Eco-points and compensation areas
District of Rastatt
Eco-points immediately available from officially recognised eco-accounts. greeNature is your full-service partner for compensation under the Eco-Account Ordinance (ÖKVO) in the Rastatt district, from the Rhine floodplain across the Murg valley to the northern Black Forest.
The District of Rastatt at a glance
The Rastatt district lies in the west of Baden-Württemberg, in the Karlsruhe administrative region, and stretches from the Rhine on the border with France to the heights of the northern Black Forest. The administrative centre is the major district town of Rastatt. The district encircles the independent city of Baden-Baden, which does not itself belong to the district. Clockwise, it borders the district of Germersheim in Rhineland-Palatinate, the district of Karlsruhe, the districts of Calw and Freudenstadt, and the Ortenau district, while in the west the Rhine forms the border with France. Its 23 towns and municipalities include the major district towns of Rastatt, Gaggenau, Bühl and Gernsbach, with Rastatt as the largest town.
The landscape of the district is divided into two large areas. The west belongs to the Upper Rhine plain, with the Rhine floodplain, the pine woodland of the Hardt and an open arable and foothill zone (BfN natural region D53, Oberrheinisches Tiefland). To the east, the terrain rises quickly through the foothill zone into the northern Black Forest (BfN natural region D54, Schwarzwald), which cuts deep into the district with the Murg valley between Gernsbach and Forbach. The area is drained by the Rhine as well as by the Murg and Oos, which flow from the Black Forest into the Rhine plain.
Ecologically defining features are the wetland habitats on the Upper Rhine and the near-natural woodland of the Black Forest. The Rastatt Rhine floodplain is designated as a nature reserve and part of the European Natura 2000 protected area network, and it is among the significant stopover and breeding areas on the northern Upper Rhine. In total, the district contains 29 nature reserves. In the south, the Black Forest National Park extends into the district around Forbach, with montane mixed woodland, cirque lakes and bogs. The Rhine, Murg and their floodplains form a continuous band of watercourse and floodplain habitats.
Economically, the district is strongly shaped by the automotive industry. The Mercedes-Benz plants in Rastatt and Gaggenau are among the largest employers in the region. In addition, there is the expansion of the Rhine Valley Railway between Karlsruhe and Basel, motorway and federal roads, flood protection on the Upper Rhine, and continued residential and commercial development in this densely populated area. In Baden-Württemberg, the Eco-Account Ordinance (ÖKVO), which assesses enhancements in eco-points, is decisive for the resulting compensation requirement.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D53 ›
Go to natural region D54 ›
📍 Selected municipalities
🌿 Ecological features
- Rastatt Rhine floodplain, a nature reserve and Natura 2000 site, a significant stopover and breeding area on the northern Upper Rhine
- Murg valley, a deeply incised Black Forest valley with near-natural woodland and the Murg as the defining watercourse
- Land within the Black Forest National Park around Forbach, with montane woodland, cirque lakes and bogs
- Encircles the independent city of Baden-Baden, which does not belong to the district
- Iffezheim barrage on the Rhine, with one of the largest fish passes in Europe
- A strong automotive industry, with the Mercedes-Benz plants in Rastatt and Gaggenau
- 29 nature reserves between the Rhine floodplain, the foothill zone and the northern Black Forest
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature develops and manages compensation and eco-account sites that suit the character of the natural regions in the Rastatt district, such as the restoration of the Rhine floodplain and watercourses, extensively managed wet grassland in the Rhine lowlands, traditional orchards in the foothill zone and near-natural forest conversion in the northern Black Forest. We secure suitable land, plan the enhancement under the Eco-Account Ordinance (ÖKVO), implement the measures, and take on long-term management, documentation and reporting to the lower nature conservation authority (Untere Naturschutzbehörde) at Rastatt District Office. The ÖKVO assesses the enhancement in eco-points and takes account of the spatial relationship to the impact, which is why we make sure that compensation takes effect as close as possible to the affected area. Where species protection is required under § 44 BNatSchG, we design advance CEF measures that maintain ecological function for the affected species without interruption.
