Protected Areas and Natural Landscapes Near Naturpark Lüneburger Heide in Lower Saxony

Wümmeniederung mit Rodau, Wiedau und Trochelbach: Protected Wetland and Heath Landscape

Regional geography and floodplain connectivity in Landkreis Rotenburg

This nature reserve protects a sprawling lowland landscape characterized by the Wümme, Rodau, Wiedau, and Trochelbach rivers. The terrain features a mosaic of near-natural meandering streams, species-rich wet meadows, and rare raised bog remnants, providing a comprehensive overview of northern German lowland ecology.

Area

28.96 km²

Established

2020

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Stemmbruch Nature Reserve: Protected Lowland Bog Geography in Lower Saxony, Germany

A resilient moorland habitat near the Seeve floodplain

Stemmbruch serves as a vital nature reserve in the Harburg district, protecting a rare hanging spring bog system. This compact protected area features a mosaic of bog pools, heath, and swamp woodland, demonstrating the complex hydrologic connectivity between the sandy geest ridge and the surrounding northern German lowland plains.

Area

0.56 km²

Established

1989

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Wittenmoor Nature Reserve: Geographic Atlas of a Protected Raised Bog in Lower Saxony

Peatland conservation and wetland terrain in the Heidekreis district

Wittenmoor offers a focused view into the peatland dynamics of Lower Saxony. The protected area features two distinct sections characterized by hand-cut peat extraction pools, floating moss mats, and bog-adapted flora. This site provides a clear look at how small-scale reserve management restores hydrological health to marshy meadows and transition-zone moor heath environments within an agricultural landscape.

Area

0.28 km²

Established

1999

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Wittsaal Nature Reserve: Mapped Wetland Geography and Protected Landscape in Lower Saxony

A rare mosaic of moor ponds and swamp woodland

Wittsaal is a specialized nature reserve in the Lüneburg region of Lower Saxony, Germany. The area protects a peat-cut moor pond currently undergoing natural silting, surrounded by willow-dominated swamp woodland, reedbeds, and sedge marshes. This compact site provides a critical, quiet refuge for wetland ecology within a wider landscape of agricultural fields and transitional glacial terrain.

Area

0.13 km²

Established

1985

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Wettenbosteler Moor Protected Area: Geographic Overview and Mapped Landscape Features

A resilient raised bog remnant in the Landkreis Uelzen heath forest

Spanning roughly thirteen hectares, Wettenbosteler Moor preserves a rare spring-fed bog habitat characterized by peat-forming vegetation and pine forest borders. This nature reserve offers deep insights into the drainage networks and lowland terrain of the Lüneburg Heath, mapping the transition between upland forest and valley mire.

Area

0.128 km²

Established

1977

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Tal der Kleinen Örtze Nature Reserve: Geographic Atlas and Protected Area Context

Stream valley restoration in the Lüneburg Heath region

An essential look at the Tal der Kleinen Örtze nature reserve, which encompasses restored brook courses and floodplain woodland in Lower Saxony. This protected area serves as a significant example of hydrological recovery and habitat transition, ranging from alder forests to heathland remnants along the valley margins within the broader Heidekreis geography.

Area

4.5 km²

Established

1993

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Wietzendorfer Moor: Geographic Analysis of Protected Bog and Wetland Landscapes

Nature reserve terrain in Niedersachsen, Germany

Discover the physical layout of Wietzendorfer Moor, an intricate nature reserve defined by restored raised bog habitats and historical polders. This atlas entry provides geographic context on the wet meadow systems and sand trails that define this unique Lüneburg Heath landscape, highlighting the spatial distribution of its protected parcels.

Area

2.1 km²

Established

1998

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Zollenspieker Nature Reserve: Geographic Overview and Protected Riverine Landscapes

Tidal Elbe floodplain and inland brack wetland ecology

Located in the Hamburg borough of Bergedorf, Zollenspieker protects a significant stretch of the tidal Elbe. This nature reserve contains approximately 80 hectares of diverse terrain, from freshwater mudflats exposed at low tide to sheltered oak-dominated forests and old brack wetlands known as Carlsbrack and Riepenburger Brack.

Area

0.8 km²

Established

1988

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Wulmstorfer Heide mit Bornberg: Protected Nature Reserve and Glacial Landscape Map

Regional geography and habitat network in Landkreis Harburg, Lower Saxony

This protected area features a unique mosaic of dry heath, nutrient-poor grassland, and mature broadleaf woodland. Located near the Hamburg border, it provides an essential habitat refuge within the Harburger Berge, characterized by sandy glacial soils and former military training terrain that supports specialized reptiles, amphibians, and bird species.

Area

2.72 km²

Established

2024

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Schweenssand Nature Reserve: Protected Elbe Floodplain Geography in Hamburg Germany

Tidal freshwater wetlands, reedbeds, and riverine forest mosaics

Spanning 35 hectares along the Süderelbe, Schweenssand acts as a vital protected area within the Hamburg city boundary. Its geography consists of freshwater tidal flats, mudflats, and ancient-looking floodplain forests that are continuously shaped by the Elbe river tide. This site offers a clear view into the ecological complexity of urban-fringe river landscapes and European Natura 2000 protected zones.

