Eco-points and compensation areas
District of Lüchow-Dannenberg
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) between Drawehn, Wendland and Elbe valley.
The District of Lüchow-Dannenberg at a glance
Lüchow-Dannenberg District lies in the far northeast of Lower Saxony and, with Wendland, forms a region extending far eastward, bordering the federal states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt to the north, east and south. The district seat and administrative centre is Lüchow (Wendland). Lower Saxony has no administrative regions, so the district comes directly under state control.
Geographically, the district ranges from the forested Göhrde-Drawehn upland ridge to the west across the extensive lowlands of the Lüchow dike-Dumme lowlands to the Elbe valley lowlands to the north. The overwhelming majority belongs to the BfN natural region D29 (Wendland and Altmark), the Elbe-bordering fringe to natural region D09 (Elbe valley lowlands). Defining are the Elbe subglacial valley, post-glacial inland dunes, sandy geest ridges and flat valley sand surfaces, whose highest elevation is Hoher Mechtin at 142 metres.
Ecologically, the region is of outstanding significance. Large parts of the Elbe landscape belong to the Niedersächsische Elbtalaue Biosphere Reserve and are simultaneously FFH sites and EU bird protection areas as part of the European Natura 2000 network. Large areas of the rest of the district lie in the Wendland.Elbe Nature Park, plus extensive broadleaf forests of the Göhrde and large nature reserves such as Die Lucie.
The district is sparsely populated and rural in character, with emphasis on agriculture and forestry and tourism. The district council early adopted an orientation towards completely renewable electricity supply. Correspondingly, wind energy and photovoltaics play a growing role. Infrastructure, flood protection on the Elbe, decommissioning of nuclear installations in Gorleben plus settlement and commerce development regularly trigger impacts whose compensation must be provided via the biotope value method (eco-points) according to Lower Saxony law.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D29 ›
Go to natural region D28 ›
Go to natural region D09 ›
📍 Selected municipalities
🌿 Ecological features
- Niedersächsische Elbtalaue Biosphere Reserve along the Middle Elbe, part of the cross-state UNESCO Biosphere Reserve River Landscape Elbe
- FFH sites and EU bird protection areas of the Elbe valley as components of the Natura 2000 network
- Wendland.Elbe Nature Park over wide parts of the district
- Die Lucie nature reserve, one of the largest contiguous forest protected areas in the region
- Göhrde as one of the largest contiguous broadleaf forest areas in northern Germany
- Lüchow lowlands and Dumme dike lowlands with extensive moist grassland
- Elbe as a natural river landscape with riparian forest remnants, oxbows and inland dunes
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationally and is familiar with Lower Saxony compensation law. We work with the lower nature conservation authority in Lüchow (Wendland), know NLWKN guidance materials, the biotope value method for determining eco-points and the special characteristics of natural regions D29 and D09 between Wendland and Elbe valley.
Typical measures in the district of Lüchow-Dannenberg
Floodplain restoration on the Elbe
Connection of oxbows, removal of bank engineering and allowing natural waterbody development in the Elbe valley lowlands. This creates flood channels, gravel banks and riparian forest structures as habitat for fish, amphibians and water birds in the Biosphere Reserve.
Moist grassland and rewetting
Raising water levels and extensive management of lowland and moist grassland in the Lüchow lowlands and Dumme dike lowlands. Such measures secure meadow-breeding bird habitats and substantially upgrade areas in the biotope value method.
Natural forest development Göhrde-Drawehn
Conversion of structurally poor conifer plantations to naturally appropriate broadleaf and mixed forests of oak, beech and hornbeam, plus targeted promotion of old and dead wood. This increases habitat quality in Göhrde and Drawehn forests.
Stream restoration Jeetzel and Dumme
Removal of bed and bank reinforcement, creation of waterbody margins and restoration of continuous flow sections on Jeetzel, Dumme and dike channels. Habitat for otter, kingfisher and lampreys.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Bat roosts in forest and buildings, kingfisher steep banks on Jeetzel and Elbe, replacement spawning waters for amphibians and habitats for great crested newts, each as an early CEF measure under § 44 BNatSchG or as a population-supporting FCS measure.
Hedgerows, copses and habitat networks
Creation of hedgerows, copses and field margins in open geest landscape. These structures network habitats, create stepping-stone biotopes for skylarks and brown hares and upgrade the open agricultural landscape.
Protected species in the Wendland and Elbe valley
Black stork in Göhrde
Extensive, undisturbed broadleaf forests of the Göhrde provide breeding opportunities for the strictly protected black stork, moist forest streams and riparian waters serve as feeding habitat. In forest and waterbody impacts, rest zones and securing of feeding areas are crucial.
About this species ›Northern lapwing and meadow birds of the Elbe valley
The moist grassland of the Elbe valley and Lüchow lowlands is habitat for northern lapwings, snipe and other meadow-breeding birds. Extensification, high water levels and late cutting dates are proven measures to secure these populations.
About this species ›Otter and beaver on Elbe and Jeetzel
Elbe, Jeetzel and their tributaries count among core habitat for otter and beaver, both species protected under the Habitats Directive annex. Natural banks, waterbody margins and continuous crossing points are typical compensation measures.
Bats in Göhrde forests
Old broadleaf forests and buildings provide Bechstein's bat, greater mouse-eared bat and other strictly protected species (Annex IV Habitats Directive) with roosts. In demolition, renovation and forest impacts, replacement roosts are required as a CEF measure.
About this species ›European wildcat in the Göhrde-Drawehn forest area
The contiguous forests of Göhrde and Drawehn are among the refuge areas for the European wildcat. Forest edge design, dead wood supply and networking of forest areas via hedgerows are suitable upgrading and network measures.
About this species ›Amphibians and great crested newt in riparian waters
Oxbows, pools and wetland depressions of the Elbe valley support red-bellied toads, tree frogs and great crested newts (Annex II and IV of the Habitats Directive). Creation of fish-free spawning waters and structurally diverse land habitats secures breeding sites.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Renewable energies (wind and photovoltaic)
The district pursues consistent orientation towards renewable electricity generation. New wind parks and utility-scale photovoltaic installations and associated grid connection trigger impacts to be offset via the biotope value method, often combined with species protection assessments for birds of prey and bats.
Flood protection and dyke construction on the Elbe
Dyke repairs, dyke relocation and flood protection measures along the Middle Elbe impact floodplain and grassland. Simultaneously, they offer opportunities to link compensation and floodplain development in the Biosphere Reserve.
Decommissioning and conversion in Gorleben
At the Gorleben site with interim storage for high-level radioactive waste and the defunct exploration mine, decommissioning and remediation projects are pending. Associated impacts require nature conservation compensation under §§ 13 to 15 BNatSchG.
Commerce and settlement development
Business expansions of local industry plus residential and commercial areas in Lüchow, Dannenberg and Hitzacker create compensation requirements. Farmers and landowners can contribute their areas as compensation areas and generate permanent income from them.
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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