Nationwide protection of Germany’s native plant and animal species requires both management of the country’s entire land surface in a manner which is compatible with nature as well as due regard for nature conservation interests, particularly in connection with the planning of urban development and transport projects. Agriculture and forestry have the greatest direct impact on nature and the landscape, for about 80 percent of Germany’s total area is utilized for agricultural and forestry purposes.

Within the framework of the EU Directive on the conservation of natural habitats as well as wild animals and plants (Flora-Fauna-Habitat Directive), provision has been made for the creation of a European system of networked biotopes (”NATURA 2000″) which among other things will make possible an exchange of genetic material between the individual protected areas. In the states of the Federal Republic of Germany, efforts are being made to establish a network of ecologically valuable areas covering about 1 5 percent of the land not used for human settlement purposes. Germany is also playing an active role in the adoption, implementation and elaboration of international nature conservation agreements such as: }>the Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory

Species of Wild Animals;

£>the Flora-Fauna-Habitat Directive and the Bird Directive of the European Union;
>the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, which will assume increasing importance through cooperation between Eastern and Western European countries within the framework of the Council of Europe; 2>the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International