Protected Landscapes and Natural Areas Surrounding Réserve naturelle nationale du Tanet-Gazon du Faing

Réserve naturelle régionale des hautes-chaumes du Rothenbach: Protected Geography in the Vosges

A regional nature reserve in Grand Est, France.

This protected area provides a representative profile of the high Vosges mountains, spanning elevations from 900 to 1,300 metres. The terrain is characterized by an open mosaic of primary and secondary grasslands, known as chaumes, along with acidic heathlands and subalpine forests. Managed to preserve its fragile biodiversity, the site offers a deep look into the regional geography and the historical land use patterns that define the crests of Alsace.

Area

0.942 km²

Established

2008

IUCN

IV

Relief

Mountain

Réserve naturelle régionale des collines de Rouffach: Protected Hills and Dry Grasslands

A Mediterranean-influenced nature reserve in the Alsace foothills.

Located in the Grand Est region, this reserve preserves Bollenberg and Strangenberg hills through a mosaic of downy oak woodland and xerobrometum grasslands. The site functions as a botanical refuge where limestone geology creates an exceptionally warm, arid environment rare for northeastern France.

Area

0.44 km²

Established

2013

IUCN

IV

Réserve naturelle régionale de la forêt des volcans de Wegscheid: Geological Protected Area

Mapping volcanic terrain in the Grand Est region of eastern France.

Located in the Haut-Rhin, this regional nature reserve preserves a distinct volcanic landscape characterized by rocky promontories, basalt columns, and mature forest stands. The protected terrain features varied elevation from 700 meters to the Rossberg ridge, showcasing geological formations that have remained largely untouched by intensive historical forestry.

Area

1.015 km²

Established

2008

IUCN

IV

Relief

Mountain

Réserve naturelle régionale de la tourbière des Charmes: Protected Mountain Peatland Geography

High Vosges mountain wetland and subalpine forest landscape

Located on the granite ridges of the Vosges mountains in the Grand Est region, this nature reserve preserves a vast, perched mountain peatland. Its distinct geographic character includes deep peat deposits and a habitat gradient transitioning from acidic wetland to mature fir and spruce forest, serving as a critical study area for specialized flora and cold-adapted wildlife.

Area

0.68 km²

Established

2008

IUCN

IV

Relief

Mountain

Réserve naturelle régionale de l'Eiblen et l'Illfeld: Alsace Floodplain Protected Area

Geographic context of regional alluvial habitats in Haut-Rhin

Located in the Alsace plain, this nature reserve preserves a rare cross-section of original river floodplain geography. The area provides a critical look at alluvial ecosystems and sediment-rich lowland terrain that defines the historical character of the Upper Rhine plain within France.

Area

0.66 km²

Established

1992

Réserve naturelle régionale du Ried de Sélestat, l'Ill*Wald: Protected Alluvial Forest Mapping

Explore the wetland geography and floodplain ecosystem of the Alsatian Grand Ried.

Spanning over 1,800 hectares, the Réserve naturelle régionale du Ried de Sélestat, l'Ill*Wald stands as one of the most significant regional nature reserves in France. This detailed atlas entry reveals its complex hydrological structure, consisting of dense forest, marshland, and a dense web of distributaries shaped by the Ill river and unique phreatic groundwater systems.

Area

18.55 km²

Established

1995

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Réserve naturelle régionale de la forêt de Mequillet Le Hardtwald Geographic Atlas and Map

Protected dry forest and steppe habitat in Grand Est

Situated on the elevated terraces of the Rhine floodplain, this nature reserve protects 249 hectares of distinct dry woodland and open clearings. The landscape offers a rare example of continental flora and saproxylic beetle habitats, set within the broader agricultural context of the Alsace plain. This record provides a comprehensive view of the park boundaries and ecological geography found within this significant French conservation area.

Area

2.49 km²

Established

2012

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Réserve naturelle régionale des marais et landes du Rothmoos Protected Landscape and Geography

Regional nature reserve in the Haut-Rhin department of Alsace

The Réserve naturelle régionale des marais et landes du Rothmoos encompasses a rare inland saline habitat complex within the Nonnenbruch forest. Its terrain is defined by stable pools created from mining subsidence, transitioning into heathland and oak forests. This protected area stands as an ecological refuge for migratory waterbirds and specialized aquatic species within an industrial-legacy environment.

Area

1.457 km²

Established

1988

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Réserve naturelle régionale des collines sèches du Bischenberg, de l'Immerschenberg et du Holiesel: Geography and Protected Status

Preserving unique limestone hill ensembles and relict oak habitats in Grand Est

Covering 97.2 hectares, this protected area spans three distinct sites including the Bischenberg, Immerschenberg, and Holiesel hills. The reserve maintains a critical refuge for species-rich calcareous grasslands and pubescent oak forests, providing a rare example of Mediterranean-influenced habitat at the edge of the Alsace plain and the Vosges foothills.

Area

0.972 km²

Established

2024

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Réserve naturelle régionale Im'Berg: Mapping a Unique Protected Nature Reserve in France

A rare calcareous grassland habitat in the Grand Est region.

Réserve naturelle régionale Im'Berg preserves a sun-drenched limestone slope in the commune of Tagolsheim. Known as the Buxberg, this protected area guards one of the most significant natural boxwood populations in Europe alongside specialized dry-habitat flora. The reserve functions as an essential geographic reference for studying how steep, calcareous terrain creates isolated, warm microclimates within the broader Alsatian landscape.