Area

0.4 km²

Established

1993

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Streitmoor Nature Reserve Geography and Mapped Protected Land in Lower Saxony

A study in compact bog and wetland succession

Streitmoor provides a detailed look at a terrestrialized pond moor within the Lüneburg district. The site contains a layered sequence of peat mosses, cottongrass, and woodland, mapping the natural transition between open bog basins and dry forest margins in northwestern Germany.

Area

0.13 km²

Established

1972

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Stellmoor und Weichel: Geographic Profile of a Lower Saxony Nature Reserve

Protected geest woodlands and peat-bog mosaic landscapes

Examine the territorial boundaries and ecological features of Stellmoor und Weichel. Located on the flat geest ridge of Northern Germany, this reserve maps the transition from managed deciduous woodland to complex mire, willow thicket, and bog-fringe water systems, maintaining a long-standing natural forest reserve status.

Area

2.18 km²

Established

2018

IUCN

IV

Vierenbach Nature Reserve: Landscape Geography and Protected Area Mapping in Uelzen District

A study of lowland stream valleys and swamp forest ecosystems.

Vierenbach serves as a crucial lowland stream sanctuary in the Uelzen District, featuring a concentrated variety of alder and ash swamp forests, birch bog woodlands, and wet fen grasslands. This entry offers a deep look into the reserve's unique transition zones between waterlogged valley floors and drier oak-hornbeam Geest slopes.

Area

2.3 km²

Established

2004

IUCN

IV

Weesener Bach Nature Reserve: Protected Stream and Riparian Geography in the Celle District

Examining mapped boundaries and habitat preservation in Lower Saxony

Discover the geographic footprint of Weesener Bach, a dedicated nature reserve in the Celle district of Lower Saxony. This site focuses on the long term development of stream systems and associated riparian habitats, offering a clear look at specialized land management within the southern Lüneburg Heath region.

Area

2.58 km²

Established

1999

IUCN

IV

Scope

Terrestrial

Steinbeckforst Nature Reserve: Geography and Protected Area Context in Landkreis Stade

Ancient beech forests and lowland brook valley landscapes.

Steinbeckforst serves as a critical nature reserve in Lower Saxony, characterized by century-old beech stands and sandy ground moraine topography. This geographic profile examines how the forest and Steinbeck brook valley function as a protected habitat corridor within the wider district of Stade.

Area

0.7 km²

Established

2018

IUCN

IV

Westliches Borchelsmoor Nature Reserve: Geographic Profile and Protected Bog Landscape

A preserved peatland fragment in the Landkreis Rotenburg district.

Located in northern Lower Saxony, Westliches Borchelsmoor represents a significant remnant of the historical Borchelsmoor raised bog. The reserve showcases a complex topography of old drainage lines and birch woodland, providing a clear window into the ecological transition of modified moorland. This site serves as a core component of the local wetland mosaic and offers valuable insights into ongoing peatland restoration and bog conservation.

Area

1.25 km²

Established

2010

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Wedeholz Nature Reserve: Geographic Overview of Lower Saxony Protected Forest Landscapes

Ancient oak forests, Geest terrain, and protected wetland habitats

Wedeholz represents a dense forest conservation area in Lower Saxony, defined by its mature oak and beech communities. The reserve terrain transitions from dry sandy Geest soils to delicate pine swamp forests and floating bogs, supporting a high density of deadwood-dependent species and woodland biodiversity within a compact, protected boundary.

Area

1.83 km²

Established

2019

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Wolfsgrund Nature Reserve: Geographic Overview of Protected Heathlands in Lower Saxony

Inland dune topography and alder swamp forest ecology

Wolfsgrund represents a core protected area in Lower Saxony, defined by its unique inland dune geography and the narrow valley of the Everser Bach. The reserve encompasses a diverse ecological gradient, protecting sensitive dry heath, moist heathlands, and alder swamp forests that serve as a crucial refuge for regional biodiversity. This structured geographic overview highlights the terrain transitions and conservation significance of this essential German nature reserve.

Area

0.458 km²

Established

1977

IUCN

IV

Verdener Moor Nature Reserve: Geographic Atlas and Protected Area Context

Preserving raised bog ecosystems in Lower Saxony, Germany

Located in the municipality of Kirchlinteln, Verdener Moor functions as a protected nature reserve that demonstrates lowland peatland conservation. The landscape features a distinct mosaic of open water resulting from historical peat extraction, wet heath, and rewilded forest edges. This site offers valuable insight into the restoration of bog habitats through rewetting and bush removal within the broader geography of Lower Saxony.

Area

0.91 km²

Established

1989

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Vogelfreistätte Jastorfer See Nature Reserve in Landkreis Uelzen, Germany

Wetland habitat and river valley protected area

Vogelfreistätte Jastorfer See is a protected wetland landscape located in the Ilmenau valley. This nature reserve, spanning 16.5 hectares, preserves a mosaic of open water and alder swamp forest that sustains diverse bird populations including kingfishers and marsh harriers. It serves as a regionally significant conservation site, embedded within the broader Ilmenautal protected corridor in northern Germany.

Area

0.165 km²

Established

1977

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland