Eco-points and compensation areas
District of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald
Readily available eco-points from officially recognised eco-accounts. greeNature is your full-service partner for compensation under the Eco-account Regulation (ÖKVO) between Kaiserstuhl, Breisgau and Black Forest highlands.
The District of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald at a glance
Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald District lies in south-western Baden-Württemberg and belongs to the administrative region of Freiburg. It encloses the independent city Freiburg im Breisgau almost completely, where the district office also has its seat. With around 1,378 km², it is one of the largest districts in the state and extends from the Upper Rhine plain through the Kaiserstuhl to the Black Forest highlands with the Feldberg (1,493 m), the highest elevation in Baden-Württemberg.
The district combines two very different BfN natural regions. In the west lies the Upper Rhine lowland (natural region D53) with the warm loess soils of Breisgau, the volcanic ridges of the Kaiserstuhl and the Rhine floodplains. To the east the terrain rises into the Black Forest (natural region D54), with forested slopes, upland pastures and the glacially formed cirques and lakes of the Black Forest highlands.
Ecologically, about a quarter of the district area is designated as a Natura 2000 site. Significant protected areas are the FFH and bird protection site Kaiserstuhl with its dry grasslands and vineyard slopes, the FFH site Black Forest highlands around Feldberg and the nature reserve Feldberg, the oldest and largest nature reserve in the state. Rhine floodplains, moss forests and near-natural flowing waters such as Dreisam and Neumagen complement the spectrum.
Economically the district is shaped by the growth area around Freiburg, by wine growing on Kaiserstuhl and in the Markgräflerland, as well as by tourism in the Black Forest highlands. Settlement and business development, transport projects, wind energy and free-area photovoltaics regularly trigger impacts, the compensation for which in Baden-Württemberg must be measured in eco-points under the Eco-account Regulation (ÖKVO).
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D54 ›
Go to natural region D53 ›
📍 Selected municipalities
🌿 Ecological features
- FFH and bird protection site Kaiserstuhl with dry grasslands, orchids and thermophilic species
- Nature reserve Feldberg, oldest and largest nature reserve in Baden-Württemberg
- FFH site Black Forest highlands around Feldberg and Bernau high valley
- Rhine floodplains and moss forests with old Rhine arms and floodplain forest remnants
- About 26 per cent of the district area designated as Natura 2000 site
- Wine-growing landscape Kaiserstuhl and Markgräflerland with vineyard slopes and dry-stone walls
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationwide and is familiar with compensation law in Baden-Württemberg. We coordinate with the lower nature conservation authority at Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district office, know the assessment under the Eco-account Regulation (ÖKVO) in eco-points and the requirements of natural regions D53 and D54 between Rhine plain and Black Forest highlands.
Typical measures in the district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald
Dry grassland and vineyard slope management
Scrub removal, grazing and preservation of calcareous grasslands, slopes and dry-stone walls at Kaiserstuhl and in the foothills. These structures are habitat for orchids, wild bees and thermophilic reptiles and can be assessed as an ÖKVO measure in eco-points.
Rhine floodplains and flowing waters
Restoration of old Rhine arms, connection of floodplain forest and development of near-natural banks on Dreisam, Neumagen and Möhlin. This creates spawning and breeding waters as well as steep banks as breeding sites for kingfisher.
Mountain forest and alpine pastures
Conversion of conifer-dominated stands into structurally rich mountain mixed forests of fir, beech and sycamore maple, promotion of old and dead wood, and preservation of open commons and alpine pastures in the Black Forest highlands. Such measures secure habitats for capercaillie and bats.
Mountain meadows and extensive grassland
Preservation of species-rich mountain and wet meadows through adapted mowing regimes, abandonment of fertilisation and extensive grazing. Mountain meadows are protected FFH habitat types and central for insect and plant diversity.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Replacement roosts for bats, habitat structures for sand lizard and emerald lizard, as well as population-supporting measures, each as advance CEF measure or as FCS measure under § 44 BNatSchG.
Traditional orchards, hedgerows and habitat networks
Creation of traditional orchard meadows, hedgerows and field copses in the foothills and Breisgau. These structures network habitats and create stepping-stone biotopes between Rhine plain and Black Forest.
Protected species in the Breisgau, Kaiserstuhl and Black Forest highlands
European wildcat in the Black Forest
The European wildcat (Annex IV of the FFH Directive) is expanding again in the Black Forest and foothills. It needs structurally rich, disturbance-free forests with old and dead wood. For forest impacts and road construction, wildlife corridors and networking of habitats are central measures.
About this species ›Capercaillie in the Black Forest highlands
The capercaillie is the key species of open mountain forests around Feldberg. The severely endangered population responds sensitively to disturbance and habitat loss. Projects in high-altitude areas require careful species protection assessment and targeted habitat management.
Bats in forest and settlement
Large mouse-eared bat, Bechstein's bat and further strictly protected species (Annex IV of the FFH Directive) use forests, traditional orchards and buildings. On demolition, renovation and felling, replacement roosts are required as CEF measure.
About this species ›Reptiles at Kaiserstuhl
Sand lizard and the rare emerald lizard inhabit the warm dry grasslands, vineyard slopes and dry-stone walls of Kaiserstuhl. Habitat structures and relocation are typical measures for vineyard consolidation and construction projects.
About this species ›Amphibians in floodplains and forests
Yellow-bellied toad, fire salamander and great crested newt inhabit ponds, forest streams and floodplain waters of the district. Replacement spawning waters and land habitats in spatial context secure their breeding sites during construction and infrastructure projects.
About this species ›Field birds of the Rhine plain
Skylark, grey partridge and corn bunting breed in the open agricultural landscape of Breisgau. Extensification, arable fallows and flower strips support the populations of these declining species.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Settlement and business in Freiburg surroundings
The growth area around Freiburg (Gundelfingen, Denzlingen, March, Kirchzarten) sees high residential and business pressure. New building areas and business land require nature conservation compensation under the impact mitigation regulation (§§ 13-15 BNatSchG), measured in eco-points under ÖKVO.
Transport and infrastructure
Expansion of the Rhine Valley railway, measures on B 31 and B 3, town bypasses and work on the Hell Valley railway create compensation and replacement obligations, often linked to species protection measures for bats and reptiles.
Energy and renewable energies
Wind energy installations on the Black Forest heights and free-area photovoltaics on the Rhine plain trigger compensation requirements and may require CEF and FCS measures for wind-sensitive species.
Wine growing and tourism
Vineyard consolidation at Kaiserstuhl and Markgräflerland as well as tourism infrastructure in the Black Forest highlands (Feldberg, Titisee) impact sensitive habitats and require tailored compensation.
From enquiry to monitoring
Contact and enquiry
Tell us your compensation requirement and the natural region. We check availability.
Offer and advice
A transparent offer covering measure types, scope and availability.
Coordination with authorities
Full coordination with the lower nature conservation authority. We handle everything.
Long-term monitoring
Permanent securing of the land, management and documentation across the contract term.
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