Eco-points and compensation areas
District of Oldenburg
Immediately available eco-points from authority-recognised eco-accounts. greeNature is your full-service partner for compensation according to Lower Saxony nature conservation law (NAGBNatSchG) in Wildeshauser Geest and Hunteland.
The District of Oldenburg at a glance
Oldenburg District lies in northwestern Lower Saxony, south of the independent city of Oldenburg and west of Bremen. The district seat is the town of Wildeshausen. Since the dissolution of Lower Saxony's administrative regions in 2004, the district comes directly under state control. Defining is the wide, rural Wildeshauser Geest with the Hunte as the central flowing waterbody.
By natural region, the district predominantly belongs to the Ems-Hunte geest, which the Federal Nature Conservation Office assigns to the major natural region D30 (Dümmer geest lowlands). The northwestern part around Wardenburg, Hatten and Großenkneten has shares in the East Frisian-Oldenburg geest (D26). Geologically, gently rolling ground moraine plateaux with sand and sandy loess layers characterise the picture, interspersed with lowlands, peat bogs and the Hunte valley, which to the north transitions to the Weser marshes.
Ecologically significant is the Wildeshauser Geest Nature Park, at over 1,500 km² the largest nature park in Lower Saxony. Natura 2000 sites include the FFH site Middle and Lower Hunte (with Barneführer Wood and Schreensmoor) and the EU bird protection area Hunte lowlands, an important staging area for bean and greylag geese, and a breeding area for meadow birds such as northern lapwing, black-tailed godwit and curlew.
Economically, the district combines agriculture and food processing with mechanical engineering and energy, including a large natural gas processing plant in Großenkneten. As part of the commuting region between Oldenburg and Bremen and surrounded by motorways A1, A28 and A29, settlement, commerce, transport and energy projects regularly create impacts whose compensation must be provided according to NAGBNatSchG using the biotope value method.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D30 ›
Go to natural region D26 ›
Go to natural region D25 ›
📍 Selected municipalities
🌿 Ecological features
- Wildeshauser Geest Nature Park, at over 1,500 km² the largest nature park in Lower Saxony
- FFH site Middle and Lower Hunte with Barneführer Wood and Schreensmoor
- EU bird protection area Hunte lowlands, staging and breeding area for guest and meadow birds
- Hunte as a defining flowing waterbody and tributary of the Weser
- Extensive peat bogs with rewetting potential on the geest
- Juniper heaths and sandy grassland on dry geest sites
- Transition from Ems-Hunte geest to Weser marshes in the north of the district
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationally and develops compensation measures according to Lower Saxony nature conservation law. We work with the biotope value method and NLWKN guidance materials, know the requirements of Oldenburg District's lower nature conservation authority and the natural region characteristics of Wildeshauser Geest and Hunte lowlands. From requirements analysis through area provision to implementation, management and monitoring, we fully support your project.
Typical measures in the district of Oldenburg
Bog rewetting
Raising water levels in drained peat bogs on the geest, such as around Schreensmoor. Restoration of peat-forming vegetation, carbon sequestration and habitat for bog-typical species.
Floodplain development on the Hunte
Connection of oxbows, development of natural bank structures and waterbody margins on the Hunte and its tributaries. Improvement of waterbody structure for fish fauna, kingfisher and dragonflies.
Grassland extensification
Conversion of intensively used areas into species-rich moist grassland in the Hunte lowlands. Adapted cutting and extensive grazing create breeding habitat for meadow birds such as northern lapwing, black-tailed godwit and curlew.
Heaths and sandy grassland
Management and new development of juniper heaths and sandy grassland on nutrient-poor geest sites. Deforestation, plaggen and extensive grazing preserve these light-demanding habitats and their insect fauna.
Hedgerows and habitat networks
Creation of wallows, copses and margins in open geest and arable landscape. Stepping stones and network corridors between bogs, heaths and Hunte valley for amphibians, reptiles and field birds.
Species protection CEF/FCS
Early compensation measures (CEF) under § 44 BNatSchG for affected species, such as habitat areas for meadow birds, sand lizard replacement habitats and bat roosts, plus FCS measures to maintain favourable conservation status.
Protected species in the Wildeshauser Geest and Hunte lowlands
Northern lapwing and meadow birds
The Hunte lowlands are an important breeding area for northern lapwing, black-tailed godwit, curlew and redshank. Typical compensation are wetted, extensively managed moist grassland with high water levels during breeding season.
About this species ›Skylark
Open geest and arable landscape is habitat for skylark, whose populations suffer from use intensification. Skylark plots, flower strips and extensive field margins are proven measures in open land.
About this species ›Sand lizard
Dry, sandy sites, slopes and heathland margins of the geest provide habitat for sand lizards. In infrastructure and construction projects, replacement habitats with sunny nesting sites are frequent CEF measures.
About this species ›Bats
Old wood stands such as Barneführer Wood and Hunte waterbody lines serve bats as roosts and hunting areas. Preservation of cavity trees and provision of roost boxes secure affected populations.
About this species ›Kingfisher
The kingfisher breeds on natural Hunte sections and its tributaries in steep banks. Riverbank erosion, nest aids and structurally diverse, undisturbed waterbody margins promote populations.
About this species ›Amphibians and great crested newt
Bog and grassland waters on the geest support amphibians such as great crested newt (Annex II and IV Habitats Directive), moor frogs and tree frogs. Creation of fish-free small waterbodies is a typical compensation measure.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Energy and natural gas
Natural gas is processed in Großenkneten, and wind and utility-scale photovoltaic installations are developing on geest sites. Plants, transmission corridors and repowering projects regularly trigger compensation and replacement obligations plus species protection assessments.
Infrastructure and transport
The district is surrounded by motorways A1, A28 and A29. Expansion, bypass routes and measures on federal, state and district roads plus rail create compensation requirements under the impact mitigation regulation.
Settlement and commerce
As part of the commuting region between Oldenburg and Bremen, Ganderkesee, Hude, Hatten and Wildeshausen designate residential and commercial areas. Land sealing requires nature conservation compensation, for which landowners can offer areas.
Agriculture and food
Intensive agriculture and food processing characterise geest economy. Business expansions, cattle buildings and processing plants create impacts to be assessed using the biotope value method.
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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