Eco-points and compensation areas
City of Oldenburg
Eco-points and compensation areas in the independent city of Oldenburg, assessed using the Lower Saxon biotope value procedure. greeNature is your nationwide full-service partner for compensation of impacts in the regional centre between geest and Hunte lowland.
The City of Oldenburg at a glance
Oldenburg is an independent city in north-west Lower Saxony and with around 177,000 residents (status 31 December 2025) on 103.09 km² the regional centre between Weser and Ems. The city area is divided into nine city districts with a total of 34 neighbourhoods. Since the discontinuation of administrative districts in Lower Saxony in 2004, no district level is interposed.
Geographically, Oldenburg is situated predominantly in the East Frisian-Oldenburg Geest (BfN natural region D26), there in the transition from the Oldenburg to the Delmenhorst Geest. In the north, the city area with the Hunte lowland reaches the Ems-Weser Marsh (D25). The rivers Hunte and Haaren as well as gently rolling geest soils from glacial sands are characteristic.
Ecologically significant are above all the Bornhorst Hunte meadows in the north, a roughly 350-hectare nature reserve and EU Special Protection Area in the Hunte lowland, as well as the Haaren and Wold at Wechloy FFH site (no. 237) in the west, which partially lies in the city area. Both areas make special demands on examination and compensation in case of impacts.
As a regional centre with university, administration, banking and healthcare industry, Oldenburg grows steadily. Housing, commercial areas and transport projects, such as in the vicinity of the Oldenburg-Ost motorway junction (A28/A29) and on the former airbase, regularly trigger impacts. Their compensation must be provided in Lower Saxony via biotope value procedure with eco-points based on §§ 13 to 15 BNatSchG and NAGBNatSchG.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D26 ›
Go to natural region D25 ›
📍 City districts
🌿 Ecological features
- Nature reserve and EU Special Protection Area Bornhorst Hunte meadows (approximately 350 ha) in the Hunte lowland in the north of the city
- FFH site Haaren and Wold at Wechloy (no. 237), partially in the western city area
- Hunte and Haaren as distinctive flowing waters with accompanying grassland and lowland locations
- Natural region transition from the Oldenburg to the Delmenhorst Geest, in the north contact with Ems-Weser Marsh
- Conversion land of the former airbase as a major urban development project in the north
- Oldenburg-Ost motorway junction (A28/A29) as well as railway junction and Hunte ports as infrastructure axes with compensation requirements
- Extensive wallhedge and parkland landscape of the geest in the city edge areas
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationwide and is familiar with the Lower Saxon compensation system. We work with Oldenburg city's lower nature conservation authority and NLWKN, know the biotope value procedure with eco-points and the relevant NLWKN working guidelines and the special characteristics of the geest and lowland-influenced landscape on Hunte and Haaren. From requirements determination through land securing through to implementation, management and monitoring, we accompany your project consistently.
Typical measures in the city of Oldenburg
Land restoration and removal in settlement areas
Removal of sealed areas such as abandoned commercial, traffic and conversion locations and restoration of permeable, green soils. In an inner-city context, land restoration achieves marked upgrading in the biotope value procedure and simultaneously improves infiltration and city climate.
Restoration of Hunte and Haaren
Removal of riverbank defences, creation of watercourse buffer strips and near-natural reshaping of flowing waters and their oxbows. Newly created shallow pools and ponds serve amphibians, dragonflies and kingfisher as habitat.
Upgrading of wet grassland in the Hunte lowland
Extensification and rewetting of grassland in the lowlands, such as in the vicinity of Bornhorst Hunte meadows. Adapted mowing timing, no fertilisation and creation of shallow pools create breeding and feeding habitats for meadow-breeding birds.
New and replacement afforestation, floodplain forest development
Creation of site-appropriate broadleaf and swamp forests with pedunculate oak, black alder and moorland birch on suitable geest and lowland locations. They serve as replacement for felled vegetation and as permanently secured compensation areas.
Habitat networking and wallhedges on the city edge
Creation and restoration of wallhedges, field copses, traditional orchards and green corridors. These structures network habitats, act as stepping-stone biotopes and upgrade the peri-urban agricultural landscape of the geest.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Advance compensatory measures under § 44 BNatSchG, such as replacement roosts for bats and building-dwelling species, cliff faces for kingfisher and replacement habitats for amphibians and sand lizard, coordinated with the respective project.
Protected species in the Oldenburg geest on Hunte and Haaren
Meadow-breeding birds in the Hunte lowland
Northern lapwing, black-tailed godwit and further wading birds breed and roost in Bornhorst Hunte meadows and wet grassland lowlands. Rewetting, shallow pool creation and grassland extensification are typical advance CEF measures.
About this species ›Skylark and open-land species
The open geest and agricultural areas on the city edge are habitat for skylark. In building and infrastructure procedures, skylark patches, flower strips and extensive arable buffer strips are proven species protection measures under § 44 BNatSchG.
About this species ›Kingfisher on Hunte and Haaren
Near-natural bank sections of Hunte and Haaren offer the kingfisher cliff walls for breeding. Cliff modelling and riverbank restoration are typical CEF measures in watercourse impacts.
About this species ›Bats in forest, avenues and buildings
Old tree stands in the Wold, avenues and buildings provide roosts for strictly protected bat species (Annex IV Habitats Directive). In demolition or tree felling, replacement roosts are required as a CEF measure.
About this species ›Amphibians in lowland and small water bodies
Grass frog, common toad and other amphibians inhabit oxbows, ditches and fluctuating wet hollows of the Hunte lowland. New or restored spawning waters in spatial connection secure breeding sites in impacts.
About this species ›Sand lizard at railway and geest edge locations
Warm-dry slopes, railway facilities and ruderal areas are habitat for sand lizard. In impacts, relocation and creation of replacement habitats with stone ridges and sand margins as CEF measures are required.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Housing and airbase conversion
As a growing regional centre, Oldenburg continuously designates residential land, including development of the former airbase land in the north. Such projects regularly trigger compensation and replacement obligations, which can be covered via eco-points.
Commercial and service areas
As a banking, administration and healthcare location, the city develops commercial and office areas. Nature conservation compensation can be efficiently covered via stockpiled eco-points.
Transport and Oldenburg-Ost motorway junction
At the junction of motorways A28 and A29, at federal roads and at the railway junction, expansion and conversion projects occur. These create impacts with compensation and replacement obligations, which are covered via the biotope value procedure.
Flood protection and watercourse expansion on the Hunte
Dike and sluice construction, flood protection measures along the Hunte as well as port facilities lead to impacts, which are frequently linked with restoration measures as compensation.
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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We will promptly prepare a transparent offer with matching eco-points held in stock in the city of Oldenburg.