Eco-points and compensation areas
City of Erlangen
Eco-points available immediately from officially recognised eco-accounts for projects in the independent city of Erlangen. greeNature is your full-service partner for compensation according to the Bavarian Compensation Ordinance (BayKompV) in the Regnitz valley and in the Nuremberg metropolitan region.
The City of Erlangen at a glance
Erlangen is an independent city in northern Middle Franconia and with roughly 117,000 inhabitants on just over 77 square kilometres is the smallest of the Bavarian major cities. It lies in the Regnitz valley between Nuremberg and Forchheim and together with the surrounding Erlangen-Höchstadt district forms a core area of the European Nuremberg metropolitan region.
In natural region terms, the city area belongs to the Fränkisches Keuper-Liasland (D59), more precisely to the Middle Franconian Basin with the broad Regnitz floodplain. Characteristic are the sandy Keuper soils of the Franconian Sand Axis, light pine forests of the Sebalder Reichswald to the east, and the damp floodplains of Regnitz and Untermain. For assessment in value points according to BayKompV, this natural region allocation of the respective impact is decisive.
Despite its location in a metropolitan area, Erlangen has remarkably valuable habitats. The Brucker Lache Nature Reserve with its alder carr and the former parade ground in Röthelheimpark with sand calcareous grassland lie directly in the city area. Shares in the SPA bird protection area Regnitztal and Lower Wiesenttal (DE-6332-471), the Dechsendorf pond and the Sebalder Reichswald as part of the Natura 2000 site Nuremberg Reichswald complement the habitat mosaic.
Economically, Erlangen as the home of Siemens and Siemens Healthineers and the Friedrich-Alexander University is a significant medical technology and high-tech centre. Ongoing growth pressure from residential construction, commercial development and traffic, such as through the planned urban-regional railway and the ICE expansion of the Nuremberg, Erlangen, Bamberg route, regularly generates impacts whose compensation must be provided according to BayKompV. The tight interweaving of settlement pressure and high-quality protected areas places particular demands on compensation planning.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D59 ›
📍 City districts
🌿 Ecological features
- Brucker Lache Nature Reserve with valuable alder carr, also part of a bird protection area
- Exerzierplatz Nature Reserve in Röthelheimpark with sand calcareous grassland and open sand surfaces of the Franconian Sand Axis
- Shares in SPA bird protection area Regnitztal and Lower Wiesenttal (DE-6332-471)
- Regnitz floodplain as damp habitat and habitat network at valley base
- Sebalder Reichswald to the east, part of the Natura 2000 site Nuremberg Reichswald
- Dechsendorf pond with adjacent damp areas and reed beds
- Franconian Sand Axis with sand habitats and light pine forests
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates throughout Bavaria and knows the natural region features of the Middle Franconian Basin and Regnitz valley from practice. We consult with the Department for Environmental Protection and Energy of the city of Erlangen as the lower nature conservation authority and allocate your impact to natural region D59 and appropriate regional land pools, from demand analysis to secured implementation and management.
Typical measures in the city of Erlangen
Watercourse and floodplain restoration
Revitalisation of oxbows, bank structures and floodplain areas along the Regnitz, creation of spawning habitats for fish and amphibians and steep banks for the kingfisher in the densely populated valley area.
De-sealing and urban greenery
Removal of sealed surfaces, conversion to permeable, green sites, and roof and façade greening. In urban contexts an important element to restore soil functions and cold-air corridors.
Sand calcareous grassland and heath management
Restoration and management of open sand surfaces and calcareous grassland along the Franconian Sand Axis, for instance through impoverishment and scrub removal, as habitat for sand lizard, skylark and warmth-loving insects.
Grassland extensification
Conversion of intensively used areas into species-rich damp and wet meadows in the Regnitz floodplain and in the urban-fringe surrounding area, habitat for meadow-breeding birds such as the northern lapwing.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Bat roosts in and on buildings, kingfisher steep banks on the Regnitz and replacement habitats for sand lizard on sand surfaces and railway embankments, each as a prerequisite CEF or population-supporting FCS measure according to § 44 and § 45 BNatSchG.
Forest conversion, hedgerows and traditional orchards
Conversion of poorly structured pine stands in the Reichswald into site-appropriate mixed forests, and establishment of hedgerows and traditional orchard stands in the urban-fringe surrounding area as stepping-stone habitats and habitat networks.
Protected species in the Regnitz valley and Nuremberg metropolitan region
Bats in forest and buildings
Various species use the old stocks of the Reichswald, the alder carr of Brucker Lache and attic spaces and cellars in the city area. All species are strictly protected (Annex IV FFH Directive), demolition and renovation require replacement roosts as a CEF measure.
About this species ›Sand lizard on sand surfaces
The calcareous grassland of the parade ground and the Franconian Sand Axis as well as railway embankments and slopes are important habitats. In construction and infrastructure projects, the sand lizard is among the most common target species for which prerequisite replacement habitats must be established.
About this species ›Kingfisher on the Regnitz
Naturalised bank sections of the Regnitz offer steep banks as breeding sites. For impacts on watercourses, such as bridge or bank construction, steep bank remodelling and bank restoration are typical CEF measures for the strictly protected kingfisher.
About this species ›Northern lapwing and meadow-breeding birds
The damp and wet meadows of the Regnitz floodplain are potential breeding areas for the northern lapwing and other meadow-breeding birds. Extensification, adapted cutting dates and rewetting secure and develop these habitats.
About this species ›Great crested newt and amphibians
The Dechsendorf pond, ponds and semi-wet depressions harbour amphibians including the great crested newt (Annex II and IV of the FFH Directive). New establishment and networking of fish-free spawning waters are proven CEF and FCS measures.
About this species ›Skylark in open countryside
Open sand surfaces and urban-fringe farmland provide habitat for the skylark, whose populations are in sharp decline nationwide. Skylark patches, flowering areas and extensive arable margins are suitable measures for population support.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Medical technology and high-tech
As home to Siemens and Siemens Healthineers, Erlangen is a significant technology centre. Expansions of research, production and office sites and commercial development regularly generate compensation requirements after BayKompV, which greeNature accompanies completely.
Residential construction and settlement development
The growing city develops new residential quarters and densifications, for instance in Röthelheimpark and western districts. Designation and construction require nature conservation compensation, often in combination with de-sealing and species protection measures.
Transport infrastructure
The planned urban-regional railway (StUB), the ICE expansion of the Nuremberg, Erlangen, Bamberg route, and measures on the A73 and in the urban road network trigger compensation and replacement obligations as well as CEF measures for affected species.
University and hospital
Expansion of the Friedrich-Alexander University and Erlangen University Hospital with new research, teaching and clinical areas is among the ongoing projects with compensation requirements in the city area.
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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