Eco-points and compensation areas
District of Vulkaneifel
Eco-points immediately available from officially recognised compensation areas. greeNature is your full-service partner for compensation and replacement under the Landeskompensationsverordnung (LKompVO) in the Vulkaneifel.
The District of Vulkaneifel at a glance
The Vulkaneifel district lies in the northwest of Rhineland-Palatinate and forms the heart of the volcanically shaped Eifel. The district seat and largest town is Daun, with Gerolstein, Hillesheim and Kelberg as further centres. Around 59,000 people live across some 912 square kilometres in three Verbandsgemeinden (Daun, Gerolstein and Kelberg) with a combined 109 Ortsgemeinden. Rhineland-Palatinate is not divided into administrative regions, so the district is assigned directly to the state.
The district takes its name from the young Eifel volcanism. Numerous maars, including the Daun maars (Gemündener, Weinfelder and Schalkenmehrener Maar) and the Pulvermaar near Gillenfeld, together with cinder cones and dry maars, shape the landscape. The Devonian shale and limestone bedrock of the Rhenish Massif is overlaid by basalt, lava and tuff deposits. The entire district belongs to the UNESCO Global Geopark Vulkaneifel.
Ecologically, the range extends from the nutrient-poor maar lakes and their silting-up zones, through the calcareous grassland and juniper heaths of the Kalkeifel around Hillesheim, to near-natural beech woodland and the stream valleys of the Kyll, Lieser and Salm. Outstanding among these is the Eifelmaare (DE-5807-302) FFH site, which covers around 1,200 hectares and also extends into neighbouring districts. These habitats provide refuge for, among others, European wildcat, black stork, several bat species and rare amphibians.
The regional economy is shaped by tourism, agriculture and forestry, mineral water extraction (Gerolsteiner Brunnen), the mining of volcanic raw materials, and a strong expansion of wind energy on the Eifel plateaux. Such projects regularly trigger impacts under sections 13 to 15 BNatSchG, whose compensation in Rhineland-Palatinate is measured in biotope value points under the Landeskompensationsverordnung (LKompVO). greeNature assesses your project professionally and provides suitable compensation areas.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D45 ›
📍 Selected municipalities
🌿 Ecological features
- UNESCO Global Geopark Vulkaneifel with maars, dry maars and young volcanic formations
- Eifelmaare FFH site (DE-5807-302), around 1,200 hectares across three districts
- Daun maars (Gemündener, Weinfelder and Schalkenmehrener Maar) and Pulvermaar near Gillenfeld
- Kalkeifel around Hillesheim with calcareous grassland and juniper heaths
- Near-natural stream valleys of the Kyll, Lieser and Salm as watercourse habitats
- Sangweiher bird sanctuary near Daun as a resting and breeding water body
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationwide and manages compensation projects in the Vulkaneifel and the wider Eifel. From ongoing project work, we know the Landeskompensationsverordnung (LKompVO) of Rhineland-Palatinate, the assessment using biotope value points, and coordination with the lower nature conservation authority (Untere Naturschutzbehörde) at the Vulkaneifel district administration in Daun.
Typical measures in the district of Vulkaneifel
Watercourse restoration
Removal of channelisation and creation of riparian woodland along the Kyll, Lieser and Salm, together with the reconnection of floodplains. This creates habitats for kingfisher, amphibians and native fish fauna.
Maars and wetlands
Management and development of the silting-up zones at maars and dry maars, rewetting of drained wet areas, and removal of non-native woody growth in favour of reed beds, sedge beds and small water bodies.
Calcareous grassland and montane meadows
Conservation and restoration of species-rich calcareous grassland and juniper heaths in the Kalkeifel through scrub clearance, extensive grazing and adapted mowing, an important habitat for insects and orchids.
Near-natural forest conversion
Conversion of spruce plantations and areas damaged by storms and bark beetle into site-appropriate beech and oak-hornbeam woodland, with promotion of old and dead wood.
Traditional orchards and hedgerows
Creation and management of traditional orchards and hedgerows in the Eifel's cultural landscape as a habitat network and habitat for birds, bats and insects.
CEF and FCS species protection
Tailored measures for European wildcat, bats, amphibians and black stork, ranging from woodland corridors and roosts to sunlit spawning waters, as advance CEF measures under section 44 BNatSchG.
Protected species in the Vulkaneifel and Eifelmaare
European wildcat
The Eifel's continuous broadleaved woodland ranks among the most significant European wildcat populations in Germany. Woodland connectivity, linked woody structures and undisturbed refuges are typical measures for this strictly protected species.
About this species ›Bats
Beech woodland, caves, old mine adits and cellar vaults provide roosts for greater mouse-eared bat, Bechstein's bat and brown long-eared bat. Roost protection and management of foraging habitat are common CEF measures for construction and refurbishment projects.
About this species ›Amphibians
Yellow-bellied toad and midwife toad live in the stream valleys and small water bodies of the Vulkaneifel. Creating sunlit, interconnected spawning waters within reach of one another secures their breeding sites.
About this species ›Great crested newt at the maars
The great crested newt (Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive) inhabits larger, fish-free standing waters with rich submerged vegetation. Silting-up zones of the maars and newly created ponds are proven replacement habitats.
About this species ›Black stork
The disturbance-sensitive black stork breeds in the Eifel's quiet, water-rich woodland. Conserving near-natural stream valleys and undisturbed old-growth stands secures its habitat, particularly around wind energy projects.
About this species ›Kingfisher
The kingfisher hunts along clear watercourses such as the Kyll and Lieser. Near-natural banks with steep faces for nesting burrows and a good fish stock are essential, and a good starting point for watercourse restoration.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Wind energy on the Eifel plateaux
The expansion of wind energy is the strongest driver of compensation requirements in the Vulkaneifel. New wind farms on the wooded uplands require compensation and replacement measures as well as CEF and FCS measures under species protection law, for example for black stork and bats. greeNature provides suitable areas and supports coordination with the authorities.
Infrastructure and transport
Expansion and refurbishment of federal and state roads, bypasses and bridge structures in the river valleys trigger impacts whose compensation must be provided under the LKompVO.
Raw material extraction and mineral water
The extraction of volcanic rock (basalt, lava, tuff) and mineral water production in the Gerolstein area involve impacts on nature and landscape and require restoration and compensation concepts.
Settlement, commerce and tourism
Residential and commercial development as well as tourism projects around the maars require compensation under nature conservation law. Owners of suitable land can act as land providers here.
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.
Eco-points in adjoining districts
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