Responsible for nature conservation and the implementation of the Nature Conservation Act of the State of Saxony-Anhalt are the districts and district-free cities as lower nature conservation authorities. The State Administration Office, as the upper nature conservation authority, identifies and supervises nature reserves, but can also grant exemptions from the prohibitions of the nature reserves and issue exemptions and exemptions under species protection law. In some cases, the districts and independent cities are also responsible for exemptions under species protection law.