Eco-points and compensation areas
District of Kreis Pinneberg
Eco-points and compensation areas in Pinneberg District, developed and secured via a recognised eco-account according to the Eco-Account Ordinance Schleswig-Holstein and the State Nature Conservation Act (LNatSchG SH). greeNature is your full-service partner operating nationwide for legally-secure compensation between Elbe marsh, heathland and Helgoland.
The District of Kreis Pinneberg at a glance
Pinneberg District is located in southern Schleswig-Holstein directly west and north-west of the Hanseatic city of Hamburg and belongs to the Hamburg metropolitan region. Official district seat is Pinneberg, the district administration's administrative seat has been in Elmshorn since 2011. On around 664 km² live approximately 326,000 people in 49 towns and municipalities. Thus Pinneberg is the district with the smallest area and simultaneously the most population-rich in the state. Administrative regions do not exist in Schleswig-Holstein.
Landscape-wise, the district has shares in two BfN major landscapes. Along the Elbe, fertile Schleswig-Holstein marshes (D21) with the Haseldorf and Seestermühe marshes characterise the picture, to this major landscape belongs in terms of natural regions also the North Sea island Helgoland belonging to the district area. The larger, eastern part of the district lies on sandy Schleswig-Holstein Heathland (D22) with knick landscape, peatlands and nutrient-poor soils.
Ecologically, the district is shaped by ten nature conservation areas and several Natura 2000 areas. This includes the tidal Elbe lower reaches with their marshes and foreland, the marine habitat of Helgoland's rocky seabed and small-scale features such as Liether Kalkgrube and the inland dunes of Holmer Sandberge. The hedgerows (knicks) typical of Schleswig-Holstein traverse the heathland and form an important habitat network system.
Economically, the world's largest contiguous nursery area with around 318 operations on approximately 3,600 hectares, rose cultivation and the role as growing residential and commercial location in Hamburg hinterland characterise the district. Motorway A23, railway expansion and ongoing land-use planning create continuous compensation requirements. All impacts must be compensated via the impact mitigation regulation under §§ 13 to 15 BNatSchG in conjunction with the State Nature Conservation Act (LNatSchG SH).
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D22 ›
📍 Selected municipalities
🌿 Ecological features
- Tidal Elbe lower reaches with the FFH site Schleswig-Holstein Elbe estuary and adjacent areas and the EU bird protection area Lower Elbe, significant for wading birds and migratory fish
- Haseldorf and Seestermühe marshes with extensive wet grassland as breeding and staging area for wading birds along the Elbe
- North Sea island Helgoland with the marine FFH site Helgoland's rocky seabed, the only rocky habitat of the German North Sea
- Nature conservation area Liether Kalkgrube near Elmshorn, a geologically significant exposure with zechstein and gypsum
- Inland dunes and sand calcareous grassland of Holmer Sandberge as habitat for warmth-loving species such as sand lizard
- Knick landscape and peatlands of the heathland, such as Tävsmoor, as retreat space for peat-typical species and habitat network element
- Flowing waters Pinnau, Krückau and Bilsbek with partly near-natural sections and restoration potential
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationwide and undertakes compensation projects in Pinneberg District. We work according to the Eco-Account Ordinance Schleswig-Holstein and the State Nature Conservation Act (LNatSchG SH), develop measures as stockpiled eco-account and have them recognised by the lower nature conservation authority of the district in Elmshorn. The recognised measures are managed in the compensation land register and can later be assigned to an impact. We consider the range of natural regions from Elbe marsh via heathland to Helgoland island in selecting suitable land and measures.
Typical measures in the district of Kreis Pinneberg
Marsh grassland extensification
Conversion of intensively used marsh meadows to extensive wet grassland with puddles, flood channels and ditch margin strips in Haseldorf and Seestermühe marshes. These areas are habitat for wading birds such as northern lapwing and black-tailed godwit along the Elbe.
