Living and Working

Around 20,000 people live within the boundaries of the biosphere reserve with its approxi-mately 570 km². The population of this very rural area is actually decreasing at present, and we may expect the average age of the people living there to increase as a result of demo-graphic developments in the next few decades. The infrastructure of the region is relatively underdeveloped, whilst on the other hand its unspoilt landscape has a great deal of potential.

These circumstances combine to provide especially good prospects for development in the areas of tourism and culture, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy, nature, landscape and environmental education.

In this respect, the Lower Saxonian Elbe Valley Biosphere Reserve can be a motive force in promoting sustainable development.