Eco-points and compensation areas
District of Offenbach
Eco-points and compensation areas in Offenbach district, assessed under the Hessian Compensation Regulation (KV) in eco-points. greeNature is your nationwide full-service partner for compensating impacts in the lower Main plain and Rhine-Main area
The District of Offenbach at a glance
Offenbach district lies in southern Hesse east and south-east of Frankfurt am Main and belongs to Darmstadt administrative region. By natural region, it belongs to the lower Main plain in BfN natural region D53 (Upper Rhine Plain and Rhine-Main Lowland). The district partly surrounds the independent city of Offenbach am Main. District seat and administrative centre has been Dietzenbach since 2002. With nearly 359,000 inhabitants on approximately 356 km², Offenbach is Hesse's most populous district and one of the state's most densely populated areas
The landscape is characterised by the sandy soils of the lower Main plain with extensive pine forests on ice-age wind-blown sands, for example in Koberstädter forest and Dreieich. In the west, the Sprendlingen horst rises as an uplifted block of older rocks. The Main forms the northern district boundary and borders the floodplains at Mühlheim, Hainburg and Seligenstadt. Numerous forest lakes have resulted from earlier sand and gravel extraction and today serve as secondary habitats
Despite high settlement density, there are valuable protected areas. These include the European bird protection area of sand pine forests of the eastern lower Main plain, the FFH area Luderbach floodplain of Dreieich, and a series of nature reserves and Main floodplains as habitat networks. These habitats harbour species adapted to warm, dry sandy locations and face high usage pressure
Economically, the district is part of the strong Rhine-Main area. Frankfurt airport borders it directly, Egelsbach airfield lies within the district, plus dense transport axes (motorways A3, A5 and A661), residential and commercial construction and raw material extraction. These projects regularly trigger impacts whose compensation in Hesse must be provided under the impact mitigation regulation under sections 13 to 15 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), the Hessian Implementing Law for Nature Conservation (HAGBNatSchG) and the Compensation Regulation (KV) in eco-points
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D53 ›
📍 Selected municipalities
🌿 Ecological features
- Bird protection area sand pine forests of the eastern lower Main plain, European Natura-2000 area with open pine forests as habitat for crested lark and nightjar
- FFH area Luderbach floodplain of Dreieich, forest-rich protected area, part of the Natura-2000 network since 2000
- Several European bird protection areas plus numerous FFH areas and nature reserves within the district, despite high settlement density
- The Main forms the northern district boundary, Main floodplains at Mühlheim, Hainburg and Seligenstadt function as habitat networks
- Extensive sand pine forests on ice-age wind-blown sands, Koberstädter forest and Dreieich, Sprendlingen horst in the west
- Forest lakes and former sand and gravel extraction areas as secondary habitats for amphibians, dragonflies and water birds
- Hesse's most populous district with very high land use and settlement pressure in the Rhine-Main conurbation
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationwide and is familiar with the Hessian compensation system. We work with the lower nature conservation authority of Offenbach district, know eco-point assessment under the Compensation Regulation (KV) and HAGBNatSchG and understand the requirements for eco-accounts and their tradability in Hesse. We are also familiar with the sand-characterised lower Main plain in natural region D53, from sand pine forests to Main floodplains. From determining requirements through land securing to implementation, management and monitoring, we support your project throughout
Typical measures in the district of Offenbach
Upgrading open sand pine forests
Opening up and ecological development of typical pine forests on wind-blown sand, creation of open sand areas and structured forest margins. Such measures promote heat-loving species such as crested lark and nightjar and upgrade the characteristic habitats of the lower Main plain
Sand and dry habitats
Creation of sand lenses, scree piles, dead wood structures and sunny margins at forest edges, railway embankments and slopes. These structures create breeding and resting sites for sand lizards and further reptiles and are suitable as advanced CEF measures
Flowing water and floodplain restoration
Removal of bank defences, creation of riparian buffer strips and ecological restructuring of Rodau, Bieber and further Main tributaries plus upgrading of Main floodplains. Ecologically sound banks and floodplain forest strips benefit the kingfisher and habitat networking
Small water bodies and forest ponds
New creation and restoration of ponds, shallow pools and still waters, also in former extraction areas. Fish-free, undisturbed breeding waters secure breeding sites for amphibians and the great crested newt and integrate well into habitat networks
Grassland and arable land extensification
Conversion of intensively used land into species-rich extensive grassland plus creation of arable and flower margins in open fields around Rodgau, Seligenstadt and Mainhausen. Adapted usage creates feeding and breeding habitat for skylarks and further open land species
Species protection CEF and FCS
Advanced compensation measures under section 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), such as replacement roosts for bats in forests and buildings, habitat trees and coordinated replacement habitats. They secure continuous ecological function (CEF) and favourable conservation status (FCS) of affected species
Protected species in the Lower Main plain in the Rhine-Main area
Sand lizard on sandy locations
The sand lizard (Annex IV of the FFH Directive) inhabits forest margins, railway embankments, slopes and open sand areas of the lower Main plain. For construction and infrastructure projects, habitat creation and relocation are regularly required as CEF measures under section 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG)
About this species ›Bats in forests and Main floodplains
Old tree stands, forest areas and buildings provide roosts for strictly protected bat species (Annex IV of the FFH Directive). For felling or demolition, replacement roosts and habitat trees are necessary as advanced compensation measures
About this species ›Skylark in open land
Open fields around Rodgau, Seligenstadt and Mainhausen are habitat for the skylark. In construction and planning procedures, skylark access windows, flower strips and extensive arable margins are proven species protection measures under section 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG)
About this species ›Kingfisher on Rodau and Main
Ecologically sound bank sections of Rodau, Bieber and Main offer kingfishers steep banks for nesting and fish-rich hunting waters. Steep bank modelling and bank restoration are typical CEF measures for water impacts
About this species ›Amphibians and great crested newt
In forest ponds, small water bodies and former extraction areas live amphibians such as the great crested newt (Annexes II and IV of the FFH Directive) and further newt and frog species. New or restored breeding waters in spatial context secure their breeding sites
About this species ›Birds of sand pine forests
The open pine forests of the eastern lower Main plain are habitat for crested lark and nightjar, for which separate bird protection areas are designated. Opening up, open sand areas and structured forest margins support these disturbance-sensitive populations
Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Air transport and airfields
Frankfurt airport directly borders the district, Egelsbach airfield lies within the district. Expansion and operational measures in the air transport environment trigger compensation and replacement obligations that can be covered through eco-points
Road and rail infrastructure
Motorways A3, A5 and A661, federal and district roads and expansion of S-Bahn and railways in the Rhine-Main network cross the densely developed district. Such projects regularly generate compensation requirements and species protection assessments
Housing, commerce and logistics
As Hesse's most populous district, Offenbach faces high settlement pressure. Residential, commercial and logistics areas in Dietzenbach, Rodgau, Dreieich and other municipalities can be efficiently compensated through existing eco-points
Sand and gravel extraction
The sandy soils of the lower Main plain are used for raw material extraction. Extraction projects trigger impacts; at the same time, exhausted gravel areas and restoration sites are well suited for creating compensation and eco-account 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.
Eco-points in adjoining districts
All about eco-points
in the district of Offenbach
Request eco-points in the district of Offenbach
We will promptly prepare a transparent offer with matching eco-points held in stock in the district of Offenbach.