Spreewald Biosphere Reserve
There are currently 15 biosphere reserves in Germany. One of them is the Spreewald Biosphere Reserve, which was officially recognised by UNESCO in 1991. The term refers to cultural landscapes that are particularly worthy of protection due to their unique flora and fauna and contribute to the preservation of ecosystems and genetic diversity. The Spreewald Biosphere Reserve is located about 100 km southeast of Berlin in the state of Brandenburg and covers an area of about 47,500 hectares.
One of the special features of the region is the 1,500 kilometre long, intricate network of rivers. The river arms typical of the Spreewald were formed during the last ice age and provide a protected habitat for around 5,000 animal and plant species - including rare specimens such as the fire-bellied toad, the white-tailed eagle, the green mosaic dragonfly and the otter. But also the old alder stand and the extensive wet meadows and bogs are home to many rare plant species such as sundew, marsh spurge, cranberry and cotton grass.
The Spreewald biosphere reserve is located about 100 km southeast of Berlin in the state of Brandenburg and covers an area of about 47,500 hectares. One of the special features of the region is the 1,500 kilometre long, intricate network of rivers. The river arms typical of the Spreewald were formed during the last ice age and provide a protected habitat for around 5,000 animal and plant species - including rare specimens such as the fire-bellied toad, the white-tailed eagle, the green mosaic dragonfly and the otter. But also the old alder stand and the extensive wet meadows and bogs are home to many rare plant species such as sundew, marsh spurge, cranberry and cotton grass.
Contact & contact persons
Biosphere Reserve Spreewald House for Man & Nature Schulstraße 9 03222 Lübbenau/Spreewald
Phone: +49 (0)35 42 - 89 21 -0
Email: br-spreewald@
lfu.brandenburg.de
Homepage: www.spreewald-biosphaerenreservat.de
Visitor centres of the biosphere reserve
There are a total of three visitor centres in the Spreewald, which provide information about the origins and life in the biosphere reserve in a multimedia exhibition. Each of the houses is individually designed and has a different focus. Together with the bullfrog Bully, visitors wander through three worlds of experience in the exhibition in the House for Man & Nature in Lübbenau, which opened in 2015, and learn about the unique flowing landscape of the Spreewald.
In the Old Mill in Schlepzig, "Under Water on the Move" shows various creatures of the Spreewald rivers, from the large catfish at the bottom to the tiny water fleas on the water's surface. "Views and vistas" can be found at Schlossberghof Burg if you want to learn interesting facts about cultivated and useful plants as well as agriculture of the past and present.
Nature tourism & environmental education in the biosphere reserve
The biosphere reserve's main areas of work include nature conservation, nature tourism, regional development and environmental education. Nature discovery trails, the medicinal and spice plant garden in Dissen or the visitor information centres make a valuable contribution to environmental education.
As a paradise for water hikers, the habitats along the Spreewald rivers are particularly endangered. An information system for water hikers, which provides information about 15 legal resting places (bivouac places) for paddlers, is intended to support low-impact nature tourism in the biosphere reserve.