The Ziegenbusch at the edge of the Elbe valley north-east of Meißen was designated as a nature reserve as early as 1961 and later extended to approximately 20 hectares with other adjacent areas as the nature reserve Ziegenbuschhänge bei Oberau. The aim is the sustainable preservation and conservation-oriented development of a rare complex of valuable and sensitive biotopes of scientific and regional importance. The elsberry-rich woodland-lavender-hornbeam-oak forest, which is unique for Saxony and valuable from a phytosociological point of view, with oak forest with its fringes, adjacent semi-arid grasslands, orchard meadows, and extensively used lime fields has outstanding biodiversity, also with particularly rare and endangered species. Its value as a steppingstone in the biotope network between Friedewald and the Meißen Elbe Hills is another special feature.