Protected landscape component
A protected landscape component (gLB) in Germany is a legally binding part of nature and landscape that is specifically protected in accordance with Section 29 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act
- to maintain, develop or restore the efficiency and functionality of the ecosystem,
- for revitalizing, structuring or maintaining the townscape or landscape ,
- to ward off harmful effects or
- because of their importance as the habitat of certain wild animal and plant species
is required (legal text). A protected landscape component, like all protected parts of nature and landscape in Germany, becomes legally effective through a declaration. The delimitation of the area, the protection goals and any measures required for protection, such as commands and prohibitions for use or maintenance, are specified. The form in which this declaration is made depends on national law. You can z. B. by decree or as a statutory ordinance. In contrast to the other protected area categories, protection as a protected landscape component can also extend across the board to the entire stock of avenues, one-sided rows of trees, trees, hedges or other landscape elements in an area (e.g. a district or a federal state). The federal states can define further area categories that can be declared part of the protected landscape and define different regulations for their designation.
Protected landscape components are usually small-scale, manageable structures (a hedge, a group of trees). Large-scale protected areas are not designated according to this category. Particularly valuable individual trees are usually not protected as gLB, but as natural monuments.
The removal of the protected part of the landscape and all actions that could lead to its destruction, damage or alteration are prohibited. Exceptions to this prohibition are only permitted if there are compelling reasons, e.g. B. traffic safety must be carried out. In the event of a stock reduction, the federal states can e.g. B. in the case of partial felling of the avenue or partial removal of the hedge, stipulate the obligation to substitute plantings. The duty to maintain safety in the case of protected landscape components (and natural monuments) is often controversial in practice. If the owner of the gLB instructs the authority z. B. on a danger tree and requests its felling, and the authority rejects this because of the protection status, many lawyers are of the opinion that the duty of safety is then transferred to the authority.
Like all protected areas, protected landscape components should be marked. Signs with the same symbols as for nature and landscape protection areas, but with reduced dimensions, are generally used for identification. The labeling varies depending on the federal state.
Depending on the federal state, gLB, GLB or LB is used as an abbreviation.
