The „Lafnitztal European Conservation Area” includes two nature conservation protected areas: The 70 ha large “Nature Reserve Lafnitz-Stögersbach Floodplains” in Wolfau and the 31 ha “Protected Landscape Section Lahnbach” near Dt. Kaltenbrunn. The separated areas are connected by the flow section of the Lafnitz. The European conservation area covers a total area of 566.327 ha.
The Lafnitz is among the last unregulated rivers in the lowlands across Austria.
The free, unrestricted course of the Lafnitz naturally connects with accompanying floodplain forests and valley meadows and creates a variety of river morphological habitat structures through its unbound flow dynamics.
The area includes, on one hand, the unregulated, largely freely meandering stretch up to Dt. Kaltenbrunn, and on the other hand, the "hard" regulated flow section up to the state border of Austria – Hungary.
The flow of the Lafnitz hosts several freshwater habitats and species. Accompanying floodplain forests, which occupy comparatively large areas, are of particular significance. Small-scale mudbanks with their pioneer vegetation, non-flowing old waters, and primary tall herb communities are present as well.
The culturally rich landscape of the Lafnitz Valley, structured by meandering river courses, floodplain forests, field shrubs, and other landscape elements, is further characterized by extensive meadow areas.
The majority of the valley meadows consists of communities of the vegetation association of wet and marsh meadows.
Among the animal species, particularly water-dwelling species are represented: European otter, yellow-bellied toad, fire-bellied toad, great crested newt, stone loach, zingel, bullhead, etc.
On the adjacent meadow areas along the Lafnitz, the large blue butterfly and the dark blue butterfly are notable species; small forests and other shrubs in the cultural landscape are significant as feeding habitats for the whiskered bat and the greater mouse-eared bat.