FLAG Factsheet
The Eastern Oberlausitz FLAG is situated in the eastern part of Saxony. This primarily rural region is located between the border with Poland and the conurbation of Dresden (approx.100 km away). The landscape is characterised by many diverse natural areas with rare animal and botanical species. It ranges from the dry pinewoods in the north, to the damp meadows, moors and ponds of the “Oberlausitzer Heide- und Teichlandschaft” and the loess-covered hills in the south, which are very productive for agriculture.
The FLAG area is a sparsely populated rural area. 30.2 km² of the FLAG area are covered by water, and approximately half of it consists of cultivated ponds which are fished by small scale companies.
The main challenges here include a lack of diversification of the aquaculture and fishing industry, as well as a lack of added value for fisheries products and the area’s negative image. The aim of the FLAG is to improve territorial marketing and to convince the wider local population to buy local fish.
The FLAG area is part of the UNESCO biosphere-reserve “Oberlausitzer Heide- und Teichlandschaft”. Seven nature reserve areas are part of the FLAG area, the most important for the fishing industry is the “Teichgebiet Niederspree - pond-area Niederspree” (2 014 ha) nature reserve. There are also several European bird conservation areas and 18 special areas of conservation. There is a total of approximately 200 km² of protected areas.
The FLAG strategy responds to the main challenges of the area by:
Regional (Saxony)
There are two - three times a year specific calls for projects (FLAG and LAG-projects).
The FLAG territory corresponds to the territory of the Eastern Oberlausitz LAG. The decision-making board of the FLAG and the LAG are the same. Only one member of the decision-making board represents the fishing industry. The LAG takes over the tasks of the FLAG whereby a single local development strategy has been developed for the LAG and the FLAG together.
The Eastern Oberlausitz FLAG is also referred to as the Eastern Oberlausitz LAG. The FLAG members correspond to the LAG members. 52% of the members represent the private sector and the civil society (local economy, marketing, culture, education, crafts, churches, tourism, environment, fisheries, agriculture, energy consulting).