Eco-points and compensation areas
City of Schwerin
Eco-points and compensation areas in the state capital Schwerin, assessed under the guidance on impact mitigation (HzE 2018) and the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern eco-account ordinance (ÖkoKtoVO M-V). greeNature operates nationwide and supports your compensation between the Schweriner See and the Westmecklenburgisches Seenhügelland, from assessment to a recognised measure.
The City of Schwerin at a glance
Schwerin is the state capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and, as an independent city, is entirely enclosed by the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, with the city area bordering the Nordwestmecklenburg district in the north-west. With around 98,600 residents, Schwerin is the smallest state capital in Germany. The city's setting amid the Schweriner Seenlandschaft is a defining feature, with the Schweriner See, one of the largest lakes in northern Germany, and a dense network of further lakes, streams and wetlands.
In natural-region terms, the city area belongs to the Westmecklenburgisches Seenhügelland and thus to the BfN major landscape D05 (Mecklenburg-Brandenburgisches Platten- und Hügelland). The ice-age landscape of ground moraines, ribbon lakes and lowlands creates a mosaic of water bodies, forest, grassland and urban space that offers good conditions for effective upgrading measures.
The water bodies are of particular ecological significance. The Schweriner Seen EU bird protection area (DE 2235-402) comprises the Schweriner Innensee and Außensee, the Ziegelaußensee and surrounding land, and is an important part of the Natura 2000 network. On the island of Kaninchenwerder, the Kaninchenwerder und Großer Stein nature conservation area is one of the region's oldest protected-area designations. These areas must be carefully considered in nature-conservation terms for projects in their vicinity.
As an administrative, service and urban centre, Schwerin continues to develop. Residential building in the districts, commercial and industrial land around Görries and Sacktannen, and transport and infrastructure projects regularly trigger impacts whose compensation must be provided under sections 13 to 15 BNatSchG in conjunction with the ÖkoKtoVO M-V.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D04 ›
📍 City districts
🌿 Ecological features
- Schweriner Seen EU bird protection area (DE 2235-402), with the Schweriner Innensee and Außensee, the Ziegelaußensee and surrounding land
- Schweriner See, one of the largest lakes in northern Germany, with the castle and lake district at the city centre
- Kaninchenwerder und Großer Stein nature conservation area, one of the region's oldest protected-area designations (1939)
- Landscape conservation areas around the Innensee and Ziegelaußensee, as well as the Schweriner Außensee
- An urban centre with a high share of lake and shoreline area right within the city
- Near-natural shoreline areas, wet woodland and wetlands as habitat for water birds and birds of prey
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationwide and is familiar with the regulations in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In Schwerin we coordinate measures with the state capital's Nature Conservation and Landscape Management Division as the lower nature conservation authority, and align assessment, eco-account management and measure planning consistently with the guidance on impact mitigation (HzE 2018) and the eco-account ordinance M-V. We take the proximity of projects to the Schweriner Seen and the EU bird protection area into account from the first site assessment onward.
Typical measures in the city of Schwerin
Lakeshore and watercourse restoration
Removal of bank reinforcements, development of near-natural shallow-water and reed zones on the Schweriner See, the Ziegelsee and the city's streams. This creates spawning habitats for fish and habitat for kingfisher and water birds.
Desealing and land restoration
Removal of sealed and underused land within the city and around commercial sites, restoring permeable, vegetated soils. A typical measure for compensating impacts in the urban centre.
Grassland extensification in the hinterland
Conversion of intensively used land into species-rich wet and damp grassland with adapted mowing dates. Habitat for meadow-breeding birds such as northern lapwing and snipe in the lowlands around the Schweriner Seen.
Forest conversion and urban forest upgrading
Development of site-appropriate mixed broadleaf woodland of oak, beech and hornbeam, enrichment with old and dead wood, and conversion of structurally poor conifer plantations in forests near the city.
CEF and FCS species protection
Advance and population-supporting measures under section 44 BNatSchG, such as bat roosts on buildings and in avenues, replacement spawning waters for amphibians, and basking and shelter structures for the sand lizard.
Hedgerows, small water bodies and habitat network
Creation of hedgerows, field copses and small water bodies in the agricultural landscape on the city's edge. These features connect habitats and upgrade cleared farmland as stepping-stone habitats.
Protected species in the Schweriner Seenlandschaft
Waterfowl and birds of prey of the Schweriner Seen
Species of European significance breed on Kaninchenwerder and in the EU bird protection area, including white-tailed eagle, red kite, black kite and marsh harrier. Preserving and keeping near-natural shoreline and forest areas undisturbed secures this function.
Kingfisher
Near-natural steep banks and clear flowing and standing waters provide the kingfisher with breeding and hunting habitats. Modelled steep banks and structurally rich shoreline sections are typical CEF measures in the urban and water landscape.
About this species ›Bats
Common pipistrelle, serotine and brown long-eared bat use avenues, parks and buildings as roosts and hunting grounds. Replacement roosts are a common compensation measure for renovation and demolition projects.
About this species ›Amphibians
Tree frog, moor frog and fire-bellied toad inhabit small water bodies and wet hollows in the lake landscape. Newly created, sun-exposed spawning waters are a typical advance measure.
About this species ›Sand lizard
Railway embankments, slopes and open fallow land within the city provide habitat for the strictly protected sand lizard. Basking, egg-laying and shelter structures are regularly required for building and infrastructure projects.
About this species ›Great crested newt
The great crested newt, protected under Annexes II and IV of the FFH Directive, uses fish-free, well sun-exposed small water bodies in the hinterland. Creating and connecting suitable spawning waters secures the ecological function of the populations.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Housing and urban development
New housing developments and densification in the districts, as well as the continued development of the urban centre, require nature-conservation compensation. Owners of suitable land in the hinterland can benefit by offering it.
Commerce and industry
New developments and expansions at the commercial and industrial sites around Görries and Sacktannen regularly generate compensation requirements through land take and sealing.
Transport and infrastructure
Road, bridge and pipeline projects, as well as the expansion of rail and cycling infrastructure within the city, give rise to compensation and replacement obligations under sections 13 to 15 BNatSchG.
Energy and grids
Ground-mounted photovoltaic installations in the hinterland, district heating and grid expansion, and facilities related to the energy transition require nature-conservation compensation and, in individual cases, CEF measures for affected species.
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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in the city of Schwerin
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