▁declared ▁a ▁nature ▁reserve ▁( the ▁rules ▁came ▁into ▁force ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 9 2 2 ). ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 3 ▁this ▁protected ▁area ▁was ▁expanded ▁to ▁ 2 3 , 4 4 0 ▁hect ares . ▁By ▁the ▁beginning ▁of ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁the ▁area ▁of ▁the ▁nature ▁reserve ▁had ▁become ▁identical ▁with ▁that ▁of ▁the ▁Lü ne burg ▁He ath ▁Nature ▁Park . ▁However , ▁the ▁latter ▁was ▁then ▁further ▁expanded ▁on ▁ 1 4 ▁February ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁to ▁more ▁than ▁ 1 0 7 7 ▁square ▁kilometres . ▁The ▁districts ▁of ▁He ide kreis ▁and ▁Har burg ▁are ▁responsible ▁for ▁the ▁area ▁in ▁their ▁role ▁as ▁sub ordinate ▁nature ▁conservation ▁authorities . ▁ ▁Flora ▁and ▁fa una ▁ ▁The ▁nature ▁reserve ▁compr ises ▁ 6 0 % ▁woods , ▁ 2 6 % ▁he ath , ▁ 8 , 5 % ▁cultiv ated ▁land , ▁ 3 % ▁past ure , ▁ 2 % ▁mar sh ▁and ▁ 1 , 5 % ▁settlement s , ▁la kes , ▁etc . ▁There ▁are ▁about ▁ 5 , 1 0 0 ▁hect ares ▁of ▁dry ▁sand y ▁he ath , ▁the ▁largest ▁remaining , ▁cont igu ous , ▁in land ▁he ath ▁of ▁its ▁type ▁( a ▁Z wer g stra uch he ide ) ▁in ▁central ▁Europe . ▁The ▁reserve ▁also ▁has ▁extensive ▁con ifer ous ▁for ests , ▁pre domin antly ▁of ▁p ine ▁trees . ▁These ▁go ▁back ▁to ▁the ▁re