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Natura 2000 area; preparation and updating of management plans
A management plan is drawn up and updated for each Natura 2000 site in Bavaria.
Responsible for you
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Procedure details
Description
Natura 2000 is the name for the European network of areas worthy of protection that the European Union has established throughout the territory of the member states. The Bavarian Natura 2000 areas include the most important areas in Bavaria for natural biodiversity, regional natural resources and the European natural heritage. They cover around 11 percent of the state's area.
The legal basis for Natura 2000 is
- the European Birds Directive (VS-RL) for the protection of wild European bird species and
- the EU's Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive (FFH Directive) for the conservation of habitats and animal and plant species that are particularly worthy of protection from a European perspective.
The aim of both European nature conservation directives is to ensure a favorable conservation status for the protected assets (plant and animal species, habitat types) listed in the relevant annexes.
The necessary conservation measures in the protected areas designated for this purpose (Natura 2000 sites) are set out in management plans.
The owners and managers of land in Natura 2000 sites have a special responsibility for the success of Natura 2000 and the preservation of the European natural heritage in Bavaria. The state supports them in this by providing information and advice, management plans and implementation projects based on them, and in particular by rewarding specific implementation measures such as nature-friendly land management. Funding programs are offered for this purpose.
The management plans are intended to create clarity and planning security. Precise knowledge of the location and status of habitat types and species as well as their habitats is required for this. A management plan is therefore based on an objective, comprehensible inventory. The results are explained and discussed at round tables or during site inspections.
Kick-off events and round tables therefore also offer an opportunity to work together in a spirit of trust and forge new partnerships for the conservation of our natural heritage.
Certain forms of management and use are often necessary for the preservation or restoration of high-quality, favorable conservation statuses of the relevant protected assets. Therefore, in most cases it is sensible or even necessary to continue or resume the previous management. The management plan shows the ways and possibilities for this and helps to open up funding opportunities for the manager. Natura 2000 thus also serves to generate income in rural areas.
Examples include lowland hay meadows, litter meadows and rough pastures. These have developed over centuries or decades of adapted use and have been preserved through agricultural use. This should be continued on suitable areas.
The measures contained in the management plans are voluntary for private owners. The general statutory prohibition of deterioration (Sections 33 (1), 34 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act - BNatSchG), which applies independently of the management plan, is legally binding. All measures that could lead to a significant deterioration of the habitat types and species relevant to the site are generally prohibited and can only be permitted in exceptional cases defined by law. Whether measures may come into conflict with the prohibition of deterioration must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. If there is a project, an impact assessment and, if necessary, an impact assessment is required.
The specialist responsibility for site management is shared between the nature conservation (for open land) and forestry authorities (for forest areas). In mixed areas, a lead responsibility for organizational issues was agreed in principle depending on the respective area shares. For management planning in Natura 2000 areas, the governments as higher nature conservation authorities or the Offices for Food, Agriculture and Forestry as higher forestry authorities may be responsible.
LIFE living Natura 2000 is an EU-funded communication project for the Natura 2000 network in Bavaria. The project aims to highlight the importance and relevance of this unique network of protected areas for society and nature. It also aims to raise awareness of the European natural heritage in Bavaria and increase acceptance in society. Under the leadership of the Bavarian Academy for Nature Conservation and Landscape Management (ANL) and in cooperation with the district governments, various activities and events are offered.
Proceedings
The lead authority responsible for planning first invites the public to a kick-off event. It then prepares a draft management plan in accordance with a standardized framework. In most cases, the nature conservation authorities will also consult qualified planning offices. The draft is then discussed intensively at the "round table". Taking the results of the discussions into account, the responsible authority draws up an implementable plan, which is also published once it has been completed.
Special notes
In principle, a management plan consists of two parts: The basic part primarily contains information on the occurrence and status of habitat types, animal and plant species. The measures section (management plan in the narrower sense) specifies the conservation objectives for the sites and describes the measures required to conserve the site.
Legal bases
Status: 13.06.2025
Editorial responsibility Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz
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