Eco-points and compensation areas
City of Zweibrücken
Eco-points and compensation areas for the independent city Zweibrücken, valued according to the State Compensation Ordinance (LKompVO) of Rhineland-Palatinate. greeNature develops and manages compensation areas in Zweibrück Westrich and accompanies project developers from assessment in the biotope value procedure to recognition by the lower nature conservation authority of the city, active nationwide.
The City of Zweibrücken at a glance
Zweibrücken, with around 70.64 km² and approximately 33,000 inhabitants, is the smallest independent city in Germany. It is located in the far south-west of Rhineland-Palatinate, directly on the border with Saarland, and is surrounded by the Südwestpfalz district. In addition to the city centre, nine incorporated towns belong to it, including the places Bubenhausen, Ernstweiler, Ixheim and Niederauerbach incorporated in 1926 and 1938, as well as the places Mörsbach, Oberauerbach, Rimschweiler, Mittelbach-Hengstbach and Wattweiler added in 1972. An administrative region has not existed in Rhineland-Palatinate since 2000.
In terms of natural regions, Zweibrücken belongs to Zweibrück Westrich, a part of Westrich Upland in the Saar-Nahe Mountains and Hills (BfN natural region D52). The open, partly mussel limestone-characterised cultural landscape with arable farming, grassland and traditional orchard stocks is crossed by the valleys of Schwarzbach and Hornbach, which converge in the city territory. The high vegetation share of around 71 per cent of the city area shows that despite its function as an economic location, Zweibrücken is strongly characterised by forest, meadows and floodplain water bodies.
In the surroundings of the city lies the FFH area Zweibrück Land (6710-301), which with base-rich beech forests, orchid-rich calcareous grasslands and cut stream valleys is amongst the most structurally rich Natura 2000 areas of Westrich. The stream and floodplain habitats of Schwarzbach and Hornbach, traditional orchards and calcareous grasslands on mussel limestone offer habitat amongst others for bats, amphibians and thermophilic insects.
Economically, Zweibrücken is shaped by industry and commerce, such as the Land Master Works of John Deere, crane and mechanical engineering as well as the large conversion area of the former military airfield with business park, airport and Fashion Outlet. Residential construction, commercial development, transport projects and further reuse of conversion areas regularly trigger impacts. Their compensation is based on the State Compensation Ordinance (LKompVO) of Rhineland-Palatinate, which determines compensation requirements via a biotope value procedure.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D52 ›
📍 City districts
🌿 Ecological features
- FFH area Zweibrück Land (6710-301) with base-rich beech forests and orchid-rich calcareous grasslands in the surroundings of the city
- Confluence of Schwarzbach and Hornbach in the city territory, with accompanying floodplains and bank vegetation
- Westrich Upland on mussel limestone with traditional orchard stocks and thermophilic open land
- Large-scale conversion area of the former military airfield with potential for desealing and biotope enhancement
- Around 71 per cent of the city area is vegetation area from forest, grassland and gardens
- Smallest independent city in Germany, completely surrounded by Südwestpfalz district
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature works nationwide and develops in the independent city Zweibrücken and its surrounding region eco-account and compensation areas that match the character of Zweibrück Westrich. We secure suitable areas, plan enhancement according to the State Compensation Ordinance (LKompVO) and coordinate measures with the lower nature conservation authority of Zweibrücken city (Environment and Service Company Zweibrücken) as well as with landowners, farmers and the city administration. From assessment in the biotope value procedure via implementation to permanent management, monitoring and documentation for recognition, project developers receive compensation from a single source. If species protection requirements exist pursuant to § 44 BNatSchG, we design preliminary CEF measures that continuously secure ecological function for affected species such as bats, sand lizard or amphibians.
Typical measures in the city of Zweibrücken
Watercourse restoration Schwarzbach and Hornbach
Near-natural transformation of the inner city stream courses, development of bank vegetation, floodplains and retention areas as habitat for kingfisher, bullhead and brown trout.
Desealing of conversion and commercial areas
Demolition of sealed surfaces of the former airfield and old commercial sites, conversion to structurally rich biotopes and succession areas as high-quality enhancement in the biotope value procedure.
Traditional orchard and calcareous grassland on Westrich Upland
Creation and management of traditional orchard stocks and species-rich grassland on mussel limestone, habitat for wryneck, red-backed shrike, wild bees and thermophilic insects.
Grassland enhancement in the city-adjacent surrounding region
Extensification of intensive grassland and arable areas to species-rich meadows and margins that enhance the open land of Zweibrück Westrich for field birds and insects.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Bat quarters, small water bodies for amphibians as well as sunny reptile habitats at railway and track embankments, tailored according to LKompVO and § 44 BNatSchG.
Inner-city green and habitat networking
Development of hedgerows, shrub structures and habitat trees in the settlement area that network habitats and strengthen habitat network between city territory and surrounding region.
Protected species in the Zweibrück Westrich and Westrich Upland
Bats
In the FFH area Zweibrück Land, several species of Annex II are documented, including the Bechstein's bat. Old deciduous forests, traditional orchard stocks and floodplain water bodies serve as hunting and quarter habitat, preservation of cavity trees and winter quarters is frequent goal of CEF measures.
About this species ›Sand lizard
Railway and track embankments, dry-stone walls and edges of conversion areas in the city territory offer the sand lizard sunny habitats. In construction projects, preliminary CEF measures with replacement habitats and relocation are frequently required.
About this species ›Kingfisher
At the near-natural sections of Schwarzbach and Hornbach, the kingfisher finds steep banks and a good food supply. Restoration of the water bodies and securing of bank collapses directly benefit the species.
About this species ›Amphibians
In small water bodies of stream floodplains and in water-filled areas of former quarrying and conversion sites, various amphibian species spawn. Creation of sunny pools is an effective and easily assessed compensation measure.
About this species ›Skylark
The open arable landscape of Westrich Upland in the surroundings of the city offers the skylark breeding places. Extensification, flowering strips and skylark windows are typical measures to enhance open land.
About this species ›Hazel dormouse
Structurally rich forest edges, hedgerows and shrubs of Zweibrück Westrich are habitat of the hazel dormouse. Preservation and new creation of networked shrub structures are typical measures for its protection.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Residential construction and urban development
New residential building areas, infill of building gaps and reuse of former barracks areas generate impacts on soil, green structures and habitats that must be compensated according to LKompVO.
Commerce and conversion
Further development of the airfield area with business park, airport and Fashion Outlet as well as expansions of industrial locations such as John Deere trigger compensation requirements, but also offer potential for high-quality compensation areas through desealing.
Transport infrastructure
Expansion and conversion of roads, cycling and farm roads in Zweibrücken area, for example towards Pirmasens and Saarland, regularly lead to impacts with compensation and species protection requirements.
Renewable energies and flood protection
Photovoltaic ground-mounted systems on suitable locations as well as flood protection measures on Schwarzbach and Hornbach entail compensation obligations that can be provided via water body and open land enhancement.
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
All about eco-points
in the city of Zweibrücken
Request eco-points in the city of Zweibrücken
We will promptly prepare a transparent offer with matching eco-points held in stock in the city of Zweibrücken.