Eco-points and compensation areas
District of Diepholz
Eco-points immediately available from recognised eco-accounts. greeNature is your full-service partner for compensation under Lower Saxony nature conservation law (NAGBNatSchG) between the Dümmer, the Diepholzer Moorniederung and the Bremen surroundings.
The District of Diepholz at a glance
Diepholz district lies in the southwest of Lower Saxony and stretches around 70 km from the city of Bremen in the north to the border with North Rhine-Westphalia near Osnabrück. At just under 1,988 km², it is one of the largest districts by area in the state. The district seat is Diepholz, the north around Stuhr, Weyhe and Syke forms part of the Bremen conurbation, while the south is predominantly rural.
In terms of natural regions, the district lies in the Ems-Hunte-Geest und Dümmer Geestniederung (natural region D30), the east along the Weser belongs to the Weser-Aller-Flachland (natural region D31). Ice-age sands, flat Geest ridges and broad lowlands shape the terrain. Extensive raised bogs have formed in the lowlands, some of which have been cut for peat and some of which are being restored.
Ecologically, the district is of European significance. The Dümmer, the second-largest inland lake in Lower Saxony, is both an EU bird protection area and an FFH site and is of international importance for waterbirds and waders. The Diepholzer Moorniederung is one of the most important crane stopover sites in Germany. With 49 nature reserves, the district has a very high density of protected areas.
Economically, the district combines strong industry (ZF Friedrichshafen and BASF Polyurethanes in the Lemförde area), agriculture, wind energy and growing settlement development in the Bremen surroundings. The expansion of the A1, commercial and residential areas as well as wind power and repowering projects regularly trigger impacts, the compensation for which must be provided under Lower Saxony nature conservation law (NAGBNatSchG) using the habitat value procedure.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D30 ›
📍 Selected municipalities
🌿 Ecological features
- Dümmer, the second-largest inland lake in Lower Saxony, an EU bird protection area and FFH site of international importance for waterbirds and waders
- Diepholzer Moorniederung, an extensive raised bog complex and one of the most important crane stopover sites in Germany
- Nördliches Wietingsmoor, at around 1,599 ha the largest nature reserve in the district
- 49 nature reserves and four EU bird protection areas within the district
- Hunte as the defining watercourse, which flows through the Dümmer and drains the lowlands
- Sandy Geest ridges with remnants of sand heaths and calcareous grassland
- Extensive, partly cut-over raised bogs with ongoing rewetting projects
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationwide and plans compensation under the respective applicable state law. In Diepholz district, we follow the Lower Saxony impact mitigation regulation (NAGBNatSchG), assess using the habitat value procedure in eco-points and base our work on the working aids of the NLWKN. Coordination with the lower nature conservation authority (Untere Naturschutzbehörde) in Diepholz and the specific features of the Dümmer and the Diepholzer Moorniederung are part of our work.
Typical measures in the district of Diepholz
Bog restoration and rewetting
Raising the water table and removing drainage ditches in the raised bogs of the Diepholzer Moorniederung. Such measures secure bog-typical habitats, bind carbon and count among the high-value, permanently recognisable compensation measures under the habitat value procedure.
Extensification of wet and damp grassland
Conversion of intensively used land into species-rich wet grassland in the Dümmer lowlands, with adapted mowing dates and ditch damming. Habitat for meadow birds such as the northern lapwing, black-tailed godwit and Eurasian curlew.
Watercourse and floodplain development on the Hunte
Removal of bank reinforcements, reconnection of oxbows and promotion of self-dynamic watercourse development. This creates steep banks, shallow-water zones and floodplain structures as habitat for kingfisher, fish and amphibians.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Replacement spawning waters for moor frog and tree frog, bat roosts, habitats for the sand lizard on railway and road embankments, and kingfisher nesting banks, each as an advance CEF or population-supporting FCS measure under § 44 and § 45 BNatSchG.
Hedgerows, field copses and habitat network
Creation of hedgerows, field copses and stepping-stone habitats in the cleared arable land of the Geest. These structures connect habitats and enhance the agricultural landscape for farmland birds, brown hare and wild bees.
Sand heaths and calcareous grassland of the Geest
Development and management of sand heaths, mat-grass swards and calcareous grassland on nutrient-poor Geest sites through scrub clearance, grazing and mowing. Valuable dry habitats for heat-loving insects and reptiles.
Protected species in the Dümmer, Diepholzer Moorniederung and the Bremen surroundings
Crane and resting birds of the Moorniederung
The Diepholzer Moorniederung is a stopover site of national importance, where tens of thousands of cranes gather in autumn. Rewetted bogs and low-disturbance roosting waters secure this function. For projects in the surrounding area, consideration for resting and feeding areas must regularly be assessed.
Meadow birds of the Dümmer lowlands
Northern lapwing, black-tailed godwit and Eurasian curlew breed in the open wet grassland around the Dümmer. Rewetting, ditch damming and extensive mowing are the most effective compensation measures here for these ground-nesting birds.
About this species ›Amphibians of the bogs and small water bodies
Moor frog, tree frog and common toad inhabit bog pools, peat cuttings and temporarily flooded hollows. Newly created, sunlit and fish-free spawning waters in spatial proximity secure their breeding sites in the event of impacts.
About this species ›Bats in woodland and settlements
Species such as the noctule, common pipistrelle and serotine bat hunt along woodland edges, watercourses and hedgerows. All are strictly protected (Annex IV FFH Directive), and in the event of demolition and clearance, replacement roosts are required as a CEF measure.
About this species ›Skylark of the open Geest
The skylark breeds in the open farmland of the Geest and must regularly be considered in the species-specific assessment. Lark plots, flowering strips and fallow strips serve as advance CEF measures.
About this species ›Kingfisher on the Hunte and ditches
Near-natural bank sections with steep faces offer the strictly protected kingfisher nesting sites. In the event of impacts on watercourses, modelling of steep banks, bank erosion and fish-rich shallow-water zones are typical CEF measures.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Industry and commerce
Strong businesses such as ZF Friedrichshafen and BASF Polyurethanes in the Lemförde area, as well as the designation of commercial areas throughout the district, lead to land sealing. Business expansions and new facilities regularly generate a compensation requirement under Lower Saxony nature conservation law.
Transport and infrastructure
The expansion and renovation of the A1 (Hansalinie), federal and state roads, bypasses and rail projects cross the district and trigger compensation and replacement obligations under §§ 13 to 15 BNatSchG.
Wind energy and repowering
The district is a significant wind energy location. New construction and repowering of wind farms affect protected species such as bats and birds of prey and require a species protection assessment as well as tailored CEF and FCS measures.
Settlement development in the Bremen surroundings
Residential and commercial areas in Stuhr, Weyhe and Syke are growing along with the Bremen conurbation. New development areas require nature conservation compensation, for which suitable sites and eco-points are needed.
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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