Area

0.017 km²

Established

2013

IUCN

IV

Réserve naturelle régionale de la tourbière de la Grande Pile: Regional Nature Reserve

Protected peatland ecosystems and climate archive in eastern France

This regional nature reserve provides a compact study of peatland development and palaeo-environmental history. It preserves diverse wetland habitats at the edge of the Vosges saônoises, offering a rich environment for rare flora and dragonfly species within the wider Région des Mille étangs.

Area

0.593 km²

Established

2016

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Temperate

Östliches Hexental: Protected Landscape and Regional Geographic Context in Baden-Württemberg

Black Forest valley mosaic and protected meadow systems

Located in the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district, Östliches Hexental forms a vital protected landscape of approximately 526 hectares. The region showcases a traditional Black Forest valley structure, defined by riparian gallery forests, orchard meadows, and small field hedges that provide essential habitat connectivity between the High Black Forest and the Markgräfler Hügelland.

Area

5.264 km²

Established

2008

IUCN

V

Réserve naturelle nationale de la forêt d'Erstein Protected Alluvial Forest and Rhine Landscape

A historic nature reserve in the Bas-Rhin floodplain of northeastern France.

The Réserve naturelle nationale de la forêt d'Erstein serves as a vital reference for the dynamic Rhine floodplain forest ecosystems of the Alsace plain. Characterized by its dense canopy of oaks and ashes, the reserve preserves a unique mosaic of groundwater-fed channels, reedbeds, and alluvial terraces that support high levels of biodiversity within a narrow protected perimeter.

Area

1.796 km²

Established

1989

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Belchen Nature Reserve: Exploring the Mountain Geography of the High Black Forest

A diverse protected landscape in Baden-Württemberg

Belchen represents an essential protected area in the southern Black Forest, known for its compressed ecological profile ranging from lowland beech forests to exposed subalpine summits. The site maps a complex mosaic of scree slopes, mires, and rocky habitats that sustain specialized bat species and rare montane flora, offering a detailed perspective on central European highland ecosystems.

Area

29.072 km²

Established

2019

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Temperate

Réserve naturelle nationale de la Petite Camargue alsacienne: Protected Rhine Floodplain Geography

A unique wetland and alluvial forest habitat in Haut-Rhin

Investigate the geographic significance of the Réserve naturelle nationale de la Petite Camargue alsacienne. This site acts as a protected reference for Upper Rhine floodplain ecology, showcasing a rare intersection of relict river meanders, marshy depressions, and diverse vegetation types near the French, Swiss, and German borders.

Area

9.04 km²

Established

1982

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Réserve naturelle régionale de la basse vallée de la Savoureuse: Regional Nature Reserve

Protected alluvial floodplain geography in Doubs, France.

This nature reserve safeguards a significant fragment of the Savoureuse river floodplain. The protected area offers a complete alluvial sequence within 42 hectares, including active gravel bars and mature ash-alder woodlands, providing a high-density ecological core amidst an industrial landscape in the Doubs department.

Area

0.419 km²

Established

2008

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Réserve naturelle régionale de la Moselle sauvage: Geography and Protected River Boundaries

A dynamic alluvial nature reserve in the Grand Est region of France.

Analyze the terrain of the Réserve naturelle régionale de la Moselle sauvage, a protected area shaped by the natural movement of the Moselle river. The reserve encompasses vital floodplain ecosystems including sandy grasslands, wet meadows, and riparian woodlands, functioning as a primary ecological network within the Lorraine landscape.

Area

3.81 km²

Established

2006

IUCN

IV

Wagensteigtal-Höllental Protected Landscape: Geography and Terrain of the Black Forest

A bridge between regional natural zones in Baden-Württemberg

Wagensteigtal-Höllental serves as a quintessential example of protected Black Forest geography. Stretching across the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district, this area features the steep Rotbach gorge, dense forest ridges, and the prominent Hirschsprung rock formation. It provides a foundational look at how historical transport corridors and natural river breakthrough channels shape the modern landscape identity of southwestern Germany.

Area

29.118 km²

Established

1975

IUCN

V

Relief

Mountain

St. Peter, St. Märgen Protected Landscape: Geography and Regional Context in the Black Forest

Detailed atlas view of the High Black Forest plateau and valleys.

This protected landscape in Baden-Württemberg represents a classic cultural geography of the High Black Forest. It encompasses a vast area surrounding the villages of St. Peter and St. Märgen, where the terrain shifts between steep-sided valleys and elevated plateaus. The protected status secures a varied mosaic of meadows, old-growth hedgerows, and forest tracts that maintain the regional ecological integrity of this significant southwestern German landscape.

Area

67.199 km²

Established

2003

IUCN

V

Dinkelberg und Röttler Wald: Geographic Overview of this Baden-Württemberg Nature Reserve

Protected karst landscapes and mature beech forest habitat

Uncover the ecological and physical geography of Dinkelberg und Röttler Wald, a protected area stretching across diverse limestone plateaus and sandstone slopes in Germany. This site offers a valuable look at managed cultural landscapes that bridge the gap between rural meadows and wild forest reserves, providing critical habitat for European bat populations and rare flora across its varied elevational zones.

Area

46.47 km²

Established

2015