Eco-points and compensation areas
District of Kleve
Immediately available eco-points from officially recognised eco-accounts. greeNature is your full-service partner for compensation under the Ökokonto-Verordnung NRW on the Lower Rhine between Rhine floodplains, Reichswald and the Dutch border.
The District of Kleve at a glance
Kreis Kleve lies on the lower Rhine in the far north-west of North Rhine-Westphalia and borders the Netherlands over a long distance. It belongs to the Düsseldorf administrative region and the Rhineland landscape association. The district seat is Kleve; the area is characterised by the Rhine, extensive floodplain landscapes and large forest areas such as the Reichswald.
Naturally, the entire district lies in the major region Lower Rhine Lowland (D35). The landscape is shaped by Rhine dynamics, with recent floodplain in the dike foreland, old Rhine channels and river marshes in the old floodplain plus Ice Age terraces and inland dunes. This diversity creates a mosaic of wet grassland, floodplain forest remnants, reed beds and sand dry-grassland.
Ecologically the district has international significance. The EU bird protection site Lower Rhine (DE-4203-401) ranks among Europe's most important overwintering sites for arctic wild geese, with up to around 200,000 white-fronted geese and bean geese resting here annually. Added are numerous FFH sites along the Rhine, such as the Düffel with Kellener Altrhein plus old Rhine channels near Bienen and Grieth.
The economy is heavily shaped by agribusiness and horticulture; the area around Straelen and Kevelaer is one of Europe's most significant horticultural centres. Ports in Emmerich, Rees and Kleve, expansion of the Emmerich, Oberhausen rail line (Betuwe Line) plus commercial, settlement and energy projects regularly trigger impacts whose compensation must be provided under the State Nature Conservation Act NRW and the Ökokonto-Verordnung NRW.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D35 ›
📍 Selected municipalities
🌿 Ecological features
- EU bird protection site Lower Rhine (DE-4203-401), the second largest bird protection site in NRW
- Up to around 200,000 overwintering arctic wild geese, mainly white-fronted geese and bean geese
- FFH site Düffel, Kellener Altrhein and river marshes, transnational to the Netherlands
- Old Rhine channels near Bienen and Grieth, near-natural floodplain waters, reed beds and wet grassland
- Reichswald near Kleve, large continuous forest area with conversion potential
- Wisseler Dünen, inland dunes with sand dry-grassland and natterjack toad occurrence
- Fleuthkuhlen and other Rhine ponds as small waterbody and amphibian habitats
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationwide and undertakes compensation on the Lower Rhine as full-service. We work according to the Land's numerical assessment procedure and the Ökokonto-Verordnung NRW, know the requirements of floodplains, Reichswald and meadow-bird habitats and co-ordinate all steps with Kreis Kleve's environment office as lower nature conservation authority.
Typical measures in the district of Kleve
Floodplain restoration on Rhine and old Rhine
Reconnection of old Rhine channels, removal of bank reinforcement and allowing natural dynamics in the recent floodplain. This creates flood channels, steep banks and floodplain woodland as habitat for kingfisher, fish and amphibians.
Grassland extensification for meadow-breeding birds
Conversion of intensively managed land into species-rich wet and damp grassland with adjusted mowing and water levels. These measures secure breeding habitats for northern lapwing and black-tailed godwit and resting areas for arctic wild geese.
Forest conversion in Reichswald
Conversion of structurally poor pine plantations to site-appropriate broadleaf and mixed forests of oak, hornbeam and beech plus promotion of dead and fallen timber. Thus habitats for bats, woodpeckers and forest-dependent species are enhanced.
Pollarded trees, hedgerows and habitat network
Management and new planting of pollard willows plus creation of hedgerows and field copses in the Lower Rhine cultural landscape. Such structures are stepping stones for little owl, bats and insects in the cleared field landscape.
Small waterbodies and ponds
Creation and de-silting of ponds, open waters and pools such as around the Fleuthkuhlen. New breeding waters support populations of great crested newt, natterjack toad and other amphibians.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Advance and population-supporting measures under § 44 BNatSchG, such as bat roosts on buildings and old trees, little owl tubes in pollard-tree stands and replacement habitats for sand lizard on railway embankments and sandy sites.
Protected species in the Lower Rhine and Reichswald
Arctic wild geese
The Lower Rhine is one of Central Europe's most important overwintering sites. Up to around 200,000 white-fronted geese and bean geese rest on the floodplain wet grasslands, a significant proportion of the Western European white-fronted goose population. Retention of large-area grassland is central here.
Northern lapwing and meadow-breeding birds
Wet grassland and open waters of the Rhine floodplain are breeding habitat for northern lapwing, black-tailed godwit and redshank. Extensification, water retention and late mowing are typical measures supporting sharply declining meadow-breeding birds.
About this species ›Kingfisher on old Rhine channels
The near-natural old Rhine channels near Bienen and Grieth plus bank erosion along the Rhine offer breeding sites for the kingfisher. Steep-face modelling and allowing bank dynamics are appropriate CEF measures.
About this species ›Amphibians in ponds and dunes
Great crested newt, natterjack toad and other amphibians inhabit small waterbodies of the Rhine floodplain, the Fleuthkuhlen and damp depressions of Wisseler Dünen. Creation of sunny breeding waters secures these occurrences.
About this species ›Bats in Reichswald
Dead and fallen timber rich stands of Reichswald plus pollard-tree landscape trees offer roosts and hunting territory for several bat species. Roost trees and replacement roosts are frequent compensation elements.
About this species ›Skylark and open-land birds
In open field and horticultural landscape, skylark and other arable birds breed; little owls inhabit the famous pollard-tree stands. Skylark windows, flower strips and extensive arable margins enhance these habitats.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Agribusiness and horticulture
The Straelen and Kevelaer area ranks among Europe's largest continuous horticultural zones. Expansions of greenhouses, farms and agribusiness land seal soil and regularly trigger compensation obligations under LNatSchG NRW.
Logistics and Rhine ports
The ports in Emmerich, Rees and Kleve plus the Rhine-Waal Terminal bind the district to international goods flows. Logistics and commercial land expansions generate compensation and replacement requirements, for which greeNature provides land and eco-points.
Transport infrastructure
Expansion of the Emmerich, Oberhausen rail line (Betuwe Line) with third track plus road and bridge projects along A57 and B9 create impacts on floodplain and open land requiring statutory nature-conservation compensation.
Settlement and renewable energies
Residential and commercial areas plus wind energy and free-field photovoltaic installations require compensation measures and species protection assessment. Owners of suitable land can offer them as eco-account or compensation areas.
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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