Göppingen: Over 25% of the area under protection – focus on biotopes!

Göppingen: Over 25% of the area under protection – focus on biotopes!

Nature is fully protected in the Göppingen district. More than a quarter of the area is occupied by various protected areas, and this is no coincidence. Those responsible here have done a really good job of preserving the diverse flora and fauna in our region. An impressive 460 natural monuments are recorded throughout the district, spread over 247 large objects and 213 individual monuments, among which the majestic Altenberg oak near Waschenbeuren stands out as a natural monument - ennobled since 1994.

A real treasure trove for nature lovers are the 35 landscape protection areas with a total area of ​​around 15,700 hectares, which not only offer valuable recreational space, but also act as buffer zones to nature reserves. The beauty of nature and the preservation of these areas are crucial to securing the habitat for many endangered species, reports Stuttgarter News.

What are protected areas?

Nature and landscape conservation areas, such as those in the Göppingen district, are special areas that are provided with framework conditions to preserve nature. According to Wikipedia, the goal of protection is to permanently secure habitats for endangered animals and plants. These areas are classified by different categories, such as nature reserves, landscape protection areas or biosphere reserves. Each of these areas has its own protective purpose and specific use restrictions.

In Germany, the requirements for the protection of nature and landscape are anchored in the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), which means that the legal conditions for the recognition and management of these areas are clearly regulated. As part of these efforts to promote biodiversity, national natural monuments have even been included in the law, which shows how seriously the protection of nature is taken, according to information from BfN.

Diversity of protected areas in Göppingen

In the Göppingen district there are 20 nature reserves with a total of 2,887 hectares, which makes up around 4.5% of the district area. The largest of them, the “Eybtal with parts of the Längental and Rohrachtal”, stretches over an impressive 1,331 hectares and is therefore not only a place for relaxation, but also an important habitat for many species. In addition, the district is home to the only protected forest “Teufelsloch” near Bad Boll, which, at 18 hectares, does not require any forestry management.

There are also eight protective forests in the district with an area of ​​245 hectares, including the impressive Eichertwald with 89 hectares and the Baronenwald with 27.5 hectares. There are also eight FFH areas and three bird sanctuaries, all of which contribute to the common goal: the protection and preservation of the natural habitats that are so important for biodiversity.

Of course, there are still many undiscovered biotopes in the region, although exact numbers often remain unclear as many of these habitats do not need to be officially mapped. But one thing is certain: in Göppingen, nature is close to people's hearts, and the large number of protected areas speaks for itself.