22 paragraph 4 BNatSchG (Federal Nature Conservation Act), protected parts of nature and landscape are to be registered and marked. The owners of the affected properties must tolerate these measures insofar as their use is not unreasonably impaired (Section 65 (1) BNatSchG). Coordination with the owners on the specific locations of the signs is planned.

The signage will make the protected areas recognizable, giving everyone the opportunity to inform themselves and to comply with the relevant regulations or to adapt their behavior, thus making a significant contribution to improving the conservation status of the areas.

Another goal is to inform the population about the Natura 2000 protected area landscape and the protection status of species and habitat types.

In the Börde district, for example, Natura 2000 sites have been designated for habitat types according to Annex I of the Habitats Directive, such as Burning Umbel Floodplain Meadows (6640, Cnidion dubii), forest habitat types, such as Sub-Atlantic or Central European Oak Forest (6190, Carpinion betuli) or inland salt marshes (*1340). Annex 2 of the Habitats Directive additionally lists animal and plant species of Community interest for whose conservation special protection areas had to be designated. These include otter(Lutra lutra), beaver(Castor fiber albicus), field hamster(Cricetus cricetus), pug bat(Barbastella barbastellus ) or the red kite(Milvus milvus) as a species according to Annex I of the Birds Directive.

Last but not least, the aim is to achieve greater acceptance and awareness of the Natura 2000 protected area landscape and thus more effective protection of the areas.