The region of the lower valley of the Sauer is composed by the hillsides of the Sauer valley and its secondary valleys. The geology shows primarily Triassic formations with Muschelkalk, but there are also Upper bunter sandstone and small-area Keuper marl. Between the different layer there are partly springs emerging.

In the valley the land use is mainly arable farming, whereas in the hills it’s mainly meadows and pasturages. Orchards, formerly numerous in the area, are aging and becoming more and more rare. The terraces and escarpments with an exposition to the South were used for viticulture in the past, but in most cases they are no longer used and in parts forestation took place. This is why shrubs and woods took over in the hills and only few areas still show orchid-rich calcareous grasslands. In parts there are only relicts of the habitat remaining. The escarpments exposed to the Nord are dominated by beech forests on calcareous ground and boulder slope woods as well as their transitions. The region is very habitat-rich and gives a living space to many different animals and plants. For example different species of bats, butterflies, orchids, woodpeckers, falcons and owls find a suitable habitat in this area. The more rare species like the european Michaelmas-daisy, the pasque flower or the red-backed shrike can be found in the lower Sauer valley.

The escarpements of the lower Sauer valley describe a typical site for calcareous grassland and juniper formations as well as the pioneer forms of them. Hence the protection of existant sites as well as the enlargement on surfaces which are no longer used, and therefore are invaded by shrubs and woods, is very important. By removing the shrubs and trees, followed by pasturing, the number of calcareous grassland could be raised again.