Eco-points and compensation areas
City of Flensburg
Eco-points and compensation areas for projects in the independent city of Flensburg, assessed according to the impact mitigation regulation and the Eco-Account Ordinance of Schleswig-Holstein. greeNature is your nationwide full-service partner for the compensation of impacts at the head of Flensburg Fjord, from needs assessment through to land securing and implementation, management and monitoring.
The City of Flensburg at a glance
Flensburg is the northernmost city in Germany and an independent city in northern Schleswig-Holstein. It is located at the inner end of the Flensburg Fjord, a Baltic inlet, around seven kilometres from the Danish border. On about 56.73 square kilometres, around 96,300 people live in 13 city districts. On land, the city is completely enclosed by Schleswig-Flensburg District. As Schleswig-Holstein is not divided into administrative regions and Flensburg is independent, the city itself assumes the tasks of the lower nature conservation authority.
Naturally, Flensburg belongs to the BfN major landscape Schleswig-Holsteinisches Hügelland (natural region D23), the glacially shaped young moraine landscape on the south-western edge of the Angeln peninsula. Distinctive are the varied relief with fjord and steep coasts, valleys and gorges traversed by streams (such as Osbektal), nearby deciduous forests such as Marienhölzung and the hedgerows (wall hedges) characteristic of Schleswig-Holstein in transition to the open landscape of Angeln.
Ecologically significant is the Twedter Feld nature reserve in the city district of Mürwik, the city's first nature reserve (designated 2003, around 90 hectares on a former training ground) with forest, open land and small waterbodies. There is also the Habitats Directive site Coastal areas of Flensburg Fjord from Flensburg to Geltinger Birk, which reaches with a proportion into the city area and is part of the European Natura 2000 network. The fjord with its steep coasts and shallow water zones as well as the near-natural stream valleys determine the ecological character of the city.
Economically, Flensburg as a densely built port and administrative city is shaped by cross-border trade with Denmark, maritime industry and shipbuilding, by university and public administration. Urban development projects such as the development of the east bank of the port, residential construction on the outskirts and transport and infrastructure projects regularly trigger impacts. Because limited open space is available in the densely built city, compensation under sections 13 to 15 BNatSchG in conjunction with the State Nature Conservation Act (LNatSchG SH) is frequently provided in a manner appropriate to the natural region in the adjoining hinterland via eco-accounts under the Eco-Account Ordinance.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D23 ›
Go to natural region D22 ›
📍 City districts
🌿 Ecological features
- Twedter Feld nature reserve in the city district of Mürwik, the city's first nature reserve (2003, around 90 hectares) on a former training ground with forest, open land and small waterbodies
- Habitats Directive site Coastal areas of Flensburg Fjord from Flensburg to Geltinger Birk, which reaches with a proportion into the city area (Natura 2000)
- Flensburg Fjord as a Baltic inlet with steep coasts, shallow water zones and near-natural bank sections at the head of the bay
- Near-city deciduous forests such as Marienhölzung as old, well-developed recreational and forest areas in the city
- Stream valleys and gorges (such as Osbektal) with small fjord tributaries as green corridors and wet habitats in the city
- Hedgerow landscape (wall hedges) on the outskirts and in transition to the open cultural landscape of the Angeln peninsula
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationwide and is familiar with the compensation law of Schleswig-Holstein. For projects in the independent city of Flensburg, we work with the lower nature conservation authority of the city and assess impacts according to the impact mitigation regulation (sections 13 to 15 BNatSchG) in conjunction with the State Nature Conservation Act (LNatSchG SH). We secure enhancements via eco-accounts under the Eco-Account Ordinance. Because compensation should be effective in the affected natural region, we focus in natural region D23 (Schleswig-Holsteinisches Hügelland) on natural region-appropriate areas and region-typical measures such as hedgerow maintenance, waterbody and forest enhancement and grassland extensification, supplemented in the densely built city by land desealation and land recycling. If species protection requirements exist under section 44 BNatSchG, we design advance CEF measures that continuously secure ecological function for the affected species. From needs assessment through to land securing and implementation, management and monitoring, we support your project from a single source.
