Nature Conservation 6/2011 — 1. 3. 2012 — International Nature Conservation — Print article in pdf
Čeřovský J: Luneburg Heath – a (not only) German Conservation Legend
– legenda (nejen) německé ochrany přírody
The famous protected area of Pan-European importance Lüneburger Heide in the German state of Lower Saxony, 70 km south of Hamburg, consists of a large nature park (107,000 ha) with a nature reserve (23,400 ha) in its heart.
The attractive heath countryside is the relic of a primeval cultural landscape created and maintained by humans 5,000 years ago by sheep grazing mainly. The protected area excellently reflects the development of German nature conservation from romantic myths in the early 20thcentury to the present scientifically based management carried out particularly in treeless plant communities with the prevailing Heather (Calluna vulgaris) on more than 5,000 hectares in the reserve. Also valuable wetlands – bogs are preserved in the currently mostly re-afforested area.