Eco-points and compensation areas
City of Krefeld
Eco-points and compensation areas in the independent city of Krefeld on the left Lower Rhine, assessed according to the numerical assessment procedure and managed via eco-accounts under the North Rhine-Westphalia Eco-Account Ordinance and the Nature Conservation Act (LNatSchG NRW). greeNature operates nationally and is your full-service partner for impact mitigation, species protection and CEF measures in natural region D35.
The City of Krefeld at a glance
Krefeld is an independent city on the left Lower Rhine and belongs to the administrative region of Düsseldorf. With approximately 137.78 square kilometres, about 231,000 people live there, making Krefeld one of the larger cities in North Rhine-Westphalia. The city area lies entirely in BfN natural region D35 (Lower Rhenish Lowland) and there on the Krefeld-Kempen Plateau. In the east, the Rhine at Uerdingen and Gellep-Stratum forms the city boundary.
Landscape is characterised by flat lower terraces, fertile loam soils and old Rhine stream beds. The Kendel as so-called old beds emerge in the Niepkuhlen as a chain of small water bodies. In the north-west rises the Hülser Mountain (63 metres) as an ice-age terminal moraine remnant, at its foot lies the Hülser Bruch fen woodland. City-near forest areas such as city forest and forestry forest supplement the predominantly agriculturally used field landscape.
Ecologically significant are the Rhine floodplains in the east of the city. The Spey nature reserve protects fen forest and bank zones as bird migration resting areas and is as an FFH site part of the European Natura 2000 network. The Latum Bruch was also reported as an FFH site because of its great crested newt and great burnet occurrences. Wet grassland, small water bodies and pollard willow rows form a network of valuable habitats in the lowland.
Economically, Krefeld is characterised by chemicals in Chempark Uerdingen, by metals and stainless steel production, mechanical engineering and logistics, historically the city was a centre of velvet and silk production. Commercial and housing development, logistics settlements and the expansion of transport routes regularly trigger impacts whose balance must be provided under §§ 13 to 15 BNatSchG in conjunction with LNatSchG NRW and managed via eco-accounts under the North Rhine-Westphalia Eco-Account Ordinance.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D35 ›
📍 City districts
🌿 Ecological features
- The Spey nature reserve, Rhine floodplain with fen forest and international significance for bird migration (FFH site, Natura 2000)
- Latum Bruch nature reserve, FFH site with great crested newt and great burnet
- Niepkuhlen, a system of old Rhine stream beds (Kendel) with naturally-oriented small water bodies
- Hülser Bruch and Hülser Mountain (63 metres), fen woodland on an ice-age terminal moraine remnant
- Rhine bank at Uerdingen and Gellep-Stratum as left-bank floodplain landscape
- City forest and forestry forest as city-near, historically designed forest areas
- Orbroich, wet lowland area with grassland and water bodies in the north-west
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationally and manages compensation projects also on the left Lower Rhine. We know the numerical assessment procedure applicable in North Rhine-Westphalia, the requirements of the North Rhine-Westphalia Eco-Account Ordinance and coordination with the lower nature conservation authority of the City of Krefeld. For impacts in the city area, we develop naturally region-appropriate compensation, replacement and CEF measures in the Rhine floodplains, Kendels and lowlands of natural region D35.
Typical measures in the city of Krefeld
Floodplain and water body restoration on Rhine
Removal of bank reinforcement, reconnection of oxbows and naturally-oriented bank design in the Rhine floodplains at Uerdingen and Gellep-Stratum. This creates shallow water zones, steep banks and fen forest as habitat for kingfisher, fish and amphibians.
Enhancement of Kendel and Niepkuhlen
Desludging, rewetting and extensive management of old Rhine stream beds. Naturally-oriented small water bodies and reed beds in the network of Niepkuhlen secure spawning habitats for amphibians and habitats for dragonflies and waterfowl.
Wet and extensively managed grassland in surrounding area
Conversion of intensively used land into species-rich wet and extensively managed grassland with adjusted cutting regimes and raised water levels, for example in Latum Bruch and lowlands. Such areas are habitat for northern lapwing and other meadow-breeding birds.
Unsealing in city area
Removal of sealed land on abandoned commercial, industrial and transport sites and their conversion into permeable, greened soils. Unsealing improves infiltration and microclimate and is high-value compensation in urban areas.
Pollard willows and habitat networks
Creation and management of Lower Rhine-characteristic pollard willow rows, copses, hedgerows and small water bodies. These structures network habitats in the simplified field landscape and create stepping-stone habitats for bats, little owl and insects.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Advance and population-supporting measures under § 44 and § 45 BNatSchG, such as sunny substitute spawning waters for amphibians and great crested newt, substitute habitats for sand lizard on railway embankments and excavations and substitute roosts for bats.
Protected species in the Lower Rhine, Krefeld-Kempen Plateau
Sand lizard on railway embankments and excavations
On sunny slopes, railway embankments and sand areas, sand lizard is a frequent target species in settlement and infrastructure projects. Substitute habitats with sunning, egg-laying and shelter sites are standard in species protection compensation.
About this species ›Great crested newt in Latum Bruch
The strictly protected great crested newt (Annexes II and IV FFH Directive) inhabits the small water bodies of Latum Bruch, for which it was reported as an FFH site. Newly created, fish-free spawning waters in spatial proximity secure its breeding sites.
About this species ›Northern lapwing and meadow-breeding birds
The wet lowlands and grassland areas on the Lower Rhine are home to northern lapwing and other meadow-breeding birds. Rewetting and extensive wet meadow management with adjusted cutting regimes are the most effective compensation measures here.
About this species ›Kingfisher on Rhine and Kendels
Naturally-oriented bank sections with steep banks provide the strictly protected kingfisher with breeding sites on Rhine, Niepkuhlen and city-near water bodies. In water body impacts, steep bank modelling and bank restoration are typical CEF measures.
About this species ›Bats in forest and city
Common pipistrelle, serotine bat and water bat use city forest, forestry forest, tree cavities, bunkers and buildings as roosts and floodplains as hunting grounds. All species are strictly protected (Annex IV FFH Directive), substitute roosts are required as CEF measure during demolition and renovation.
About this species ›Amphibians in Niepkuhlen and fen areas
Common toad, grass frog and newts inhabit small water bodies in Niepkuhlen, Hülser Bruch and lowlands. Sunny, fish-free substitute spawning waters and amphibian barrier fences secure their occurrences during construction and transport projects.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Chemistry and industry (Chempark Uerdingen)
Chempark Krefeld-Uerdingen and metals and stainless steel production sites are significant industrial locations. Expansions of production facilities, transmission lines and operating areas regularly generate compensation requirements for which greeNature develops naturally region-appropriate compensation and replacement measures.
Commerce and logistics
New commercial and logistics land at motorway junctions and in the city surrounding area go hand-in-hand with significant soil sealing. Balance is achieved via unsealing elsewhere, grassland enhancement and creation of habitat network structures.
Housing and urban development
Housing building areas and the conversion of former industrial and railway sites in Krefeld require nature conservation compensation measures. Landowners of suitable land in the surrounding area can participate as land providers.
Traffic and infrastructure
Expansion and renewal of roads and motorway sections, renovation of Uerdingen Rhine bridge and rail and transmission projects trigger impacts and regularly require species protection assessments and CEF measures.
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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