Frequently asked questions about the landscape plan

General information on the landscape plan
Landscape plan flyer

The main features of the Aachen landscape plan have been in place since 1988. In particular, changes in legislation and changes in the use of outdoor building areas make a new version necessary.
Citizen input form
Supplementary explanations

The contents of the plan are based on the identified protection needs of the individual areas, their importance for biodiversity, the biotope network and, among other things, climate protection. The landscape plan is adopted as a municipal statute by the committees of the City of Aachen in accordance with the provisions of the Federal and State Nature Conservation Act with the intensive involvement of the public and all affected citizens.

The new landscape plan is expected to be valid for 20 to 30 years. However, current developments and plans can be responded to at any time by means of amendment procedures.

The landscape plan should always be read as a combination of text and map. The respective boundaries of a designation are based on boundaries that can be easily traced in the locality as far as possible, such as along a parcel of land (parcels of land), road and path boundaries, changes in use (e.g. forest boundaries and topographical features), which include embankments and terrace edges, for example. The scale of the ordinance map is 1:10,000 (i.e. 1 cm on the map corresponds to 100 m in reality). The digital map allows a view down to the exact boundary of the parcel, but in addition to the cartographic boundary, the content must also be defined. There must be a correspondence between content and cartography. For example, classified roads (federal, state and district roads), even if they are part of a protected area representation, are not affected by the protection definitions in the text.

Development objectives are binding on the authorities. They define the focal points and objectives of future landscape development and must be taken into account and weighed up in all public planning. There are no direct consequences for agricultural or forestry use, for example.

The Aachen landscape plan defines the following protected area categories:

• Nature conservation areas (NSG), designated on the basis of Section 23 BNatSchG
• Landscape conservation areas (LSG), the designation is based on Section 26 BNatSchG
• Natural monuments (ND), the designation is made on the basis of § 28 BNatSchG
• Protected landscape elements (LB), the designation is based on § 29 BNatSchG.

Nature reserve (NSG)

Nature conservation areas (NSG) are ecologically particularly valuable areas and ensure core areas of the biotope network; the protection and development of habitats and biocoenoses is paramount. Nature reserves are designated purely on the basis of nature conservation criteria. These include, in particular, the importance of the areas for the biotope network, ecologically valuable and rare biotopes and biotopes in need of protection, as well as the biotope development potential. When designating new nature reserves, all interests must be weighed up professionally and appropriately.
The permitted uses and activities in nature reserves are specified by general and area-specific prohibitions and restrictions. The zones shown in some nature conservation areas represent sub-areas of the nature conservation areas that are to be managed/maintained in a certain way. Targets and measures for the conservation and development (optimization) of a nature reserve have been defined on the basis of actual use. In the zoned nature reserves, graduated and differentiated protection is thus achieved with adapted management restrictions in accordance with the respective biotope requirements.

Landscape conservation areas (LSG)

Landscape conservation areas (LSG) serve to protect large areas for the conservation or restoration of the landscape and its habitats, to safeguard the cultural landscape and for recreational use, and the permitted uses and activities in the LSG are specified by general and area-specific prohibitions and restrictions. In addition, in some LSGs, areas for measures are defined that provide for enhancing measures for the ecosystem, such as the planting of trees and shrubs or the extensification of land use with, among other things, production-integrated measures, for a certain proportion of the area. The measures can be implemented in the entire area; a plot-specific presentation is not required.

Natural monuments (ND)

Natural monuments (ND) are special, exceptional individual creations of nature, in the Aachen landscape plan exclusively particularly noteworthy trees.

Protected landscape feature (LB)

Protected landscape elements (LB) protect certain objects or clearly definable landscape structures with particularly valuable ecological functions or special significance for the townscape and landscape. These include, for example, orchards or pastures or small streams. The permitted uses and activities in the LB are specified by general and area-specific prohibitions and restrictions.

The development, maintenance and development measures include the planting of trees and shrubs, the maintenance of grassland and special biotopes as well as the creation of paths and recreational guidance concepts. They are always implemented in consultation with users and landowners.

Volume 1 contains the general and area-specific prohibitions, the inviolabilities and exceptions to the respective protected areas. These have been presented in a separate document to provide a better overview:
Overview of textual stipulations LP draft
In addition, the prohibitions, exceptions and exemptions have been presented in a separate document according to the user groups "owners/tenants - recreationists - recreational facilities I operators":
Overview of prohibitions, exceptions and exemptions

Synopsis of the revision of the Aachen landscape plan

In the geodata portal of the City of Aachen, you can display the location of your property by entering the district, parcel and plot. By displaying the designation map, you can then see whether your property lies within the scope of the draft landscape plan and is therefore affected by the plans.

If your property is located in the area of application, it is important to check which category of protected area and which corresponding general and area-specific regulations and provisions in Text Volume 1 apply. The respective numbers in the protected areas of the designation map refer to the respective numbers of the protected areas in Volume 1. In the geodata portal (see question 15), it is possible to call up the corresponding general and area-specific designations directly by clicking on an area. Please note that there are also areas within the scope of application that are not shown as protected areas.

Contact persons for questions regarding the landscape plan procedure:

Department of Urban Development and Planning
Department of Urban Development 61/300

Contact person for questions on subject-specific content:
Department of Environment and Climate
Department of Lower Nature Conservation Authority

During the exhibition period, you can submit comments, information and suggestions or express concerns about the draft. Comments can be submitted in writing or for the record to the Department of Urban Development and Planning (administration building at Marschiertor, Lagerhausstraße 20), via the NRW participation portal or to landschaftsplan@mail.aachen.de during the exhibition period.

