The present Law transposes into German law the Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora of 21 May 1992; Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conservation of wild birds of 30 November 2009; Council Directive 1999/22/EC relating to the keeping of wild animals in zoos of 29 March 1999 and the Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment of 27 June 2009. Article 1 establishes that special valuable land in the ownership or possession of legal persons of public law shall be preserved in their ecological nature and further developed to promote biodiversity where possible.
The text consists of 71 articles divided into 11 Parts as follows: General provisions (1); Land use planning (2); General protection of nature and landscape (3); Protection of certain parts of nature and landscape (4); Protection of wild fauna and wild flora (5); Recreation in nature and landscape (6); Recognition and participation of nature protection associations (7); Pre-emption, ownership, compensation (8); Organization and competence (9); Penalties (10); Transitional and implementing provisions (11). Two Annexes are enclosed.