The Biosphere Reserve - Facts and Figures

The Schaalsee landscape consists of a green mosaic of quiet forests, clear lakes, moors, fields and pastures. The marks of many generations are visible in avenues and hedge-lined paths, picturesque villages and small towns. The 24km² large Schaalsee is the centre of the Biosphere Reserve and gives it its name. The inner-German border once ran through the Schaalsee.

Diagram: use of land in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Schaalsee

Schaalsee bei Zarrentin, Blick vom Wasser auf die Uferpromenade — Schaalsee near Zarrentin

Federal state: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Districts: Ludwigslust-Parchim, Northwest Mecklenburg

Area size: 31,000 ha (310 km²)

Expansion: North / South: ca. 32 km; East / West: ca. 12 km

Inhabitants: More than 10,000 people live in the 22 communities of the Biosphere Reserve.

Kühe auf einer extensiven Weide — Extensive pasture-based farming

Use of land

arable land	4,900 ha	48 %
forest	6,100 ha	20 %
grassland	5,900 ha	19 %
inland waters	2,000 ha	6 %
settlement and traffic	1,000 ha	3 %
woods, swamp, reed	1,000 ha	3 %
other	100 ha	1 %
total	31,000 ha

Kleingewässer im Biosphärenreservat Schaalsee — Still waters

Landscape

The largest lake in the Biosphere Reserve is the Schaalsee with 24km²
Followed by the Röggeliner See with a size of 1.7km²
The third largest lake is the Mechower See with 1.6km²
There are nine other lakes and many small bodies of water in the Biosphere Reserve.
There are five rivers: Boize, Schilde, Schaale, Hammerbach, Kneeser Bek
The highest point with 93m above sea level is the Hellberg.

Ein klassisch bunter Stieglitz in einer Wiese. — The European goldfinch is one of 263 bird species in the Biosphere Reserve.

Animal and plant species

Mammals: 46 species including 11 bat species
Amphibians: 11 species
Dragonflies: 55 species
Birds: 263 (breeding birds as well as resting and winter guests)
Fish and cyclostomata : 33 species
Fern and flowering plants: 869 species
Mushrooms: over 1,000 species

Totholz im herbstlichen Buchenwald — Deadwood in a beech forest during autumn.

Zoning

Core zone: 1,749 ha, 5.6%
Long-term development of nature without anthropogenic influence, so that wilderness can rise again.

Maintenance zone: 9,257 ha, 29.9%
Valuable ecosystems in the cultural landscape are preserved through considered land use. Sections of the cultural landscape that are particularly worth protecting.

Development zone: 19,994 ha, 64.5%
Living, economic and recreational space.
The focus here is on balanced, environmentally friendly regional development.