This Landscape Development Plan examines, analyses and plans a total area of 7800 hectares of the central Ilm River valley in the south-west part of the region of Weimarer Land. The Landscape Development Plan represents an overall nature conservation study, for which the lower Nature Conservation Administration is responsible, and forms an important basis for the general Development Plans for towns and communities. The landscape of Kranichfeld/ Tannroda is influenced by a multitude of landuses. Arable, pastoral and forest land are present in equal quantities. The use of the water of the river Ilm as a source of energy determined the historic development of industry in the villages along the river. The cultivation of will-ows, which is still carried out, is a relict of a locally important basket-weaving industry. The overall goal is a continued development of the region but with respect to a sustained protection of the natural systems. It orientates itself on intact, natural and cultural elements of the local landscape and supports enviromentally sound land use.The Landscape Development Plan comprises of plans and associated text. The survey plan provides detailed information about the area and its natural and human development and forms a basis for the analyses. All components of the natural/ human ecosystem are examined and the results define, in turn, the detailed collection of proposals for a continued, environmentally sound development of the landscape.