Eco-points and compensation areas
City of Mannheim
Eco-points immediately available from officially recognised eco-accounts for impacts in Mannheim. greeNature supports your compensation under the Ökokonto-Verordnung (ÖKVO) as a full-service partner, from requirement analysis through land allocation to recognition by the city's lower nature conservation authority.
The City of Mannheim at a glance
Mannheim is an independent city (Stadtkreis) in the Karlsruhe administrative region and, after Stuttgart, the second-largest city in Baden-Württemberg. It lies at the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar and is divided into 17 city districts and 38 neighbourhoods. As an independent city, Mannheim itself performs the duties of the lower nature conservation authority.
In natural-region terms, the entire city area lies within the Oberrheinisches Tiefland (D53). Defining features are the Rhine and Neckar floodplains with hardwood floodplain forest and former Rhine branches, the sandy grassland and inland dunes of the northern Upper Rhine plain, and the near-urban woodlands of the Käfertaler Wald and Dossenwald. These sites are among the warmth-favoured and, in places, very dry habitats in Germany.
The city area has nine designated nature reserves covering around 689 hectares, including the Reißinsel as a near-natural Rhine floodplain landscape. It also has shares of the FFH site Rheinniederung von Philippsburg bis Mannheim, the Rheinniederung Altlußheim-Mannheim bird sanctuary, and the Unterer Neckar zwischen Heidelberg und Mannheim landscape protection area.
Economically, the cityscape is shaped by its role as an industrial and trading hub, the Port of Mannheim, an important railway junction, and the repurposing of large conversion sites from former US installations. Housing, commercial and transport projects regularly trigger compensation and replacement obligations under §§ 13 to 15 BNatSchG, assessed in Baden-Württemberg through the Ökokonto-Verordnung in eco-points.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D53 ›
📍 City districts
🌿 Ecological features
- Reißinsel nature reserve, a near-natural Rhine floodplain landscape with hardwood floodplain forest and river dynamics, protected since 1950
- Hirschacker and Dossenwald nature reserves, as well as Backofen-Riedwiesen, with sandy grassland, inland dunes and floodplain meadows
- Share of the FFH site Rheinniederung von Philippsburg bis Mannheim (6716-341)
- Share of the Rheinniederung Altlußheim-Mannheim bird sanctuary (6616-441)
- Unterer Neckar zwischen Heidelberg und Mannheim landscape protection area
- Käfertaler Wald and Dossenwald as extensive near-urban woodland areas
- Inland dunes and sandy grassland of the northern Upper Rhine plain as rare, warmth-loving dry habitats
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationwide and works consistently in Baden-Württemberg with the assessment system of the Ökokonto-Verordnung (ÖKVO). In Mannheim, we coordinate measures with the city's lower nature conservation authority, know the natural particulars of the Rhine and Neckar floodplains and the sandy sites of the Upper Rhine plain, and assign eco-points from recognised eco-accounts precisely to the relevant impact. From requirement analysis through land selection to implementation, documentation and monitoring, we handle the whole compensation process.
Typical measures in the city of Mannheim
Floodplain restoration on the Rhine
Reconnecting former Rhine branches, developing hardwood floodplain forest and floodplain meadows, and promoting natural river dynamics. These measures strengthen the floodplain network along the Rhine and create high-value compensation areas.
Watercourse restoration on the Neckar
Bank flattening, reconnection of former channels and structural enrichment with deadwood on the Neckar and its tributaries, improving connectivity and creating habitats for kingfisher, fish and dragonflies.
Desealing and restoration
Removal of sealed surfaces at conversion and commercial sites, followed by soil and vegetation development. Desealing is an effective and readily creditable enhancement in the densely built-up urban area.
Sandy grassland and marginal sites
Managing and newly creating sandy grassland, inland dunes and marginal sites of the Upper Rhine plain through scrub clearance and extensive use, habitat for warmth-loving insects, reptiles and rare plants.
Floodplain woodland and grassland enhancement
Developing site-appropriate floodplain woodland and extensifying grassland in the Rhine and Neckar lowlands around the city, promoting structurally and species-rich habitats as permanent eco-account areas.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Advance compensation measures (CEF) and measures to maintain favourable conservation status (FCS) under § 44 BNatSchG, for example replacement habitats for the sand lizard, bat roosts and spawning waters for amphibians.
Protected species in the Upper Rhine plain at the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar
Sand lizard on sandy sites
Rail installations, embankments, sandy grassland and inland dunes of the Upper Rhine plain are core habitats for the sand lizard. In the case of impacts, advance relocation and creating replacement habitats with stone ridges and deadwood are common CEF practice.
About this species ›Bats in woodland and the city
Käfertaler Wald, Dossenwald, old tree stands and buildings provide roosts for several bat species. Roost protection, preserving cavity trees and replacement roosts are typical measures for building and conversion projects.
About this species ›Great crested newt and floodplain amphibians
Former Rhine branches, floodplain waters and temporary small water bodies are home to the great crested newt, natterjack toad and other amphibians. Newly created, fish-free spawning waters are central elements of compensation planning in the lowlands.
About this species ›Kingfisher on the Rhine and Neckar
Near-natural bank sections with steep faces and former channels provide breeding sites for the kingfisher. Restoration works with bank scarps and structurally rich watercourse margins create new habitats along the rivers.
About this species ›Northern lapwing in the Rhine lowlands
Wet meadows and open lowlands of the Rhine floodplain are habitat for the northern lapwing and other meadow-breeding birds. Extensive grassland use, rewetting and adapted mowing dates support populations.
About this species ›Amphibians of the small water bodies
Besides the great crested newt, other amphibian species benefit from shallow pools, flood channels and small water bodies in the floodplains. Their protection is achieved through creating connected spawning waters and preserving terrestrial habitats.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Housing and conversion
The repurposing of large conversion sites from former US installations such as Franklin, Spinelli and Turley, along with further housing projects, leads to land take. greeNature develops suitable eco-account measures for this and assigns eco-points.
Commerce and industry
The industrial and trading hub, with its port, logistics and manufacturing businesses, creates compensation requirements under §§ 13 to 15 BNatSchG through extensions and new buildings. Landowners can contribute land as compensation areas.
Transport and infrastructure
As an important railway junction and motorway location, expansion and new-build projects on rail installations, roads and the Rhine bridge trigger compensation and replacement obligations as well as species protection assessments under § 44 BNatSchG.
Green infrastructure and climate adaptation
Urban development and open-space projects, for example around the 2023 Federal Garden Show and the north-east green corridor, combine settlement development with the enhancement of green and floodplain areas and create points of contact for 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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in the city of Mannheim
Request eco-points in the city of Mannheim
We will promptly prepare a transparent offer with matching eco-points held in stock in the city of Mannheim.