UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory

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	Biosphere Reserve Information
	Germany FLUSSLANDSCHAFT ELBE	© Photo: Flusslandschaft Elbe BR


General Description	After the reunification of Germany and its extension in 1997, this biosphere reserve now covers a long extent of the Elbe River, extending over five German Länder (Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein). The Flusslandschaft Elbe Biosphere Reserve represents one of the biggest contiguous floodplain forests in Central Europe. Other habitats are flooded grasslands, sand dunes, sandy dry and oligotrophic grassland communities, coniferous and mixed forests and lowland marshlands. This ‘riverscape’ biosphere reserve also comprises a cultural landscape, designated as World Heritage (The Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz) and several Natura 2000 habitats. There are about 160,000 people living in the biosphere reserve (1998). Currently, projects focus on the restoration of backwater lakes, beaver and willow management, floodplain forest development, environmental education and the promotion of tourism in the Elbe River region.
Major ecosystem type	Temperate broad-leaf forest; riverine system
Major habitats & land cover types	Lowland river and lower reaches of the tributaries (incl. sand banks, beaches and littoral zones), main species such as Corrigiola litoralis, Dichostylis micheliana, Eragrostis albensis etc.; flooded grassland with Allium angulosum, Cnidium dubium, Cardamine parviflora, Iris sibirica etc.; riparian forest characterized by pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), elm (Ulmus laevis, U. minor), field maple (Acer campestre), Pyrus pyraster etc.; dead channels, ox-bows; small, sometimes deep pools near river-dykes (bracks); sand dunes, sandy dry and oligotrophic grassland communities and sand dikes with Aster linosyris, Biscutella laevigata, Orchis mascula, Rorippa pyrenaica etc.; coniferous and mixed forest of the valley sands with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris); lowland marshlands near dykes with large shallow flooding groundwater; cultural landscapes and settlements
Location	51°42' to 53°24'N; 10°26' to 12°43'E
Area (hectares)
Total	374,432
Core area(s)
Buffer zone(s)	Zonation not yet defined
Transition area(s) when given
Altitude (metres above sea level)	0 to +110
Year designated	1979, extension 1997
Administrative authorities	Ministerium für Raumordnung, Landwirtschaft und Umwelt des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt Ministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Raumordnung des Landes Brandenburg Ministerium für Landwirtschaft und Naturschutz des Landes Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Ministerium für Umwelt, Natur und Forsten des Landes Schleswig-Holstein, Niedersächsisches Umweltministerium

Last updated: 28/02/2007