Eco-points and compensation areas
District of Kelheim
Immediately available eco-points from officially recognised eco-accounts in Kelheim district. greeNature is your full-service partner for compensation under BayKompV between the Franconian Alb, Danube valley and Hallertau.
The District of Kelheim at a glance
Kelheim district is located in Lower Bavaria and belongs to the planning region Regensburg. The Danube runs through the district from west to east and divides it into two geographically very different halves. The district town of Kelheim is located at the confluence of the Altmühl and Danube, where the Main-Danube Canal flows into the Danube.
North of the Danube, the Southern Franconian Alb (natural region D61) rises with its limestone and dolomite rocks from the Upper Jurassic. Characteristic are the deeply cut valleys of the Altmühl and Danube, above all the spectacular Danube gorge at Weltenburg with its steep rock faces. South of the Danube, the landscape transitions to the loess-covered Tertiary hill country of the Lower Bavarian Hill Country (natural region D65), which in the south bears the vast hop gardens of the Hallertau.
Ecologically, the district is characterised by high diversity. The Weltenburg Narrows is Bavaria's oldest nature reserve (1938) and part of the Altmühl valley Nature Park. On the warm, dry Jurassic slopes, calcareous grasslands and juniper heaths grow, in the rocks and caves bats find roosts. The extensive Hienheimer Forest is one of the large contiguous forest areas of southern Germany. In total, the district contains 17 Habitats Directive sites of the European nature protection network Natura 2000.
The economy is characterised by agriculture in the Hallertau as the world's largest hop cultivation area as well as by industry and raw material extraction. Major companies such as viscose fibre production in Kelheim, the limestone and cement industry as well as gravel extraction in the Danube meadows generate compensation requirements just as much as the expansion of transport routes, business areas and ground-mounted photovoltaic installations. For impacts under BayKompV, the natural region-faithful allocation of compensation is crucial.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D65 ›
Go to natural region D61 ›
📍 Selected municipalities
🌿 Ecological features
- Danube gorge at Weltenburg (Weltenburg Narrows), Bavaria's oldest nature reserve (1938)
- Altmühl valley Nature Park with the Lower Altmühl valley, Habitats Directive site with limestone rocks and dry slopes
- Calcareous grasslands and juniper heaths of the Southern Franconian Alb, habitat of warmth-loving species
- Hienheimer Forest, large contiguous forest area with old and dead wood structures
- Limestone tufa springs as a priority Habitats Directive habitat type on the Jurassic slopes
- Hallertau (Holledau) south of the Danube, world's largest hop cultivation area
- Danube floodplains with riparian forest remnants, oxbows and steep banks as flowing water habitats
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature develops and manages compensation areas in Kelheim district from securing land through compensation planning under BayKompV to permanent management and documentation. We know the natural region peculiarities between the Franconian Alb, Danube valley and Hallertau and coordinate projects with the lower nature conservation authority at Kelheim District Office and with landowners. Because BayKompV calls for natural region-faithful allocation of compensation, we ensure that compensation is effective as much as possible in the affected natural region (D61 or D65). Where species protection requirements arise under § 44 BNatSchG, we also design advanced CEF measures that continuously secure ecological function for the affected species.
Typical measures in the district of Kelheim
Management of calcareous grasslands and juniper heaths
Restoration and open management of species-rich semi-arid grasslands on the Jurassic slopes of the Altmühl and Danube valleys through extensive sheep and goat grazing as well as removal of encroaching vegetation on abandoned land. These warmth-loving habitats count among the most valuable open land habitats of the Southern Franconian Alb.
Restoration of Danube and Altmühl floodplains
Dismantling of bank reinforcements, creation of riparian buffer strips, oxbows and steep banks as well as riparian forest development along the Danube, Altmühl and Abens. Near-natural flowing waters improve habitat connectivity and create habitats for kingfisher and beaver.
Traditional orchards and hedgerows in the Hallertau
New establishment and preservation of high-stemmed orchard stands as well as hedgerows and field copses in the loess-marked hill country south of the Danube. The structures network habitats in the simplified agricultural landscape and promote cavity-breeding birds, insects and bats.
Forest conversion and old and dead wood in Hienheimer Forest
Conversion of unnatural coniferous plantations to site-native beech and oak-hornbeam forests as well as securing of old and dead wood islands. Such measures strengthen the conservation status of disturbance-sensitive forest and cavity-dwelling species.
Creation of small water bodies and amphibian habitats
New creation of sunny, fish-free pools and small water bodies, among others in limestone quarries and extraction sites, as CEF measures for yellow-bellied toad, great crested newt and further amphibians. The water bodies are kept in pioneer stages through permanent management.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Tailored measures under § 44 and § 45 BNatSchG: kingfisher steep banks on the Danube and Altmühl, bat roosts in caves and buildings, sand lizard habitats with stone heaps and sand lenses on slopes and railway embankments.
Protected species in the Altmühl valley, Danube gorge and Hallertau
Bats in caves and forests
The karst caves and rock crevices of the Franconian Alb as well as the old forests around Weltenburg and in Hienheimer Forest provide roosts for the greater mouse-eared bat, Bechstein's bat and other species. All species are strictly protected (Annex IV Habitats Directive), roost and hunting area measures are typical CEF components.
About this species ›Kingfisher on the Danube and Altmühl
Near-natural bank sections with steep faces provide the strictly protected kingfisher with breeding sites. In the event of impacts on water bodies, for example bridge or bank expansion, steep bank installations and bank restoration secure breeding sites.
About this species ›Sand lizard on dry slopes
The warmth-loving sand lizard inhabits calcareous grasslands, borders, slopes and railway embankments of the Jurassic slopes. As a species of Annex IV of the Habitats Directive, it often requires CEF measures such as stone heaps and sunny sand lenses in the event of impacts.
About this species ›Amphibians in the Alb and Danube floodplains
Yellow-bellied toad, great crested newt and tree frog spawn in small water bodies in quarries, extraction sites and floodplains. The new creation and networking of sunny, fish-free water bodies is an effective and quickly colonisable compensation measure.
About this species ›European wildcat in forest network
The European wildcat is returning to the large, low-disturbance broadleaf forests of the Franconian Alb and uses Hienheimer Forest as habitat. It depends on near-natural forest structures and unbroken forest corridors.
About this species ›Black stork in quiet forest territories
The disturbance-sensitive black stork breeds in large, undisturbed forests and hunts in clear forest streams. In the contiguous forest areas of the district, nest protection zones and the development of feeding waters are relevant measures.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Industry and raw material extraction
Viscose fibre production in Kelheim, the limestone and cement industry as well as gravel extraction in the Danube floodplains are among the defining economic sectors. Factory extensions, new extraction sites and reclamation trigger regular compensation and replacement obligations under BayKompV.
Infrastructure and transport
The expansion of federal roads (B16, B299), bypass routes, bridge structures over the Danube and Altmühl as well as measures on the Main-Danube Canal and Danube harbour generate compensation requirements and species protection needs.
Energy and renewables
Ground-mounted photovoltaic installations in the hill country, wind energy in the forest areas and hydropower on the Danube require nature conservation compensation and, for affected species, CEF and FCS measures.
Settlement and business
Residential and commercial areas in Kelheim, Abensberg, Mainburg and Neustadt an der Donau lead to land sealing. Landowners of suitable land can contribute it as compensation areas and remain owners.
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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