Map Layer Wilderness Areas NRW

The map layer Wildnisgebiet NRW comprises the wilderness development areas designated in North Rhine-Westphalia since 2011 in the state forest of North Rhine-Westphalia. These old beech and oak wood stocks were determined by the State Office for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection (LANUV NRW) and the Landesbetrieb Wald und Holz NRW on the basis of a technically derived concept. There is no longer any forest use in the wilderness development areas, natural developments are authorised. In this way, international and national requirements are met and contribute to the increase of biodiversity. The service includes more than 300 individual areas — so-called wilderness biotopes — which are spread over around 100 wilderness development areas — usually FFH and/or nature reserves. In total, about 7.800 hectares of state forest are taken out of forest use. In addition, the map layer lists other unused forest areas such as the process protection zone of the Eifel National Park and two larger areas taken out of use by a private conservation association or a private forest owner.