Eco-points and compensation areas
City of Essen
Eco-points and compensation areas in the independent city of Essen, assessed according to the state's numerical biotope value procedure and managed via eco-accounts under the North Rhine-Westphalia Eco-Account Ordinance and § 32 LNatSchG NRW. greeNature operates nationally and is your full-service partner for impact mitigation, species protection and CEF measures in the Ruhr area.
The City of Essen at a glance
Essen is an independent city in the heart of the Ruhr area and belongs to the administrative region of Düsseldorf. With approximately 210.3 square kilometres, about 580,000 people are distributed across 9 city districts and 50 city quarters. The city extends from the densely built, formerly mining and heavy industry-dominated north to the forested heights and the Ruhr valley in the south.
In terms of natural regions, Essen lies in the transition between two BfN major landscapes. The northern city quarter around the Emscher belongs to the Emscher region within the Westphalian Lowland Bay (D34), whilst the southern Ruhr valley with Baldeneysee, Schellenberger Forest and City Forest belongs to the Bergian-Märkian Upland (part of D38, Bergian Land and Sauerland). Ecologically significant is especially the Heisinger Ruhr floodplain in the south.
In one of Germany's most densely built major cities, impacts arise especially through densification and housing construction, the conversion of industrial and railway brownfields, the expansion of transport routes and the conversion of the Emscher. Under §§ 13 to 15 BNatSchG, avoidable impacts must be prevented and unavoidable impacts must be compensated or replaced.
The key regulations in Essen are the North Rhine-Westphalia Nature Conservation Act (LNatSchG NRW) and the North Rhine-Westphalia Eco-Account Ordinance. The compensation requirement is determined using the state's numerical biotope value procedure based on biotope value points. greeNature accompanies project developers and municipalities nationally and closely coordinates each measure with the lower nature conservation authority in the City of Essen Environment Office.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D34 ›
Go to natural region D38 ›
📍 City districts
🌿 Ecological features
- FFH site Heisinger Ruhr floodplain (DE-4508-301), approximately 150 hectares of floodplain landscape on the Ruhr within the European Natura 2000 network
- Heisinger Ruhr floodplain nature reserve with floodplain forest, wet grassland and old water bodies created by mining subsidence
- Baldeneysee and Ruhr valley with Schellenberger Forest and City Forest as green axis in the south of the city
- Zollverein Colliery (UNESCO World Heritage) and other industrial and railway brownfields as valuable secondary habitats
- Green Capital of Europe 2017 (European Green Capital) marking the transition from coal and steel to green
- Emscher conversion by the Emscher Association with restoration of formerly wastewater-carrying water bodies
- Location in the transition between natural regions D34 (Westphalian Lowland Bay, Emscher region) and D38 (Bergian-Märkian Upland, Ruhr valley)
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationally and manages compensation projects also in the Ruhr area. We know the numerical biotope value procedure applicable in North Rhine-Westphalia, the requirements of the North Rhine-Westphalia Eco-Account Ordinance and coordination with the lower nature conservation authority in the City of Essen Environment Office. For impacts in the densely built city area, we develop precisely tailored compensation, replacement and CEF measures, from unsealing former industrial sites to floodplain and water body development in the Ruhr valley.
Typical measures in the city of Essen
Water body restoration on Emscher and secondary streams
Opening and naturally-oriented redesign of technically developed streams as part of the Emscher conversion, for example on Borbeck Mill Stream and Deilbach. The creation of shallow water zones, riparian plants and shrub margins creates habitat for fish, dragonflies and amphibians and enhances the habitat network in the city area.
Floodplain development on the Ruhr
Reconnection of old water bodies, development of floodplain forest and wet grassland in the surroundings of Heisinger Ruhr floodplain and along the Ruhr. Such measures secure high-value floodplain habitats, improve water retention and provide resting and breeding spaces for numerous bird species.
Unsealing and brownfield site enhancement
Removal of sealed land on former industrial, mining and railway sites and development of structured, lean open-land biotopes. Abandoned brownfields are valuable secondary habitats in the Ruhr area, whose targeted management promotes rare species.
Forest conversion and city forest
Conversion of structure-poor stands into site-appropriate broadleaf and mixed forests of beech, oak and hornbeam in Schellenberger Forest, City Forest and other woodland areas. Promotion of old and dead wood increases the availability of cavity and roost trees for bats and birds.
Grassland and traditional orchard enhancement in the Ruhr valley
Conversion of intensively used land into species-rich extensively managed grassland with adjusted cutting seasons as well as creation and management of traditional orchards at the edge of the built-up area. These structures network habitats and create stepping-stone biotopes for insects, birds and bats.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Advance and population-supporting measures under § 44 and § 45 BNatSchG, such as substitute habitats for sand lizard on brownfields and railway embankments, bat roosts on buildings and trees and sunny substitute spawning waters for amphibians in spatial proximity.
Protected species in the Ruhr metropolis between Emscher and Ruhr valley
Bats in city and forest
Common pipistrelle, serotine bat and other species use buildings, bridges, bunkers and the cavity trees of City Forest and Schellenberger Forest as roosts and hunting grounds. All species are strictly protected (Annex IV FFH Directive), substitute roosts are required as a CEF measure during demolition and renovation.
About this species ›Sand lizard on brownfields and railway embankments
On industrial brownfields, slopes and railway embankments in the Ruhr area, the sand lizard is a frequent target species in construction and infrastructure projects. Substitute habitats with sunning, egg-laying and shelter sites are standard in species protection compensation.
About this species ›Great crested newt and amphibians in mining subsidence water bodies
Still water bodies, ponds and alternately-damp depressions created by mining subsidence provide spawning areas for great crested newt, common toad and grass frog. Newly created, sunny and fish-free substitute spawning waters secure breeding sites during impacts.
About this species ›Kingfisher on Ruhr and Baldeneysee
Naturally-oriented bank sections with steep banks along Ruhr, Baldeneysee and secondary streams provide the strictly protected kingfisher with breeding sites. In water body impacts, steep bank modelling and bank restoration are typical CEF measures.
About this species ›Northern lapwing and meadow-breeding birds in the Ruhr floodplain
The extensively managed wet grasslands of Heisinger Ruhr floodplain are breeding and resting areas for northern lapwing and other meadow-breeding birds. Rewetting and adapted grassland management are the most effective compensation measures here.
About this species ›Resting and water birds on Baldeneysee
Baldeneysee and the adjacent Ruhr floodplain with the Heisinger Bow bird protection area are home to grey heron, great crested grebe and other water bird populations. Quiet bank zones, reed beds and shallow waters secure feeding and resting areas.
Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Housing and inner development
Densification, new residential quarters and the conversion of former industrial and mining sites to residential locations lead to soil sealing and require nature conservation compensation via the numerical biotope value procedure.
Commercial and brownfield conversion
The conversion of industrial, railway and mining brownfields to commercial and services sites characterises structural change in Essen. Such projects often impact developed secondary habitats and trigger compensation and replacement obligations.
Traffic and infrastructure
The expansion and renovation of motorways, federal and state roads, bridges, railway facilities and cycle paths in the dense Ruhr traffic network lead to impacts that require species protection assessments and compensation.
Emscher conversion and flood protection
The restoration of the Emscher and its secondary streams by the Emscher Association and flood protection measures offer opportunities to combine ecological enhancement with accountable 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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