Protected Landscapes and Natural Areas Near Felsberg bei Reichenbach in Hessen, Germany

Fuchswiese bei Stettbach: Mapped Nature Reserve and Protected Meadow Landscape in Hesse

Exploring the ecological boundaries of a specialized wet meadow reserve in southern Hesse

Fuchswiese bei Stettbach is a dedicated nature reserve serving as a critical habitat for threatened meadow butterfly species. Located in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district of Hesse, this protected area preserves wet meadow vegetation amidst the northern Odenwald fringe. The site offers a focused view into how small, carefully managed landscapes contribute to the broader ecological health and regional geography of central Germany.

Area

0.03 km²

Established

2010

Magerrasen von Gronau mit angrenzenden Flächen Protected Landscape and Regional Geography

A network of calcareous meadows in the Odenwald foothills

Located in the Bergstraße district of Hessen, this protected area spans three distinct sub-areas characterized by nutrient-poor calcareous soils. These warm, sun-exposed meadows serve as an essential refugium for orchid diversity and specialized butterfly populations, standing as a representative example of successfully managed dry grassland ecosystems within the broader Geo-Naturpark Bergstraße-Odenwald.

Area

1.6 km²

Established

2004

Orbishöhe von Auerbach und Zwingenberg: Geography, Landscape, and Protected Area Mapping

An examination of Hessian quarry-based ecological conservation sites.

The Orbishöhe von Auerbach und Zwingenberg nature reserve serves as a prime example of localized conservation within the Odenwald hills. Its landscape is defined by former quarry faces and open slope terraces, which provide a critical habitat for rare and threatened plant species. This resource offers a clear look at the reserve's topography, physical boundaries, and its broader role within the Natura 2000 network of protected German lands.

Area

0.064 km²

Established

1988

Schannenbacher Moor Nature Reserve: Geographic Overview and Protected Area Boundaries

Wetland and forest mosaic in the southern Hessian Odenwald

Schannenbacher Moor represents a significant protected area within Hessen, characterized by its combination of raised bog remnants, reedbeds, and near-natural floodplain woodlands. Framed by the Krehberg slopes and the Meerbach stream system, the reserve offers a rare example of low mountain bog ecology and biodiversity conservation. This mapped landscape provides essential data on the distribution of mire plant communities and bryophyte habitats in the region.

Area

0.162 km²

Established

1975

IUCN

IV

Im Dulbaum bei Alsbach Nature Reserve: Mapped Inland Dunes and Grassland Geography

A vital protected sandy terrain in the Hessian Rhine Plain

Im Dulbaum bei Alsbach protects a remnant of the historic Rhine graben sand dune belt in southern Hesse. This nature reserve provides essential habitat connectivity for heat-loving species through its distinct calcareous sand grasslands and former quarry terrain, offering a look into the region's complex ecological history.

Area

0.092 km²

Established

1994

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Kalksandkiefernwald bei Bickenbach, Pfungstadt und Seeheim-Jugenheim Protected Area Atlas

A rare calcareous sand pine forest in the Hessian Rhine plain

Located in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district, this reserve protects an airy, light-filled woodland on calcareous sandy ground. The terrain is defined by its gentle undulations and historical woodland grazing traces, offering a unique look at forest management in the Rhine plain. Explore the distribution of its two distinct sections, including the specialized sand grass vegetation found along its managed utility corridors.

Area

0.874 km²

Established

1996

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Altneckarlachen von Alsbach, Hähnlein und Bickenbach: Protected Wetland and River Geography

A rare mosaic of prehistoric river loops in the Hessian Rhine plain

Altneckarlachen von Alsbach, Hähnlein und Bickenbach protects a unique sequence of prehistoric Neckar meanders featuring shallow water zones, reed belts, and black-alder swamp forest. This nature reserve in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district remains a critical wetland sanctuary, preserving a vital ecological cross-section of the ancient Rhine-Neckar landscape and its associated peatland soils.

Area

0.892 km²

Established

1990

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Pfungstädter Moor Nature Reserve: Hessian Wetland and Ancient River Landscape

Protected wetland area in the Hessian Rhine plain

This nature reserve encompasses a rare silted-up segment of the ancient Neckar river, forming a complex of reed beds, alder carr, and peat bog habitats. Managed through creative restoration techniques that lift Rhine water into the moor, the landscape remains a vital ecological sanctuary in the heart of Hesse, standing in sharp contrast to the surrounding agricultural terrain.

Area

0.97 km²

Established

1955

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Lerchenberg und Kernesbellen von Darmstadt-Eberstadt: Hessian Nature Reserve and Dune Atlas

Protected sand grassland and pine forest landscape mapping

Lerchenberg und Kernesbellen von Darmstadt-Eberstadt serves as a key inland dune reserve within the northern Upper Rhine Plain. This protected area features a unique, sun-warmed mosaic of sandy substrates, sparse calcareous forests, and historic orchard meadows. Analyze the site's ecological boundaries and its role as a critical habitat fragment within the broader network of regional protected landscapes.

Area

0.172 km²

Established

1995

IUCN

IV

Düne am Ulvenberg von Darmstadt-Eberstadt: Inland Sand Dune Protected Area Geography

A rare Pleistocene dune ecosystem in the Hessen region.

Düne am Ulvenberg von Darmstadt-Eberstadt represents a critical inland dune fragment within the Upper Rhine Graben. This nature reserve provides essential habitat for sand-dwelling flora in a setting defined by its open, dry sandy flats, pine woodland, and specialized steppe-like turf that persists as a unique geological legacy.