Create and manage knicks
Creation and proper management of knicks (hedgerows) on the heathland, the characteristic landscape element of Schleswig-Holstein. Proper coppicing and overholder trees maintain the knicks' function as habitat network and habitat for numerous species.
Flowing water and floodplain restoration
Removal of bank reinforcement, connection of oxbows and allowing natural development on Pinnau, Krückau and Bilsbek. This creates steep banks, gravel bars and riparian forest as habitat for kingfisher, fish and amphibians.
Peatland restoration and re-wetting
Removal of drainage ditches and raising of water levels in heathland peatlands such as Tävsmoor. Such measures secure peatland habitats, bind carbon and create habitats for peat-typical species.
Sand calcareous grassland and inland dunes development
Clearing and management of open sand sites, such as in the vicinity of Holmer Sandberge, through scrub clearance, grazing and creation of bare ground patches. These warm-favoured sites promote sand lizard and drought-loving species of the heathland.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Alternative roosts for bats, cliff faces for kingfisher, sunny alternative habitats for sand lizard and new breeding water bodies for amphibians, each as precautionary CEF or population-supporting FCS measure under § 44 and § 45 BNatSchG.
Protected species in the Elbe marshes, heathland and North Sea island Helgoland west of Hamburg
Northern lapwing in the Elbe marshes
Wet marsh grassland of Haseldorf and Seestermühe marshes is breeding habitat for northern lapwing and further wading birds. Extensification, puddles and flood channels as well as clutch and breeding site protection secure and support populations of this endangered open land species.
About this species ›Skylark on marsh and heathland
Skylark nests in open field land of marsh and heathland. Extensive arable margin strips, flower areas and skylark windows improve feeding and breeding habitat for this highly declining arable species.
About this species ›Sand lizard on sandy sites
Sandy slopes, railway embankments and the inland dunes of the Holmer Sandberge are habitat for the sand lizard (Annex IV of the Habitats Directive). For construction and infrastructure projects, trapping and relocation as well as the creation of sunny replacement habitats made of sand, stone and dead wood are proven measures.
About this species ›Amphibians in marsh and geest waters
Ditch systems of the marshes and fish-free small waterbodies of the geest harbour species such as moor frog and great crested newt (Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive). Creation and networking of suitable breeding sites with rich riparian vegetation are effective CEF and FCS measures.
About this species ›Kingfisher on Pinnau and Krückau
Natural riparian sections with steep banks provide the strictly protected kingfisher with breeding sites. During interventions on waterbodies, such as bridge or bank construction, steep bank modelling and riparian restoration are typical CEF measures.
About this species ›Bats in hedgerows and forests
Hedgerows, tree-lined avenues, buildings and forest stands serve bats as hunting and roost habitat. All native species are strictly protected (Annex IV, partly Annex II of the Habitats Directive); replacement roosts are required as a CEF measure in case of demolition and renovation.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
Transport and infrastructure
The expansion of the A23 motorway, local bypasses and the expansion of rail links and the AKN towards Hamburg regularly trigger compensation and replacement obligations under the impact mitigation regulation. greeNature accompanies such projects from assessment through to implementation.
Settlement and business (Hamburg metropolitan area)
As a growing residential and business location in the Hamburg hinterland, the district regularly designates new building areas, for example in Elmshorn, Pinneberg, Wedel and Quickborn. These planning procedures require nature conservation compensation, which can be provided through eco-account areas.
Energy and grid expansion
Wind energy plants on geest and marsh sites, utility-scale photovoltaic installations and the expansion of ultra-high-voltage power lines through Schleswig-Holstein generate compensation requirements and can necessitate species protection CEF and FCS measures for birds and bats.
Flood and coastal protection on the Elbe
Dike reinforcements, sluice structures and flood protection measures along the Lower Elbe intervene in marshes and floodplain. Such projects require nature conservation compensation, frequently in the form of floodplain development and extensive marsh grassland.
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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