With a state-wide ban on gravel gardens and specifications for large glass facades, Hesse wants to strengthen the protection of insects and wild birds.

The amendment to the Nature Conservation Act also stipulates that nature with a biotope network has priority on 15 percent of the open land.

This is intended to slow down the loss of species, which is particularly drastic in meadows, fields and fields, said Environment Minister Priska Hinz (Greens) on Wednesday in the Hessian state parliament in Wiesbaden when the draft law was presented.

One focus is the protection of insects, whose habitats are to be promoted, among other things, by the ban on gravel gardens.

The Hessian building code already stipulates that outdoor areas should be greened and planted as much as possible.

The Nature Conservation Act now makes it clear that gravel is generally not permitted.

Gravel gardens are garden areas that are mostly covered with foil or fleece and then with gravel, chippings and gravel.

This means that the surfaces are often considered sealed and no longer absorb rainwater.

Plants are not used at all or only sparingly, and gravel gardens are unsuitable as habitats for animals.

According to the minister, the country also wants to better protect nocturnal insects by tightening the legal requirements for outdoor lighting.

Light emissions should always be avoided.

According to the Ministry of the Environment, millions of birds die every year from glass facades.

Therefore, there will be a new law, unique in Germany, that large glass facades or reflective facades should be avoided as far as possible during construction or a fundamental renovation.

According to the Green politician, the fight against species extinction and the climate crisis should become the focus of statutory nature and species protection in Hesse.

"We want a trend reversal in Hessian nature conservation."

The opposition factions mostly spoke of a step in the right direction in amending the nature conservation law.

However, improvements in the protection, use and management of the forests in Hesse were also called for.

Only the AfD parliamentary group categorically rejected the plans of the black-green state government.