Landscapes and regions
The Danube river valley
The Danube river valley is characterised by partially intact riparian forests that provide a habitat for many animal and plant species. Many areas are dependent on the natural course of the river, such as water areas with open mudflats, wet meadows and extensive siltation zones with reeds, as well as stillwaters.
The Outer Bavarian Forest
The Outer Bavarian Forest represents a largely unfragmented area with many forests and very species- and structure-rich grasslands. The open areas include, among others, moorland and spring areas, extensive meadows, numerous hedgerows and mountain pastures. There are also extensive orchards in this area, for example in the Lallinger Winkel. The southern, outer part of the Bavarian Forest is the gate to the Inner Bavarian Forest, where the National Park is located.
The valleys of the rivers Regen and Ilz
The valleys of the rivers Regen and Ilz are for the most part still in their natural state, even though a great deal of water is diverted from both rivers for the generation of electricity. Both rivers have diverse, braided river systems that provide habitats for highly endangered or rare species and thus also are important for the connectivity of biotopes. The preservation of near-natural and less polluted river stretches, as well as the renaturation of sections that have already been built up, is a priority objective in order to improve as well as restore intact river ecosystems.
The Inner Bavarian Forest
The Inner Bavarian Forest is characterised by dense forests and is part of the largest contiguous forest area in Europe. As a result, this natural area is an important habitat and a reintroduction centre for rare species such as capercaillie, black stork, otter and lynx.
In the area of the nature park, efforts are being made to develop this region as a peripheral area to the national park in such a way that plants and animals are also given a habitat and propagation opportunities outside the more strictly protected Bavarian Forest National Park. Therefore, watercourses and forest areas must be restored to their natural state. On top of that tourism development should be tailored to the needs of these species worthy of protection and provide sufficiently large resting areas where visitors are sparce and adhere to strict rules.