Eco-points and compensation areas
City of Emden
Eco-points and compensation areas in the independent city of Emden, assessed according to the Lower Saxony biotope value procedure. greeNature is your nationwide full-service partner for compensation of impacts in the East Frisian marsh at the Ems estuary and on the Dollart.
The City of Emden at a glance
Emden is an independent city in the far west of Lower Saxony and the largest city in East Frisia. It lies on the northern bank of the Ems, where the tide-influenced river transitions into the Ems estuary and the Dollart. With around 50,700 residents and an area of approximately 112 km², Emden is one of the smaller independent cities in the state. As an independent city, Emden undertakes the duties of the lower nature conservation authority itself. An intermediate administrative level does not exist, as Lower Saxony abolished the administrative regions in 2004.
In terms of natural regions, the city area lies almost entirely in the Ems-Weser marsh (BfN natural region D25), a flat cultural landscape crossed by dykes, sluices and drainage ditches (tiefs) based on fertile clay soils. To the west and south, the city borders directly on the tide-influenced mudflat and water areas of the Ems estuary and the Dollart, which are assigned to the natural region North Sea coast (D21). Characteristic are the extensive polder areas, marsh lakes (Meede) with reed margins and the pre-dyke areas along the Ems.
Emden is a significant economic and industrial location. The Volkswagen works has existed since 1964 and has produced exclusively electric vehicles since the end of 2024. The Emden seaport is one of Europe's largest vehicle handling ports and is also an important handling and logistics hub for wind energy components. In addition, there is shipbuilding (Emden shipyard, formerly Nordsee works) as well as new energy projects such as a hydrogen electrolyser. This industrial character, combined with port, commercial and residential construction development, regularly triggers impacts.
Nature conservation compensation in Lower Saxony must be provided via the biotope value procedure with eco-points on the basis of the impact mitigation regulation under sections 13 to 15 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act and the NAGBNatSchG. Because of the location at the Ems estuary with its Natura 2000 areas and the importance of the marsh for meadow, mudflat and water birds, demanding species protection questions under section 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act frequently arise in Emden, which may require advanced compensation measures (CEF).
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D25 ›
📍 City districts
🌿 Ecological features
- Nature reserve Outer Ems (NSG WE 314) with extensive mudflat, water and pre-dyke areas in the Ems estuary, part of FFH area 002 Lower Ems and Outer Ems (DE 2507-331)
- Dollart, tide-influenced marine bay at the German-Dutch border, internationally significant breeding, staging and feeding area for mudflat and water birds
- EU bird protection area V10 Ems marsh from Leer to Emden along the lower Ems
- Nature reserve Bansmeer, protected since 1975 marsh lake (around 50 hectares) with broad reed margin as habitat for reed and water birds
- Petkumer Deichvorland, protected since 1994 pre-dyke areas on the Ems (around 200 hectares)
- Wybelsum polder as significant bird habitat in the transition to port, commercial and wind energy areas
- Volkswagen works and one of Europe's largest vehicle handling and wind power logistics ports as defining source of compensation needs
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationwide and is familiar with the Lower Saxony compensation system. We work with the lower nature conservation authority of Emden city (FD 362 Environment) and the NLWKN, know the biotope value procedure with eco-points as well as the relevant NLWKN working guidelines and the special features of the marsh landscape at the Ems estuary with its Natura 2000 areas. From needs assessment through land securing to implementation, management and monitoring, we accompany your project continuously, even in demanding species protection settings in the urban and port-adjacent environment.
Typical measures in the city of Emden
Unsealing and removal in the city area
Removal of sealed areas, for example on abandoned commercial, port or transport areas, and conversion into vegetation-rich, water-absorbent biotopes. Such measures improve areas in the densely built urban space and also improve urban climate and local water balance.
Restoration of tiefs and marsh ditches
Naturalistic redesign of the drainage ditches and tiefs typical for the marsh, creation of water body edge strips and shallow banks. This creates habitats for amphibians, dragonflies and the kingfisher and links the water bodies of the polder landscape.
Grassland extensification for meadow-breeding birds
Conversion of intensively used areas into species-rich wet and damp grassland in polders and lowlands. Adapted mowing dates, water retention via sluices and absence of fertilisation create breeding and feeding habitats for northern lapwing, black-tailed godwit and common redshank.
Marsh lakes, reed margins and small water bodies
Creation and development of ponds, marsh lakes and reed margins following the model of Bansmeer. These structures provide reed and water birds, amphibians and the great crested newt with habitat and achieve high improvements in the biotope value procedure.
Pre-dyke and salt marsh development
Extensification and naturalistic management of pre-dyke and dyke-front areas along the Ems and the Dollart, for example around the Petkumer Deichvorland. Salt marshes and brackish reed margins are habitat for specialised coastal birds and plants.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Advanced compensation measures under section 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act, such as replacement roosts for building-dwelling bats and breeding birds during demolition and renovation, replacement spawning waters for amphibians and replacement habitats for meadow-breeding birds, coordinated to the particular project.
Protected species in the East Frisian coastal marsh at the Ems estuary and Dollart
Meadow-breeding birds in polders and marshes
Northern lapwing, black-tailed godwit and common redshank breed in open wet grassland of polders and lowlands. Typical measures are re-wetting, creation of ponds and grassland extensification as advanced CEF measures.
About this species ›Skylark in open land
The extensive marsh and polder areas are habitat for the skylark. In construction and infrastructure projects, skylark windows, flower strips and extensive edge strips are proven species protection measures under section 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act.
About this species ›Amphibians and great crested newt in marsh water bodies
Moor frog, grass frog and the strictly protected great crested newt (Annex IV of the Habitats Directive) inhabit marsh lakes, tiefs and fluctuating damp hollows. New or restored spawning waters in spatial context secure the breeding sites when impacts occur.
About this species ›Bats in city and vegetation
Old city buildings, trees and avenues provide roosts for strictly protected bat species. When buildings are demolished, renovated or trees felled, replacement roosts are required as a CEF measure.
About this species ›Kingfisher on ditches and water bodies
Naturalistic riverbank sections of tiefs and marsh water bodies offer the kingfisher steep banks for breeding. Steep bank modelling and riverbank restoration are typical CEF measures in water body impacts.
About this species ›Staging and water birds at the Dollart
The Ems estuary and the Dollart are internationally significant breeding, staging and feeding areas for mudflat and water birds as well as migrating geese. Projects in the area require careful assessment of conservation objectives and often avoidance measures.
Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Residential and urban development
New residential areas, infill development and conversion of former commercial areas trigger impacts on soil and green structures. Nature conservation compensation can be efficiently covered via stockpiled eco-points.
Port and commerce
Expansion of seaport, industrial and commercial areas, including for vehicle handling, wind power logistics and new energy projects, leads to land use and impacts that trigger compensation obligations.
Transport and infrastructure
Federal motorway A31 (Emsland motorway) ends in Emden, in addition there are federal roads, rail, cycle and path construction as well as bridge and sluice structures. Such projects regularly trigger compensation needs, which can be met via eco-points.
Energy and network expansion
The expansion of wind energy, hydrogen production and associated utility lines in the Weser-Ems area generates compensation needs and often requires species protection assessments as well as FCS measures for wind-sensitive 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 Emden
Request eco-points in the city of Emden
We will promptly prepare a transparent offer with matching eco-points held in stock in the city of Emden.