Area

0.089 km²

Established

1991

IUCN

IV

Erlache bei Bensheim: Exploring Protected Wetlands and Altneckar Landscapes in Hessen

A distinct nature reserve and bird sanctuary site

The Erlache bei Bensheim nature reserve serves as a critical wetland corridor in the Hessian Rhine plain. This area features a former loop of the River Neckar, now characterized by alder swamp forest, reedbeds, and open water, creating a highly specific ecological terrain surrounded by the regional infrastructure of the Bergstraße district.

Area

0.49 km²

Established

2000

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Albersbacher Riedwiesen Nature Reserve: Mapped Geography and Protected Landscapes in Hesse

A detailed atlas view of the Albersbach stream valley conservation corridor.

Situated in the Weschnitz valley region of Hesse, the Albersbacher Riedwiesen nature reserve offers a concentrated look at traditional Odenwald landscapes. The area protects a unique combination of wet meadows, reedbeds, and dry grasslands that follow the natural meandering course of the Albersbach stream, providing a vital study in local geomorphology and conservation geography.

Area

0.124 km²

Established

1996

Forstberg von Ueberau: A Volcanic Nature Reserve and Protected Landscape in Hesse, Germany

Geographic atlas of an extinct volcano and dry grassland refuge.

Forstberg von Ueberau serves as a vital ecological anchor within the Reinheimer Hügelland. This 30-hectare nature reserve preserves an unusual volcanic substrate, featuring a crater-shaped basalt quarry surrounded by seminatural meadows and hedgerows. The site stands as a prime example of habitat management where traditional agricultural practices and biodiversity protection converge to sustain Red List species in a structured, open-country setting.

Area

0.305 km²

Established

1990

IUCN

IV

Bessunger Kiesgrube Nature Reserve: A Detailed Look at the Hessen Protected Landscape

Examining post-industrial geography and forest recovery

The Bessunger Kiesgrube is a designated nature reserve located in Hessen, Germany. Once a centuries-old gravel extraction site, the area now features a groundwater-fed lake bordered by steep rocky banks and dense, naturally regenerated woodland. This site provides a clear case study of ecological recovery on the edge of urban development, offering insight into the geological and environmental legacy of the region.

Area

0.118 km²

Established

1978

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Temperate

Bruch von Brensbach: Mapping the Nature Reserve and Wetland Mosaic in Hesse, Germany

Protected carr woodland and Gersprenz valley stream corridors

Located in the Odenwaldkreis district of Hesse, Bruch von Brensbach acts as a crucial protected wetland corridor. The reserve preserves a rare concentration of alder carr forest and reed beds along the Kilsbach stream, offering a stark geographic contrast to the agricultural fields that characterize the broader Gersprenz valley landscape.

Area

0.055 km²

Established

1983

IUCN

IV

In der Erbach bei Mörlenbach Nature Reserve: Protected Odenwald Stream Valley

Regional geography and habitat mapping in southern Hessen

The In der Erbach bei Mörlenbach nature reserve preserves a well-defined side-valley ecosystem within the broader Odenwald landscape. Its protected boundaries encompass a moisture-rich corridor featuring wet meadows, reedbeds, and forest edges that exemplify the traditional cultural geography of the Weschnitz river basin in southern Germany.

Area

0.197 km²

Established

1997

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Gras-Ellenbacher Wiesen Nature Reserve: Protected Valley Basin Geography and Map Overview

Wet meadows and seepage habitats within the Odenwald hills

Situated in a gentle hollow near the Dachsberg and Kirchberg ridges, Gras-Ellenbacher Wiesen represents an essential Hessian nature reserve. This overview highlights the interplay between the Ulfenbach stream, drainage infrastructure, and traditional meadow management that defines this distinct sandstone upland protected landscape.

Area

0.241 km²

Established

1981

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Scheftheimer Wiesen Nature Reserve: Geographic Overview and Protected Landscape Mapping

Hessen wetland ecosystems and prehistoric heritage sites

Situated along the Ruthsenbach stream in Hessen, Scheftheimer Wiesen is a 166-hectare nature reserve known for its recovery of wet meadow habitats after decades of agricultural use. The area integrates natural terrain with cultural heritage, featuring reconstructed granite menhirs and historic burial mounds within a broader forest-framed environment near Darmstadt.

Area

1.661 km²

Established

1993

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Reinheimer Teich Nature Reserve: Mapped Wetlands and Biodiversity in Hesse, Germany

A lowland wetland refuge in the Reinheimer Becken

Reinheimer Teich represents a significant nature reserve in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district of Hesse. This protected area features a mosaic of reed beds, wet meadows, and open water channels. It is recognized as one of the final strongholds for the European pond turtle and remains a key node within the Untere Gersprenz river system, demonstrating the vital role of floodplain restoration in local landscape conservation.

Area

0.75 km²

Established

1975

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue Nature Reserve: A Detailed Look at Hessian Rhine Floodplain Geography

Protected river island terrain, alluvial forests, and floodplain dynamics

Examine the geographic characteristics of Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue, the premier nature reserve in the Hessian Ried. This site provides an in-depth atlas perspective on the Rhine floodplain, featuring the iconic inland island structure, softwood and hardwood forest transitions, and the ongoing influence of the Stockstadt-Erfelder Altrhein on the local terrain.

Area

24.4 km²

Established

1952

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Temperate