Existing and legally approved buildings are protected in the landscape conservation area (LSG). Structural changes, changes of use and renovations within protected buildings as well as structural changes to facades and roofs including dormers remain unaffected by the prohibitions, provided that this does not involve any new sealing (see "Unaffectedness" no. 18 "Textual stipulations LP draft"). For more extensive measures, exceptions to the prohibitions of the LSG are also provided for certain projects, which can be applied for at the lower nature conservation authority (e.g. for measures on monuments in agreement with the lower monument authority or for minor and appropriate extensions to a permitted building).

Horticultural use is not prohibited in the landscape conservation area. Measures within the scope of the proper and customary local use of home gardens in their previous type and scope are unaffected by the prohibitions (see Unaffectedness No. 17 - Overview of textual stipulations LP draft).

The regulations (prohibitions and requirements) only apply to the clearly defined protected area. If your property is located in a landscape conservation area (LSG), only the LSG regulations apply here. However, it must be ensured that there are no harmful effects on the NSG or LB, as otherwise the provisions of the NSG/LB may be affected.

A natural monument must be preserved in accordance with the statutory regulations. The necessary care and maintenance measures are determined together with the owner during a regular tree inspection.

The farmsteads are generally located in a landscape conservation area (LSG). The general and area-specific regulations must be observed here. However, a large number of exceptions and exemptions ensure proper operation. Even in the landscape plan from 1988, which is still legally valid, numerous farmsteads are located in the LSG. There are no farmsteads in nature conservation areas or protected landscape features.

Extensions and conversions in the landscape conservation area are possible via an exception to the prohibitions if the agricultural business is privileged in accordance with Section 35 (1) No. 1 of the German Building Code, provided that these are justifiable in terms of nature conservation. The location for the new building must therefore be agreed with the lower nature conservation authority; among other things, specially protected biotopes in accordance with Section 30 BNatSchG (Federal Nature Conservation Act) or Section 42 LNatSchG NRW (Law on the Protection of Nature in North Rhine-Westphalia) must not be impaired. In principle, such exceptions are also provided for in nature conservation areas and protected landscape features. Due to the higher protection value of these areas, the hurdles for an exemption permit are correspondingly higher.

Since September 2021, the Plant Protection Application Ordinance (PflSchAnwV) has prohibited the use of certain plant protection products (in particular herbicides and insecticides) in nature reserves (NSG), natural monuments (ND) and legally protected biotopes, among others. There is also a ban on applying plant protection products (PPPs) within a distance of 10 m from a body of water or 5 m in the case of closed ground cover, regardless of the category of protected area. Exceptions to the PflSchAnwV are only possible in 3 cases by the NRW Plant Protection Service (Chamber of Agriculture):

1. to prevent significant agricultural, forestry or other economic damage,
2. to protect native flora and fauna, in particular from invasive species and
3. to ensure the safety of railroads.

A decree of the Ministry of Agriculture and Consumer Protection NRW dated 01.03.2023 specifies these exceptional cases. For example, in the case of a threat to arable weed communities worthy of protection, such as in the planned Schneeberg nature reserve, an exception under 2. is possible.

The lower nature conservation authority is planning an early exchange with the plant protection service and affected farmers in order to coordinate the possible need for the use of plant protection products and thus be able to quickly approve a necessary exceptional case.

According to Section 4 (1) No. 6 LNatSchG NRW (Law on the Protection of Nature in North Rhine-Westphalia), the use of PPPs on permanent grassland in nature reserves has been prohibited since 01.01.2022. However, there are also exceptions to this, which can be granted by the lower nature conservation authority. This applies to the selective removal of poisonous, invasive or, in the case of increased occurrence, problematic plant species for grassland use.

The landscape plan does not stipulate a general area-wide ban on fertilization for the protected areas. However, mandatory bans and restrictions necessary for biotope protection are stipulated for specific areas, particularly in the nature conservation areas (NSG) and protected landscape features (LB), and voluntary extensification measures are also used. Good professional practice and the balanced nutrient balance already required in the Fertilizer Ordinance, also referred to here as maintenance fertilization, provide the basis for further, voluntary contractual agreements that are intended to lead to a further reduction in fertilization depending on the biotope. This means, for example, that in most cases maintenance fertilization can continue to be applied to pastureland (fat pasture), depending on the location and conservation purpose. Area-specific regulations and requirements in the NSG and LB must also be observed.

The nature conservation maintenance and development plans for open land areas and action plans for forest areas serve to specify the measures planned in the protected areas on the basis of the conservation purposes. As a basis, an intensive and detailed survey of fauna and flora is carried out. The plot-specific maintenance plan or concept is then drawn up on this basis. The measures are determined in early consultation with the owners and users of the areas concerned. The result is then a contractual agreement on the implementation of the measures.

In the area of landscape conservation areas, measure areas are defined to achieve the conservation objectives. Here, measures to enrich the landscape are planned for a defined proportion of the area (e.g. 10% of the area of the entire measure area). The absence of a specific area commitment allows the necessary flexibility to implement appropriate measures on different areas by mutual agreement with the farmers and owners. The focal points of the measure areas depend on the natural features of the measure area and the desired target state. For example, in areas characterized by arable farming, production-integrated measures are to be implemented to promote open field species.

Like all measures in the landscape plan, individual measures are also implemented by contract in consultation with the owners and users.

The commitment is regulated by contract.

No! Cycling is only permitted on the paths marked for this purpose or on paths on which it is permitted.

No! Drones may only be used for proper agriculture, forestry and hunting, for legally prescribed maintenance obligations or in emergencies. For example, drone flights are used to locate fawns before mowing.

Yes, but only on the paths marked for this purpose. The paths may not be left.

Dogs must be kept on a lead in nature reserves, certain protected landscape features and the Horbacher Börde and Vaalser Lösshügelland areas for reasons of species protection (e.g. hunting or disturbance of wild species such as farmland birds).