Buying compensation areas: process and costs

Why compensation areas are needed

Under sections 13 to 15 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (Bundesnaturschutzgesetz), every significant impact on nature and landscape triggers a compensation obligation. Building projects, commercial developments, transport routes, power line corridors or forest clearance must offset or replace the impacts they cause. Anyone without a suitable area of their own can meet the obligation using eco-points from an eco-account.

The process at a glance

1. Determine the requirement. The compensation requirement in value points results from the impact assessment. This is based on the relevant state law, such as the BayKompV in Bavaria or the ÖKVO in Baden-Württemberg.
2. Assign the natural region. Compensation should, wherever possible, take effect within the natural region affected. The natural-region allocation of the impact is therefore a key step.
3. Allocate land and measures. Suitable eco-points from a recognised eco-account are allocated to the project.
4. Involve the authority. The responsible lower nature conservation authority agrees the type and scope of the compensation.
5. Deduct and secure the points. The eco-points are recorded in the compensation register, and the area remains permanently secured in law.

What determines the cost

A flat price cannot be given, because several factors interact. The most important is the extent of the compensation requirement in value points. Added to this are the natural region and regional land availability, since suitable land is scarcer in densely built-up or high-demand areas. The type of measure also plays a role, because implementation, permanent securing and long-term management vary in effort. We determine the requirement and put forward a transparent proposal.

Buying instead of establishing your own

Securing your own compensation area means acquiring land, planning the upgrade, coordinating with the authority, implementing the measure and managing and documenting it for decades. Buying eco-points from an existing eco-account takes this whole chain off your hands. The measures are already effective and recognised, which creates planning certainty in the permitting procedure and protects the project timetable.

How greeNature helps

greeNature takes care of determining the requirement, allocating the natural region, assigning eco-points from its own portfolio, full coordination with the authorities and documentation. As a full-service partner, we support project developers from the initial assessment through to the permanent securing of the areas.