Local landscape planning is the basis for realizing objectives of nature conservation at the level of land use planning. In this context it contributes to the safeguarding of the natural base of life. Based on a representative random sample the paper presents the current nationwide state of local landscape planning in Germany. The results show that 72.5 % of all local authorities have drawn up a local landscape plan, but there are some major differences between the Federal States. Especially peripheral rural municipalities have less often established a local landscape plan than urban municipalities. Particularly in rural areas it is necessary to promote the instrument of landscape planning for a closer cooperation of nature conservation and agriculture in view of the coming challenges such as the coordination of the greening of the EU agricultural policy, the conservation of biodiversity in general, adaptations to climate change and increased biomass production.