Eco-points and compensation areas
District of Olpe
Immediately available eco-points from officially recognised eco-accounts. greeNature is your full-service partner for compensation under the Ökokonto-Verordnung NRW in South Sauerland and Rothaar Mountains, from biotope-value procedure through to permanent land securing.
The District of Olpe at a glance
Kreis Olpe lies in the south-east of North Rhine-Westphalia in the Sauerland and belongs to the Arnsberg administrative region. With around 131,000 inhabitants over approximately 712 square kilometres, it is one of the least populated and most sparsely settled districts in the Land. The district seat and largest municipality is Olpe on the north bank of Biggesee.
Geographically, wooded ridge tops, deeply incised valleys and undulating relief characterise the district, naturally belonging entirely to BfN major region D38 (Bergisches Land and Sauerland). The district extends from Ebbegebirge in the west through Bigge and Lenne valleys to the Rothaar Mountains in the east, where at around 756 metres the highest point Härdler lies. Geologically, Devonian shales, graywackes and sandstones of the Rhenish Slate Mountains determine the substrate.
Ecologically valuable are near-natural beech and oak forests, montane meadows and structure-rich watercourses of Bigge, Lenne and their tributaries. Large reservoirs such as Biggesee and Listertal reservoir shape water management and landscape appearance. Large parts of the district lie in Sauerland-Rothaargebirge nature reserve, supplemented by FFH and bird protection sites on Rothaarkamm plus lime and karst areas around Attendorn.
Economically, Kreis Olpe is heavily industrially shaped, with high density of small and medium-sized metal processing, automotive suppliers and plastics industry. Combined with motorways A4 and A45 (Sauerland Line), commercial area expansion and renewal of numerous valley bridges, substantial compensation requirements regularly arise, addressed in North Rhine-Westphalia under the State Nature Conservation Act NRW and Ökokonto-Verordnung NRW.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D38 ›
📍 Selected municipalities
🌿 Ecological features
- Biggesee and Listertal reservoir as large drinking-water and leisure reservoirs in the heart of the district
- Rothaar Mountains and Ebbegebirge with extensive beech and mountain mixed forests
- Sauerland-Rothaargebirge nature reserve with FFH and bird protection sites on Rothaarkamm
- Extensive calamity areas from drought and bark beetle with high potential for near-natural forest conversion
- Lime and karst areas around Attendorn with caves and old mining shafts as bat roosts
- Near-natural mid-altitude streams of Bigge, Lenne and Olpe with high significance for habitat network
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationwide and is familiar with North Rhine-Westphalian authorities and state law. In Kreis Olpe, we assess impacts under the State Nature Conservation Act NRW and Ökokonto-Verordnung NRW using the numerical biotope-value procedure, whose result is expressed in eco-points. We co-ordinate measures with the lower nature conservation authority at Kreis Olpe, know the natural-region particularities of South Berg Land (natural region D38) and secure areas permanently via recognised eco-accounts. From land acquisition through measure planning to management and monitoring, we fully guide your compensation project.
Typical measures in the district of Olpe
Near-natural forest conversion
Transformation of damaged spruce plantations to site-appropriate beech and oak mixed forests. On the large calamity areas in Sauerland, climate-stable, species-rich broadleaf forests with high ecological value and long-term enhancement in the biotope-value procedure develop.
Watercourse and floodplain restoration
Removal of bank reinforcement, connection of floodplains and promotion of connectivity on Bigge, Lenne, Olpe and their tributaries. This improves watercourse structure and habitat quality of mid-altitude streams for fish, kingfisher and aquatic insects.
Extensification of mountain and wet meadows
Restoration and extensive management of montane meadows, wet grasslands and bristle-grass meadows through adjusted mowing and grazing without fertilisation, especially in Rothaar Mountains and Ebbegebirge valleys.
Securing of bat roosts
Retention and enhancement of winter roosts in caves and old mining shafts around Attendorn plus development of hunting habitats and roost trees. For building demolition or renovation, we create replacement roosts as advance compensation and safeguarding measures (CEF) under § 44 BNatSchG.
Creation of amphibian waters
Creation and networking of small waterbodies and wetland habitats as breeding habitats for fire salamander, newts and other amphibians. Such waters also serve as CEF measures in the framework of species protection.
Hedgerows, traditional orchards and habitat network
Creation of hedgerows, field copses and traditional orchard stands in open cultural landscape of valleys. These structures network habitats, create stepping-stone biotopes and enhance structure-poor areas between forest and settlement.
Protected species in the South Sauerland and Rothaar Mountains
Black stork
The black stork breeds in extensive, low-disturbance broadleaf forests of Rothaar Mountains and depends on near-natural forest streams as feeding habitat. Nest protection, quiet forest zones and restoration of watercourses are effective measures.
About this species ›European wildcat
The European wildcat is expanding through Rothaar Mountains and the district's large forest areas and benefits from structure-rich, unfragmented broadleaf forests with dead wood plus shelter-rich forest edges.
About this species ›Bats
Caves and old mining shafts around Attendorn rank among the region's significant bat roosts and house, among others, greater mouse-eared bats and Bechstein's bats. All species are strictly protected under Annex IV of the FFH Directive.
About this species ›Kingfisher
On clear watercourses of Bigge, Lenne and Olpe, the kingfisher finds steep banks for breeding and fish-rich sections for feeding. Steep-face modelling and bank restoration are typical CEF measures in watercourse impacts.
About this species ›Fire salamander and amphibians
The fire salamander is a characteristic inhabitant of cool, spring-fed upper streams in Sauerland and responds sensitively to watercourse pollution. Replacement breeding waters and protection of spring-fed stream sections secure populations.
About this species ›Hazel dormouse
The hazel dormouse inhabits structure-rich broadleaf and mixed forests with dense shrub layer plus forest edges and hedgerows. It depends on well-networked hedgerow habitats whose retention and creation are proven compensation measures.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Motorways and valley bridges (A45/A4)
Kreis Olpe is crossed by the A45 (Sauerland Line) and A4. Replacement new construction of numerous ageing valley bridges plus lane renewal regularly trigger impacts whose compensation must be provided under the State Nature Conservation Act NRW. greeNature provides eco-points and land for this.
Industry and commercial development
The district is heavily shaped by small and medium-sized metal processing, automotive suppliers and plastics industry. Business expansions and designation of new commercial areas in valley locations create compensation requirements, which we cover via eco-accounts and land pools.
Wind energy and renewable sources
Wind installations on wooded Rothaar and Ebbegebirge heights plus free-field photovoltaic installations require statutory nature-conservation compensation and species protection assessment under § 44 BNatSchG, for example for wind-sensitive species like black stork and bats.
Settlement and infrastructure projects
Residential and commercial land in Olpe, Attendorn and Lennestadt, expansion of district and state roads plus water-management measures on reservoirs lead to impacts. Owners of suitable land can participate as compensation area providers.
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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in the district of Olpe
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