FFH habitat types

GIS dataset containing the first-invented biotope types and FFH habitat types in the Natura 2000 sites in the Lower Saxony Elbtalaue Biosphere Reserve between 2001 and 2009. The FFH area “Elbe settlement between Schnackenburg and Geesthacht” (Melde no. DE 2528-331) covers 22,654 hectares. Apart from the Elbelauf between Lauenburg and Geesthacht and the right half of the river in the section between Boizenburg and Lauenburg, it lies in the biosphere reserve “Lower Saxony Elbtalaue” and occupies about half of the biosphere reserve area (MU 2006b) (see text map 5). The area described in Annex 4 to the Act on the Biosphere Reserve “Lower Saxony Elbtalaue” (NElbtBRG) as a FFH proposal area “Elbe settlement between Schnackenburg and Lauenburg” is according to the Commission decision of 7. December 2004 (OJ L 382/1, 28. The list of sites of Community importance for the continental biogeographical region has been added to the list of sites of Community importance for the continental biogeographical region. It has thus no longer been granted the status of a proposed area, but of an existing FFH area (“Elbe settlement between Schnackenburg and Lauenburg”, registration no. DE 2629-302). In October 2004, the Lower Saxony State Government adopted a list of FFH territorial proposals for post-registration to the European Commission, which also included four areas that complement the existing FFH area: — Elbe between Boizenburg and Geesthacht — Rögnitz and trench system — Waters and marshes on the Gartower Forest — Buchhorst south of Gartow. The existing FFH area and the four post-notification areas were merged under the new name “Elbe settlement between Schnackenburg and Geesthacht” and proposed to the EU Commission with this designation as a whole FFH area. With the decision of the European Commission of 13 November 2007, the Biosphere Reserve Plan “Lower Saxony Elbtalaue” of 17.03.2009 41 also has the status of an existing FFH area. The FFH site is intended to protect certain habitat types and species, some of which are protected by special (“priority”) protection (NElbtBRG, Annex 5). Priority habitat types are, for example, on dry sites (dry, calcareous Sandrasen and species-rich borth grass on silicate soils), on moor sites (living high bogs, moor forests) and in the brook and softwood meadows (Auenwälder with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior — Alno-Padion, Salicion albae). As a priority species under the Habitats Directive, the eremit (Osmoderma eremita) occurs in the Biosphere Reserve, with numerous other species listed in Annex II to the Habitats Directive (cf. Chapter 5.1.1). The FFH area 247 “The Jeetzel Water System with spring forests” extends with the northern tip into the Biosphere Reserve.