Background Flood prevention is not only a technical task; rather, it is a far reaching, multi- disciplinary and border-crossing undertaking. Floodwater provision is an important component of a flood protection concept and plan. According to the Flood Risk Management Guidelines of the EU, all floodplain areas with risk of flooding are required to have a flood risk management plan in place. Therefore a range of measures has to be developed and implemented according to the set priorities. Objectives The Elbe by Vockerode project will establish a favourable conservation status of this unique riverine landscape on the middle Elbe and will result in the improvement and long-term safeguarding of the site. The project will connect the natural conservation functions inherent in riparian dynamics and floodplain development with aspects of flood protection. The main objective of the project will be to enable natural succession dynamics of the entire area and to ensure a unique floodplain landscape and a favourable water status. The dyke relocation will result in extra retention areas, and the preventative values of natural ecological flood protection will be enhanced. The project also enables approval process of the dyke relocation to be influenced through the integration of natural protection dyke planning. It will set a precedent for the restoration of large river systems in middle Europe. Furthermore it presents a unique opportunity to use natural protective measures in this flood plain area to provide the necessary future flood protection incorporating natural techniques. The project measures serve to enhance the current state of the area and to restore it into a natural dynamic floodplain landscape with typical site specific habitat types. In some specific locations the goal is to prevent the transformation of the forest by invasive species such as the American green ash and promote endemic species of the Annexes of the Habitats Directive. Ox-bow stretches, currently detached from the river will also be revitalised, for example with the creation of new wetland ecosystems, thereby improving habitat conditions for some species in the area.