User:GPSLeo/protected areas

Plan for a consistent category structure and naming for protected areas in Germany.

Naming convention

The general rule is: Area Type + Name for the area. If the area type has more than one word an abbreviation is used. For German specific areas the area type is in German. For the higher categories the English translation is used.

Name German	Name English	Abbreviation	Prefix to use for sites	Prefix to use for all higher cats	Comment
Naturschutzgebiet	Nature reserve	NSG	Naturschutzgebiet	Nature reserves
Landschaftsschutzgebiet	Protected landscape area	LSG	Landschaftsschutzgebiet	Protected landscape areas
Nationalpark	National park	NLP/NP	Nationalpark	National parks
Nationale Naturmonumente	National natural monument	NNM	NNM	National natural monuments
Naturpark	Nature park	NRP/NP	Naturpark	Nature parks
Geschützte Landschaftsbestandteile	Protected landscape element	gLB/GLB	INDIVIDUAL	Protected landscape elements	As this protection type is a bit different adding a prefix is not always useful.
Naturdenkmal	Natural monument	ND	INDIVIDUAL	Natural monuments	As this protection type is a bit different adding a prefix is not always useful.
FFH-Gebiet	Special Area of Conservation	SAC	SAC	Special Areas of Conservation	Areas are in a procedure before becoming declared as "Special Areas of Conservation" for convenient naming this term in used for areas in all stages.
Vogelschutzgebiet	Special Protection Area	SPA	SPA	Special Protection Areas
Biosphärenreservat	Biosphere reserve	- no common abbreviation	Biosphärenreservat	Biosphere reserves
Bannwald/Naturwaldreservat/Naturwald	Protected forest	- no common abbreviation	Term used in the state the area is in	Protected forests	For different names in the German states see de:Naturwaldreservat
UNESCO-Weltnaturerbe	World Heritage Site	- no common abbreviation	World Heritage Site	World Heritage Sites	IMPORTANT: Only include photos of the site areas itself not the area around. Do not categorize the hole national park/nature reserve under "World Heritage Sites".
Ramsargebiet	Ramsar site	- no common abbreviation	Ramsar site	Ramsar sites	Info on area definition needed

Structure of collective cats

* National: National park, National natural monument, Nature park, Biosphere reserve, World Heritage Site, Ramsar site

* State: (For City states and Bezirke as replacement for Municipalities)

* District: Nature reserve, Protected landscape area, Protected landscape element, Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Protected forest

* Municipality: Natural monument

Former areas

Protected areas no longer existing or as an other with a new name and/or type should be part of the regular structure. Those categories should only contain images taken during the time the area existed.

Same area

I some cases different types of areas share the exact same shape. If every square meter of the areas are the same then there should only be one category. This category is named after the most common name for this area. Here are some ruler of frequent cases:

• Nature reserve + Special Areas of Conservation -> Nature reserve
• Nature park + any other type -> Nature park
• National park + any other type -> National park
• Biosphere reserve + any other type -> Biosphere reserve
• Protected forest + any other type -> the other type
• Special Areas of Conservation + Protected landscape area -> Special Area of Conservation

A category for every site

Every protected area should have a category whether there is a category for the geographical feature or not. Protected areas can be categorized under the geographical feature or other protected area and geographical features can be categorized under the protected area. There it should always by ensured that images in the subcategory are showing the protected area.

This does not apply to nature monuments and protected landscape elements where in many cases no area is defined.