Typical measures in the district of Rastatt
Floodplain and watercourse restoration
Removal of bank engineering, creation of riparian buffer strips and near-natural redesign on the Rhine, Murg and Oos. Oxbows, steep banks and floodplain woodland edges improve habitats for kingfisher, beaver and fish and can be credited as eco-points under the ÖKVO.
Wet grassland extensification
Development of extensively managed wet grassland with shallow pools, wet patches and an adapted mowing regime in the Rhine lowlands. Late mowing and higher water levels benefit meadow-breeding birds and amphibians and ecologically enhance the floodplain.
Traditional orchards in the foothill zone
New planting and management of standard-tree orchards at the transition from the Rhine plain to the Black Forest near Bühl, Ottersweier and Sinzheim. Combined with extensive grassland use, this creates valuable habitats for cavity-nesting birds, wild bees and bats.
Forest conversion and woodland-edge design
Near-natural conversion and structurally rich woodland edges in the Murg valley and the northern Black Forest. Old growth and deadwood, graduated margins and a higher proportion of deciduous trees strengthen the habitat network and create habitats for woodpeckers, bats and the wildcat.
Upland meadow and bog protection
Retention and extensification of upland hay meadows as well as rewetting of bogs on the Black Forest heights. These rare open-land and wetland habitats secure high species diversity and can be credited as an enhancement under the ÖKVO.
CEF species protection and reptile habitats
Creation of stone ridges, stone piles, dry-stone walls and sun-exposed margins for the sand lizard on railway embankments, embankments and dry slopes. As advance CEF measures, these maintain ecological function under § 44 BNatSchG.
Protected species in the Rhine floodplain, Murg valley and northern Black Forest
Black stork
The black stork uses the Rastatt Rhine floodplain as a stopover and foraging area and breeds in the low-disturbance woodland of the Black Forest. It needs near-natural watercourses and quiet old-growth stands, whose retention and development also generate compensation value.
About this species ›Wildcat
The northern Black Forest is considered an area of range expansion for the wildcat, which inhabits structurally rich, unfragmented woodland with deadwood and woodland edges. Habitat networking, near-natural forest conversion and securing wildlife corridors are effective measures for this strictly protected species.
About this species ›Sand lizard
The sand lizard inhabits railway embankments, embankments, gravel areas of the Rhine floodplain and dry slopes of the foothill zone. As a strictly protected species under § 44 BNatSchG, impacts frequently require CEF measures such as stone ridges, stone piles and sun-exposed margins.
About this species ›Kingfisher on the Rhine and Murg
The kingfisher finds food and nesting sites on near-natural banks of the Rhine and Murg. It needs steep faces for its nesting burrows, which is why watercourse restoration and the retention of eroding banks create habitat and generate compensation value at the same time.
About this species ›Great crested newt and amphibians of the Rhine floodplain
Great crested newt, tree frog and other amphibians inhabit the small water bodies, oxbows and ditches of the Rhine floodplain. The creation of new sun-exposed, fish-free pools as a CEF measure secures breeding sites and strengthens the habitat network.
About this species ›Bats in woodland and settlements
The woodlands of the Murg valley, the traditional orchards of the foothill zone and old buildings offer bats roosts and foraging habitat. Retaining cavity trees, securing roosts in buildings and cellars, and connecting woody structures are typical measures in the district.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Automotive industry and commerce
The Mercedes-Benz plants in Rastatt and Gaggenau are defining industrial sites. Plant, logistics and commercial land development continuously causes impacts, whose sealing requires nature conservation compensation under the ÖKVO.
Expansion of the Rhine Valley Railway
The four-track expansion of the Rhine Valley Railway between Karlsruhe and Basel runs through the district. Routes, noise-protection structures and rail infrastructure trigger extensive compensation and regularly species protection requirements, for example for sand lizard and bats.
Flood protection on the Upper Rhine
Flood protection on the Upper Rhine includes retention areas of the Integrated Rhine Programme as well as the Iffezheim barrage. Construction and operation of these facilities are linked to nature conservation requirements and compensation measures in the Rhine floodplain and floodplain woodland.
Settlement and infrastructure
As part of this densely populated area, the district continually designates residential, commercial and transport land. The resulting sealing requires compensation under the ÖKVO, for which landowners and farmers can provide land as compensation areas.
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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