Eco-points and compensation areas
City of Cottbus
Compensation areas and statutory nature conservation compensation in the independent city of Cottbus. greeNature provides suitable sites and accompanies your project from verbal argumentation assessment according to the Guidance for implementing the impact mitigation regulation (HVE) through coordination with the lower nature conservation authority of the city. Operates nationwide with Brandenburg regulations experience.
The City of Cottbus at a glance
With around 95,000 inhabitants, Cottbus is the second-largest city in Brandenburg after Potsdam and one of four regional centres in the state. As an independent city, the area is completely surrounded by Spree-Neiße District. The city area of 165.62 km² is divided into 19 city districts, from densely built inner city to rural areas in the surrounding region.
Naturally, Cottbus belongs to Niederlausitz. Characteristic are the sandy soils of the Cottbus sand plain, extensive pine forests and the Spree lowland, which runs through the city from south to north and forms the transition to Spreewald.
A considerable part of the city is under landscape protection, about 14 percent of the area according to the city. This includes Branitz park landscape, sections of Spree valley and pond and meadow landscapes at the city edge. The Spree valley habitat network, an FFH site of the European Natura 2000 network, extends to the city boundary.
Cottbus is at the centre of Lausitz structural transformation. The exit from brown coal, flooding of Cottbus East Lake as Germany's largest artificial lake, the new ICE servicing workshop of Deutsche Bahn and expansion of BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg with the Lausitz Science Park create ongoing demand for statutory nature conservation compensation.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D08 ›
📍 City districts
🌿 Ecological features
- Spree lowland as backbone of urban habitat network, transition to Spreewald in the north
- FFH site Spree valley habitat network (Natura 2000) linked to city area
- Branitz park landscape in the style of Prince Pückler, landscape protection area with waters, forests and wetlands
- About 14 percent of city area designated as landscape protection areas
- Cottbus East Lake, emerging post-mining landscape with bank and restoration areas
- Pine forests and dry sand sites of Cottbus sand plain with potential for forest conversion
- Pond and meadow landscapes at city edge (Kolkwitz-Hänchen, Peitz pond landscape in the north)
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationwide and is familiar with Brandenburg regulations on impact mitigation. We know the verbal argumentation assessment practice according to the Guidance for implementing the impact mitigation regulation (HVE) and coordinate measures with the lower nature conservation authority of Cottbus city from planning to recognition. For projects in Lausitz structural transformation, we develop compensation and replacement concepts in the affected natural region of Niederlausitz.
Typical measures in the city of Cottbus
Spree valley restoration
Connection of oxbows, development of near-natural banks and floodplain forest structures along the Spree, upgrading of habitat network between Spreewald and city area. Such measures create habitats for kingfisher, amphibians and floodplain-typical species.
Sealing removal and inner development
Dismantling and sealing removal of disused building and industrial sites in the densely built city body, restoration of permeable soils and urban green spaces as contribution to compensation in urban space.
Grassland upgrading in surrounding area
Extensification of intensively used sites and development of species-rich meadows in rural districts and lowlands, habitat for meadow-breeding birds and insects.
Pine forest conversion
Conversion of structurally poor pine forests on the sandy soils of Cottbus sand plain to site-appropriate, climate-stable deciduous and mixed forests with oak, hornbeam and linden.
Post-mining Cottbus East Lake
Near-natural design of bank and succession zones, shallow water and reed areas around the flooded open-pit, development of new habitats for water and wading birds.
Hedges and habitat networks
Establishment of hedges, field copses and stepping-stone habitats in the open field landscape of the districts, connecting dry grasslands and field margins as habitat for farmland birds and reptiles.
Protected species in the Niederlausitz, Spree valley and Lausitz structural transformation
Sand lizard
Rail facilities, dry sand sites and ruderal areas in the city area provide habitat for sand lizard. In construction and infrastructure projects, special species protection under section 44 BNatSchG must be observed; advance CEF measures secure replacement habitats.
About this species ›Bats
Old tree stands in Branitz park landscape, cavity trees and buildings serve bats as roosts. Roost and collision losses must be examined for species protection under section 44 BNatSchG for projects.
About this species ›Kingfisher
Near-natural bank sections of the Spree and pond landscapes offer kingfisher breeding sites. Vertical walls, bank erosion and waterway restoration create new breeding habitats.
About this species ›Amphibians
Small water bodies, ponds and wetlands of Spree valley are spawning habitats for amphibians. Newly created or restored water bodies are typical compensation measures in urban areas.
About this species ›Skylark
The open field landscape of rural districts provides skylark with breeding habitats. As site loss occurs through settlement and commercial development, larch windows and extensive arable margins secure ecological function.
About this species ›Northern lapwing
Wet lowlands and grassland areas along the Spree provide habitat for northern lapwing. Rewetting and grassland extensification strengthen populations of this endangered meadow-breeding species.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
ICE workshop and rail hub
At the edge of Cottbus, the largest ICE servicing workshop of Deutsche Bahn is being built, a key structural transformation project. Workshop construction, rail systems and expansion of the rail hub entail compensation and replacement obligations as well as species protection measures.
Cottbus East Lake and post-mining
Flooding of the former Cottbus-Nord open-pit to Cottbus East Lake and design of banks, leisure and infrastructure facilities require statutory nature conservation compensation and near-natural development of post-mining landscape.
Science and commerce
Expansion of BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg with Lausitz Science Park, establishment of research institutes and new commercial sites in the course of structural transformation generate demand for compensation sites.
Residential building and settlement development
Residential construction and densification projects as well as development of new building areas for the growing hub require statutory nature conservation compensation measures. Landowners with city-adjacent sites can contribute as site providers.
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.
Eco-points in adjoining districts
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in the city of Cottbus
Request eco-points in the city of Cottbus
We will promptly prepare a transparent offer with matching eco-points held in stock in the city of Cottbus.