Leader region Hohe Heide
The Leader Region Hohe Heide is an intermunicipal association of eleven cities and municipalities from the districts of Rotenburg (Wümme) , Heidekreis and Verden in Lower Saxony .
The application submitted in 2001 for the EU community initiative LEADER + emerged from the process of Agricultural Structural Development Planning (AEP) Hohe Heide . The regional development concept Hohe Heide , which was drawn up with large public participation, includes the strategy for the development of this rural area. From 2002 to 2007, a total of 85 projects with an investment sum of more than € 4.25 million were implemented with EU funds. For this purpose, € 1.95 million LEADER + funds were made available. Most of the projects come from the fields of tourism and culture as well as agriculture and forestry.
The region updated its strategy in 2007 and submitted the regional development concept Hohe Heide 2007-2013 to the Lower Saxony Ministry for Rural Areas, Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (ML). Numerous actors from the region contributed to the development of the concept. The experiences of the past years and many new ideas were important bases for the creation. The Hohe Heide has been recognized as one of 32 Leader regions in Lower Saxony and will again receive EUR 2 million in EU funding for the 2007-2013 funding period.
The Hohen Heide area today includes the following cities and communities or parts of them: Samtgemeinde Bothel with the member communities Bothel, Brockel, Hemslingen, Hemsbünde, Kirchwalsede and Westerwalsede (district of Rotenburg (Wümme)); Municipality Kirchlinteln with the villages Bendingbostel, Brunsbrock, Heins, Holtum (Geest) Kirchlinteln, Kreepen, chicks Moor , Schafwinkel, Sehlingen (Verden); Neuenkirchen municipality with the villages of Neuenkirchen, Behningen (partially), Brochdorf, Delmsen, Grauen, Tewel (Heidekreis district); City of Schneverdingen with the villages of Großenwede and Lünzen (Heidekreis district); City of Soltau with the villages of Ahlften (partly), Brock (partly), Dittmern (partly), Harber, Hötzingen, Leitzingen, Marbostel, Meinern (partly), Mittelstendorf (partly), Moide, Oeningen (partly), Tetendorf (partly), Wiedingen, Woltem, Wolterdingen (partly), Soltau (partly) (district of Heidekreis); City of Visselhövede (Rotenburg-Wümme district). 35,969 people live in an area of 641.7 km².
The central decision-making body is the Local Action Group (LAG) Hohe Heide . It decided on the REK and is now implementing it responsibly. According to the rules of procedure, it aims to "develop regional strategies across borders for integrated future development in economic, ecological and socially acceptable terms under the aspects of exemplary character, innovation and sustainability. The strategies should address the living conditions in and Secure, strengthen and improve identification with the region and its associated localities in the long term. "
The LAG is composed of the group of economic and social partners (WiSo partners) and the group of municipal representatives. The WiSo partners form the majority and represent various topics that are relevant to the region. All members are based in the Hohe Heide or are responsible for the region by virtue of their office or function. The members decide which projects should receive funds from the funding quota (assuming they are fundamentally eligible for funding through Leader). In order to receive funding, all projects must be co-financed with public funds.