What are landscape features?
Protected landscape features are small-scale areas that
- contribute to the performance and functionality of the ecosystem,
- enliven and structure the townscape or landscape,
- ward off harmful effects,
- or represent important habitats of certain wild animal and plant species.
The law distinguishes between protected landscape features that must be designated through a protection procedure and those that are already protected by law.
Landscape features that are already protected by law include
- Hedgerows
The biotopes formerly designated as protected landscape features, such as wasteland and other semi-natural areas, are subject to the intervention regulation under Section 17 (3) of the Federal Nature Conservation Act. No more intensive use or change of use is permitted without the approval of the nature conservation authority.
- Incidentally, all trees and shrubs that are protected by the City of Salzgitter's Tree Protection Ordinance are protected landscape features in the City of Salzgitter. The Woodland Protection Ordinance is a typical example of the protection of individual landscape features by ordinance, see the Woodland Protection Ordinance website.
Protection of these areas
The protection applies directly, i.e. all occurrences of these biotopes in the open landscape (outdoor area within the meaning of Section 35 of the German Building Code) are protected from a minimum size. Hedgerows are generally protected, regardless of their size and location.
Uses that do not impair the condition are still permitted and even desired in cases where the biotope is dependent on maintenance.
Legislation prohibits actions that intend to remove, destroy, damage or alter the protected landscape feature.
The legal basis for the protection of landscape features is Section 29 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG) in conjunction with Section 22 (3) of the Lower Saxony Nature Conservation Act (NNatSchG).
All protected landscape features are recorded by the lower nature conservation authority in a public register in accordance with Section 14 NNatSchG. The owners and authorized users of the protected landscape features are informed in writing about the entry in this register and receive all information on further use if required.