Protected Natural Landscapes and Nature Reserves Near Schannenbacher Moor in Hessen

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

Felsberg bei Reichenbach Nature Reserve: Geography and Granite Boulder Field Analysis

Protected forest and geological monument in the Odenwald range

Felsberg bei Reichenbach protects 168 hectares of Odenwald mountain slope in Southern Hessen. The site is centered on the Felsenmeer, a dramatic sea of granite boulders created by frost weathering, framed by mixed deciduous woodland. This area functions as an important Natura 2000 habitat, preserving both specialized rock ecosystems and montane forest, providing a clear geographic link between the Lautertal valley and the high slopes of the Felsberg summit.

Area

1.677 km²

Established

1972

IUCN

IV

Relief

Mountain

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rotes Wasser von Olfen Nature Reserve: Protected Wetland and Odenwald Geography

A unique bog and iron-rich stream landscape in Hessen, Germany.

Rotes Wasser von Olfen preserves a rare, small-scale mosaic of transitional bog and wet meadow vegetation within the Odenwald range. This protected site features reddish, iron-rich seepage waters and provides essential habitat for specialized flora and dragonfly populations amidst a surrounding forested mountain landscape.

Area

0.121 km²

Established

1980

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

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

In der Striet bei Vöckelsbach Nature Reserve: Regional Geography and Mapped Protected Landscapes

A compact forest and wetland mosaic in the Odenwald of southern Hesse

The nature reserve In der Striet bei Vöckelsbach is an essential protected area covering four and a half hectares of valley floor. It provides a dense habitat gradient from reeded spring zones through alder forests to mixed deciduous slopes. This record details the park landscape, stream systems, and its integration into the larger Geo Naturpark Bergstraße Odenwald and Natura 2000 protected areas.

Area

0.048 km²

Established

1988

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

Rohrsee von Rehbach Nature Reserve: Protected Wetland Atlas and Regional Geography

Wetland ecosystems in the sandstone Odenwald region of Hesse

Examine the geography of Rohrsee von Rehbach, an IUCN category protected area in southern Hesse. The site features a man-made pond and significant reed habitats that offer a rare wetland contrast to the surrounding sandstone terrain. Our atlas details the reserve's topography, hydrologic features, and its function as a managed refuge for waterbirds in the Odenwald landscape.

Area

0.156 km²

Established

1986

IUCN

IV

Dürr-Ellenbachtal von Wald-Michelbach: Odenwald Nature Reserve and Protected Valley Geography

A historic meadow valley in Hessen, Germany

The Dürr-Ellenbachtal von Wald-Michelbach nature reserve protects an elongated, narrow valley framed by forested ridges in the central Odenwald. This area is defined by its meandering brook, diverse alder stands, and species-rich meadows that sustain significant local biodiversity. As a key Natura 2000 site, it serves as an essential example of protected meadow landscapes and rural mountain terrain within the Bergstraße district.

Area

0.542 km²

Established

1990

IUCN

IV

Relief

Mountain