Typical measures in the city of Flensburg
Land desealation and land recycling
Removal of sealed areas on derelict, former port and business sites and restoration of soil and site-appropriate vegetation. In densely built city areas, land desealation is a particularly effective and urban enhancement.
Waterbody restoration
Near-natural development of fjord tributaries and streams in the valleys and gorges of the city, for example by opening piped sections, bank flattening and site-appropriate trees. Such measures create habitat for amphibians, dragonflies and the kingfisher.
Hedgerow creation and maintenance
Creation, supplementation and proper maintenance of the wall hedges (hedgerows) characteristic of Schleswig-Holstein on the outskirts and in transition to the landscape of Angeln. As statutory protected habitats, they network habitats and improve agricultural land.
Forest edge and forest enhancement
Development of near-natural, site-native deciduous forests with old and dead wood components and structured forest edges, for example in the vicinity of near-city forests. Replacement afforestations serve as replacement for felled stands and as permanently secured areas.
Grassland extensification in the hinterland
Conversion of intensively used areas into species-rich, extensively managed grassland in the natural region-appropriate hinterland of the city. Adapted mowing dates, avoidance of fertiliser and the creation of shallow areas promote meadow-breeding birds and insects.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Advance compensation measures under section 44 BNatSchG, such as replacement roosts for bats on buildings and in old trees, sand lizard habitats on railway and road slopes and nest boxes for building-breeding birds, tailored to the respective project.
Protected species in the Kiel Fjord and Angeln on the Danish border
Bats in forest and settlement
Near-city deciduous forests, old trees and buildings provide roosts for strictly protected bat species (Annex IV Habitats Directive). Replacement roosts are required as advance CEF measures under section 44 BNatSchG in case of tree felling or building demolition.
About this species ›Sand lizard on slopes
On warm-dry railway and road slopes, fringes and open sites lives the strictly protected sand lizard (Annex IV Habitats Directive). Replacement habitats with sunbathing and shelter structures are typical CEF measures for impacts.
About this species ›Amphibians and great crested newt
Amphibians, including the Habitats Directive Annex IV protected great crested newt, inhabit small waterbodies in Twedter Feld and in damp stream valleys. Newly created, sunny, fish-free breeding sites secure breeding sites during impacts.
About this species ›Kingfisher on streams and fjord
Near-natural bank sections of fjord tributaries and the fjord provide the kingfisher with steep banks for breeding and low-disturbance waters for feeding. Bank restoration and steep bank modelling are proven components of waterbody interventions.
About this species ›Hazel dormouse in hedgerows and forest edges
The strictly protected hazel dormouse inhabits structured hedgerows, bushes and forest edges. During interventions in tree structures, linking plantings and the preservation of networked hedge rows secure the species' habitats.
About this species ›Skylark in open land
The skylark breeds on the open areas of the former training ground and in areas near the city. Skylark plots, flower strips and extensively used margin strips improve breeding success and are proven measures under section 44 BNatSchG.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Urban redevelopment on the eastern bank of the port
The development of former port and industrial areas on the east bank into new residential and business districts is one of the city's largest urban development projects. Such conversions intervene in soil and vegetation and trigger compensation and replacement obligations under the impact mitigation regulation.
Residential construction in outer city areas
New residential areas are being developed in outer city areas, claiming open spaces and green structures. Associated impacts can be efficiently and securely compensated via provisioned eco-points from an eco-account.
Transport and port infrastructure
Expansion and renovation of roads, rail facilities, cycle and path connections as well as port and quay facilities intervene in waterbodies, slopes and green areas and regularly require nature conservation compensation.
Business and large public buildings
Business settlements and large public and social buildings in the city claim areas and require accompanying compensation and species protection measures, which greeNature plans and implements in a manner appropriate to the natural region.
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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in the city of Flensburg
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We will promptly prepare a transparent offer with matching eco-points held in stock in the city of Flensburg.