Eco-points and compensation areas
District of Darmstadt-Dieburg
Eco-points and compensation areas in Darmstadt-Dieburg district, assessed under the Hessian Compensation Regulation (KV). greeNature is your nationwide full-service partner for nature conservation-based compensation of impacts between Hessian Ried, Messeler Upland and front Odenwald.
The District of Darmstadt-Dieburg at a glance
Darmstadt-Dieburg district lies in southern Hesse in the Darmstadt administrative region and nearly completely surrounds the independent city of Darmstadt. It comprises 23 cities and municipalities. A particular feature is that the district has no district seat within its own territory: the main office of district administration is in the district office in Darmstadt's Kranichstein district, with a second administrative office in the eponymous city of Dieburg.
By natural region, the district is divided into two parts. The western and northern portion belongs to the Upper Rhine Plain and Rhine-Main Lowland (BfN natural region D53) with the Hessian Ried, sand dunes and calcareous grasslands of the Pfungstadt-Griesheim sand plain and the Messeler Upland. The south and east extend via the Bergstraße into the Odenwald (BfN natural region D55) with its extensive beech and mixed forests.
The district is exceptionally diverse in landscape and harbours numerous rare habitat types. Designated are 27 nature reserves, several landscape conservation areas and 28 Natura-2000 areas (23 FFH areas and 5 bird protection areas). Of supra-regional importance are the Messel pit, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site since 1995, and the calcareous grasslands around Griesheim and Dieburg.
The economy combines industry and commerce of the Rhine-Main conurbation with agriculture, asparagus cultivation and wine growing. Key sectors include the building materials industry around Groß-Umstadt, the paints and coatings industry around Ober-Ramstadt, and the food industry. Settlement pressure, transport and commercial projects, and raw material extraction regularly trigger impacts that in Hesse must be compensated through eco-point assessment under the Compensation Regulation (KV) on the basis of the impact mitigation regulation in sections 13 to 15 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG).
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D53 ›
Go to natural region D55 ›
📍 Selected municipalities
🌿 Ecological features
- Messel pit, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site since 1995, globally important fossil deposit and simultaneously FFH area
- Nature reserve and FFH area Griesheim dune and oak copse (Griesheim sand), calcareous inland dunes and calcareous grasslands with highly specialised flora and fauna
- Nature reserve Reinheim Pond (approximately 75 ha), important bird protection and wetland area with silting zones, reedbeds and wet meadows
- Nature reserve Pfungstädter Moor (approximately 97 ha) with silted oxbow bend, alder carr forest and peat remnants
- FFH area calcareous grasslands at Spießfeld west of Dieburg (6118-302) with great crested newt occurrence (Annex II of the FFH Directive)
- Sand dry grasslands and inland dunes of the Pfungstadt-Griesheim sand plain, a European rarity habitat type
- Extensive beech and mixed forests of the front Odenwald with European wildcat occurrence
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationwide and is familiar with the Hessian compensation system. We work with the lower nature conservation authority of Darmstadt-Dieburg district and the Darmstadt Government Presidency, are versed in eco-point assessment under the Hessian Compensation Regulation (KV) and understand the natural region characteristics between Hessian Ried (natural region D53) and front Odenwald (natural region D55). From determining compensation requirements through securing land to implementation, management and monitoring, we support your project throughout.
Typical measures in the district of Darmstadt-Dieburg
Calcareous grasslands and inland dunes
Management, restoration and new creation of calcareous dry grasslands in the Pfungstadt-Griesheim sand plain, for example through scrub clearance, topsoil stripping and adapted grazing. These measures secure a European rarity habitat type and achieve high upgrades in the Hessian compensation model.
Traditional orchards and woodland copses
New planting and restoration of traditional orchards and woodland copses on the slopes of the front Odenwald and in transition to the Ried. They network habitats, serve as stepping-stone biotopes and permanently enhance the cultural landscape.
River restoration
Removal of bank defences, creation of riparian buffer strips and ecological restructuring of watercourses such as Gersprenz, Modau and Landgraben. Newly created floodplain waters and shallow pools provide habitat for amphibians, dragonflies and kingfishers.
Wet meadows and grassland extensification
Grassland extensification and rewetting around Pfungstädter Moor and Reinheim Pond. Adapted mowing times, no fertiliser application and the creation of shallow pools provide breeding and feeding habitat for meadow birds and amphibians.
Ecological woodland development
Conversion of structurally poor stands into site-appropriate, ecologically sound broadleaf and mixed forests in the front Odenwald, combined with retention of old and dead wood. Such areas serve as permanently secured compensation and habitat for bats and the European wildcat.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Advanced compensation measures under section 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), such as creating habitat features for sand lizards, replacement roosts for bats and breeding ponds for great crested newts, coordinated to the respective project.
Protected species in the Hessian Ried, Messeler Upland and front Odenwald
Sand lizard on calcareous grasslands
Open calcareous grasslands, railway embankments and dunes are habitat for the strictly protected sand lizard (Annex IV of the FFH Directive). For construction and infrastructure projects, creating habitat features and relocations have proven effective as advanced CEF measures under section 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG).
About this species ›Skylark in the Ried
The open farmland of the Hessian Ried is home to the skylark. In impact assessments, skylark access windows, flower margins and extensive field margins are typical species protection measures under section 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG).
About this species ›Northern lapwing and meadow birds
Wetland areas such as Reinheim Pond and open lowlands offer northern lapwings breeding and resting habitat. Grassland extensification, rewetting and the creation of shallow pools support populations and serve as CEF measures.
About this species ›Great crested newt in water bodies
The great crested newt, a species of Annex II of the FFH Directive, occurs in, among other places, the FFH area calcareous grasslands at Spießfeld near Dieburg. New or restored breeding ponds in spatial context secure breeding sites where impacts occur.
About this species ›European wildcat in the Odenwald
The forests of the front Odenwald are habitat for the European wildcat, a species of Annex IV of the FFH Directive. Forest edge design, habitat networking and retention of old and dead wood secure its habitats and movement corridors.
About this species ›Bats in forests and towns
Old tree stands, traditional orchards and buildings provide roosts for strictly protected bat species (Annex IV of the FFH Directive). In the event of demolition or tree felling, replacement roosts must be provided as CEF measures.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Transport infrastructure
Motorways A5 and A67 plus numerous federal and state roads cross the district, along with bypass roads, railway and cycle path expansion. Such projects regularly trigger compensation and replacement obligations that can be covered through eco-points.
Settlement and commercial development
In the densely populated Rhine-Main conurbation, residential and commercial areas are developing, for example around Weiterstadt, Griesheim and Pfungstadt. Nature conservation-based compensation can be efficiently covered through existing eco-points.
Raw material extraction and industry
Gravel and sand extraction in the Rhine plain plus building materials, paints and food industries lead to impacts requiring compensation. Restored extraction sites are equally suitable as high-quality offering areas.
Renewable energy and network expansion
Free-standing photovoltaic installations, wind energy on the Odenwald margin and the expansion of cable routes generate compensation requirements and frequently necessitate species protection assessments plus CEF and FCS measures.
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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We will promptly prepare a transparent offer with matching eco-points held in stock in the district of Darmstadt-Dieburg.