Eco-points and compensation areas
District of Zwickau
Eco-points and compensation areas in Zwickau District, developed and accounted for according to the Saxon Eco-Account Ordinance (SächsÖKoVO). greeNature is your full-service partner operating nationwide for compensation of impacts in Zwickau Mulde valley, fertile loess hilly land and northern Erzgebirge margins.
The District of Zwickau at a glance
Zwickau District is located in western Saxony and with around 950 square kilometres is the smallest district in the Free State by area, yet one of the most densely populated. District seat and administrative centre is the large district city of Zwickau. The district comprises 33 municipalities, including 14 towns such as Glauchau, Werdau, Crimmitschau, Meerane and Limbach-Oberfrohna. Since Saxony abolished administrative regions in the 2008 district reform, the district administration is directly subordinate to the state level.
In terms of natural regions, the district belongs predominantly to the Saxon Elbe and Loess Hilly Land (BfN natural region D19), which is characterised here as fertile Erzgebirge basin and Erzgebirge foothills. The southern edge around Kirchberg and Hartenstein transitions into the Saxon Highland (D19, Erzgebirge and Vogtland). The valleys of Zwickau Mulde and its tributaries, wide loess arable fields and structurally rich orchard and hedgerow landscapes are characteristic. The former Zwickau-Oelsnitz coal mining district left behind a post-mining landscape that today provides valuable secondary habitats.
Ecologically significant is particularly the Mulde valley with near-natural flowing water sections, remaining riparian forests and wet meadows. Large parts are secured as Natura 2000 sites, including the EU bird protection area Zwickau Mulde valley and the FFH sites Middle and Upper Zwickau Mulde valley. Overall, 14 FFH sites, two bird protection sites and five nature conservation sites lie in the district. This framework requires careful examination of impacts under §§ 13 to 15 BNatSchG and special species protection under § 44 BNatSchG.
Economically, the district is strongly characterised by automotive and mechanical engineering, with the Volkswagen site in Zwickau's Mosel district and a dense network of suppliers. Transport corridors such as motorways A4 and A72, expansion of B175 as well as commercial and settlement development regularly trigger impacts. In Saxony, compensation is undertaken via eco-points according to the Saxon Eco-Account Ordinance (SächsÖKoVO), assessed according to the guidance recommendation for assessing and accounting for impacts in the Free State of Saxony.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D19 ›
Go to natural region D16 ›
📍 Selected municipalities
🌿 Ecological features
- Zwickau Mulde as characteristic flowing water, secured in the EU bird protection area Zwickau Mulde valley
- FFH sites Middle Zwickau Mulde valley and Upper Zwickau Mulde valley with floodplain-typical habitats and near-natural river sections
- Total of 14 FFH sites, two bird protection sites and five nature conservation sites, Natura 2000 area of around 27.84 km²
- Former Zwickau-Oelsnitz coal mining district with post-mining landscape and warm-dry secondary habitats
- Fertile loess hilly land with intensive agriculture and structurally rich orchards and hedges
- Smallest area district in Saxony with high settlement and transport density in Zwickau and Chemnitz conurbation
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationwide and is familiar with the Saxon compensation system. In Saxony, compensation is governed by the Saxon Eco-Account Ordinance (SächsÖKoVO) and the guidance recommendation for assessing and accounting for impacts, administered via the compensation land register. We coordinate measures with the lower nature conservation authority of Zwickau District, know the requirements in the Mulde valley and loess hilly land and accompany your project from impact assessment through land securing to implementation, management and monitoring.
Typical measures in the district of Zwickau
Water restoration at Zwickau Mulde
Removal of bank reinforcement, creation of riparian strips and near-natural conversion of Mulde and tributary streams. Steep banks, gravel bars and vegetation margins create habitat for kingfisher and fish fauna and achieve high enhancements in Saxon accounting.
Riparian forest and vegetation development in the Mulde valley
Development of site-appropriate soft and hardwood floodplain forests with black alder, ash and pedunculate oak along valley lowlands. Such stands network habitats, stabilise banks and permanently enhance the floodplain.
Orchards and hedges in the loess hilly land
Creation and renovation of orchard stocks, field hedges and woodland in cleared arable landscape. These structures act as stepping-stone habitats and promote insects, birds and hazel dormouse in cultural landscape.
Grassland extensification and wet meadows
Conversion of intensively used land into species-rich wet and marshy grassland in floodplain valleys. Adapted mowing dates, cessation of fertilisation and creation of puddles create breeding and feeding habitats in lowlands.
Restoration of post-mining land
Development and securing of warm-dry raw soil and ruderal sites on heaps and abandoned land of the former coal mining district. Such areas provide suitable habitats for warmth-loving species such as sand lizard and can be secured as compensation land.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Precautionary compensation measures under § 44 BNatSchG, such as alternative roosts for bats in buildings, old trees and mines, new breeding water bodies for amphibians and great crested newt as well as alternative habitats for open land species, coordinated with the respective project.
Protected species in the Zwickau Mulde valley, loess hilly land and northern Erzgebirge foothills
Kingfisher on Mulde and tributary streams
At near-natural bank sections of Zwickau Mulde, kingfisher nests in steep banks. Bank restoration and modelled cliff faces are typical CEF measures for watercourse impacts in the Zwickau Mulde bird protection area.
About this species ›Sand lizard on post-mining and railway land
The strictly protected sand lizard (FFH Annex IV) inhabits warm-dry slopes, railway embankments and post-mining land. For impacts, relocation and creation of sunny raw soil and stone structures as CEF measures are required.
About this species ›Amphibians in ponds and Mulde floodplain
Grass frog, common toad and newt species inhabit small water bodies, ponds and fluctuating wet depressions in valley lowlands. New or restored breeding water bodies in spatial context secure breeding sites during impacts.
About this species ›Great crested newt in small water bodies
The great crested newt (FFH Annexes II and IV) depends on fish-free, well-lit still water bodies with rich aquatic vegetation. Creation and networking of such breeding water bodies is a proven measure for securing conservation status.
About this species ›Skylark in the loess hilly land
Wide loess arable fields are habitat for skylark. In construction and infrastructure procedures, lark windows, flower strips and extensive field margin strips are proven species protection measures under § 44 BNatSchG.
About this species ›Bats in forest, historic mining and buildings
Old tree stocks, buildings and historic mining galleries provide roosts for strictly protected bat species (FFH Annex IV). For demolition or tree felling, alternative roosts as precautionary CEF measures are required.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Automotive and supplier industry
The Volkswagen site in Mosel district and a dense network of suppliers ensure ongoing plant and commercial area expansions. Such projects regularly trigger compensation and replacement obligations that can be covered via stockpiled eco-points.
Transport infrastructure A4, A72 and B175
Expansion of motorways A4 and A72, expansion of B175 as well as bypasses and bridge structures impact nature and landscape. Compensation requirements can be efficiently covered via eco-points according to SächsÖKoVO.
Settlement and commercial development
Residential and commercial areas are being developed in Zwickau and Chemnitz conurbation, such as in Reinsdorf, Glauchau and Meerane. Nature conservation compensation can be efficiently covered via stockpiled eco-account land.
Wind energy, network expansion and mining site remediation
Expansion of wind energy and power networks as well as remediation of former coal mining sites and legacy burdens create compensation requirements and frequently require species protection assessments and FCS 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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Request eco-points in the district of Zwickau
We will promptly prepare a transparent offer with matching eco-points held in stock in the district of Zwickau.