The landscape consists of chains of ponds covering a wide area of the Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz) region, embedded in the upper valley of the Waldnaab river and surrounded by carr woodlands and near-natural alluvial plain grassland. The most essential element from a conservation point of view is a large number of ponds, some of which were dug in medieval times, containing corresponding pond bottom vegetation, floating plant communities and raised bogs on silted up lakes. The surrounding forests are for the most part anthropogenic spruce forests. The waters are predominantly near-natural and unimpeded, but there are problems in some parts due to nutrient inputs. 

The area is characterized by numerically abundant populations of adder (Vipera berus) and moor frog (Rana arvalis) along with various threatened dragonfly species such as the large white-faced darter dragonfly (Leucorrhinia pectoralis), the green club-tailed dragonfly (Ophiogomphus cecilia) and the Eurasian red dragonfly (Sympetrum depressiusculum). The endangered plant species include the flea sedge (Carex pulicaris), the various-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton gramineus), the annual brown clover (Trifolium spadiceum) and the least bur-reed (Sparganium minimum).

The objective of the project is to safeguard and optimize the extensively used cultural landscape of the 'Tirschenreuther Teichpfanne' pond-landscape which harbours a high number of nationally significant habitat types in sites such as watercourses, siltation zones and disused ponds. The plans include restoration of anthropogenically impacted watercourses, the reversal of drainage measures in the alluvial plain area, the extensification of pond uses, the calming of sensitive areas and the conversion of anthropogenic pine stands into site-appropriate forests.