Conservation Areas

Breathtaking natural landscapes, unique plant species and rare animals – nature conservation takes first priority in Niedersachsen's Harz mountains and Wadden Sea national parks. Since 1997 the river landscape of the Elbe has been designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve. In the state's 13 nature parks, you can experience the regional culture and countryside whilst enjoying walking, cycling, riding or water sports.

Elbe River Landscape Biosphere Reserve

Biosphere reserves are large model regions for man-made landscapes, in which environmentally acceptable ways of utilising natural resources are pursued. The Elbe river landscape has been a designated UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1997. The area has a unique natural and man-made landscape for the visitor to discover.

Niedersachsen's National Parks

Niedersachsen has some real natural treasures – the two most important areas, the Harz mountains and the Wadden Sea, are protected national parks. Seals, shrimps, crabs and shellfish in the Wadden Sea national park, the lynx, fox, black woodpecker, wren, wild boar and red deer in the Harz national park.

Nature Parks in Niedersachsen

Whilst in the national parks, its quite clear that the animal and plant worlds come first, in the nature parks, residents and visitors are given higher priority. In the natural parks it is the meeting of man with nature and the countryside that is at the fore. The East Frisians love their wind-blown coast, the islands, the people of Wendland their river Elbe...

UNESCO-World Natural Heritage Wadden Sea

The Wadden Sea World Natural Heritage stretches across the German and Dutch part of the Wadden Sea. It covers an area of almost 10,000 square kilometres along the coast with a length of about 400 kilometres and has been under protection for more than a generation.