Eco-points and compensation areas
District of Steinburg
Eco-points and compensation areas in Steinburg District, developed according to the Eco-Account Ordinance of Schleswig-Holstein and the State Nature Conservation Act. greeNature is your nationwide full-service partner for the compensation of impacts in the Elbe marshes, Störe valley and Holstein geest.
The District of Steinburg at a glance
Steinburg District is located in south-west Schleswig-Holstein between the Lower Elbe and the North-Baltic Canal. Geographically, it belongs along the Elbe to the Schleswig-Holsteinische Marschen (BfN natural region D21) and in the east and north to the Schleswig-Holsteinische Geest (BfN natural region D22). The district comprises 111 towns and municipalities, organised in seven district offices and three independent cities of Itzehoe, Glückstadt and Wilster. Itzehoe is the district seat and administrative centre. There is no administrative region level in Schleswig-Holstein.
Characteristic is the contrast between the flat, grassland-rich marsh and the higher-lying, sandy geest. In the Wilster marsh, at Neuendorf-Sachsenbande, is 3.54 metres below sea level, the lowest point in Germany. The marshes are drained by a dense system of ditches, sluices and pumping stations and are predominantly used as grassland. At the transition to the geest, extensive geest-edge moors such as Herrenmoor, Vaaler Moor and Breitenburger Moor have been preserved and are now being restored.
The district is traversed by the Störe, the third-longest river in Schleswig-Holstein, which flows tidal into the Elbe. Along the Lower Elbe is the Habitats Directive site Schleswig-Holsteinisches Elbästuar and adjacent areas, which is extensively overlaid by the EU bird protection area Unterelbe to Wedel and includes internationally significant staging and breeding areas for waders and waterfowl. In total, there are eight nature reserves in the district.
Economically, agriculture, the cement and building materials industry around Lägerdorf with its chalk extraction, and business in the Itzehoe area are combined. Transport projects such as the planned A20 motorway with a fixed Elbe crossing, the expansion of the A23 and federal roads, plus wind energy and settlement development regularly trigger impacts. Compensation in Schleswig-Holstein is governed by sections 13 to 15 BNatSchG in conjunction with the State Nature Conservation Act. Enhancements can be provisioned via the eco-account under the Eco-Account Ordinance and used as eco-points for later projects.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D22 ›
📍 Selected municipalities
🌿 Ecological features
- Habitats Directive site Schleswig-Holsteinisches Elbästuar and adjacent areas along the Lower Elbe, overlaid by the EU bird protection area Unterelbe to Wedel
- Nature reserve Herrenmoor (around 215 hectares) and adjacent Vaaler Moor, rewetted geest-edge moors west of Itzehoe
- Nature reserve Breitenburger Moor at the edge of the Störe lowland
- Nature reserve Inland dunes Nordoe with calcareous grasslands and heathland
- Wilster marsh with Neuendorf-Sachsenbande, at 3.54 m below sea level Germany's lowest point
- Störe as the third-longest river in Schleswig-Holstein, tide-affected as far as the Kellinghusen area
- A total of eight nature reserves in the district
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationwide and is familiar with the compensation law of Schleswig-Holstein. We work with the lower nature conservation authority of Steinburg District and the State Environmental Office (LfU), know the impact mitigation regulation according to the State Nature Conservation Act and provisioning via the Eco-Account Ordinance. For natural regions D21 and D22 we secure suitable areas in marshes, moors and geest, plan the enhancement and coordinate measures with authorities, water and soil associations and landowners. From needs assessment through to land securing and implementation, management and monitoring, we support your project from a single source. If species protection requirements exist under section 44 BNatSchG, we design advance compensation measures that continuously secure ecological function for the affected species.
Typical measures in the district of Steinburg
Moor restoration and rewetting
Raising water levels and removal of drainage in the geest-edge moors such as Herrenmoor, Vaaler Moor and Breitenburger Moor. Such measures secure moor-type habitats, sequester carbon and achieve high enhancements in the assessment procedure.
Meadow-breeding bird protection and grassland extensification
Conversion of intensively used marsh areas into extensively managed, late-mown wet grassland. Raised water levels and the creation of shallow areas create breeding and feeding habitats for northern lapwing, black-tailed godwit and redshank and can be implemented as production-integrated compensation.
Restoration of Störe and marsh waterbodies
Removal of bank structures, establishment of waterbody margin strips and near-natural redesign of the Störe and its marsh ditches. Newly created small waterbodies and tidal channels promote amphibians, dragonflies and the kingfisher.
Hedgerow creation and maintenance
Creation and proper maintenance of the hedgerows (wall hedges) characteristic of Schleswig-Holstein on the geest. They network habitats, act as stepping-stone habitats and improve the cleared agricultural landscape.
New afforestation and replacement afforestation
Establishment of site-appropriate deciduous and fen forests with common oak, hornbeam, black alder and downy birch on suitable geest sites, as replacement for felled trees and as permanently secured compensation areas.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Advance compensation measures under section 44 BNatSchG, such as replacement roosts for bats, sunny sand structures for the sand lizard and replacement habitats for meadow-breeding birds and amphibians, each coordinated with the project.
Protected species in the Elbe marshes, Störe valley and Holstein geest
Meadow-breeding birds of the marshes
Northern lapwing, black-tailed godwit and redshank breed in open, wet grassland of the Elbe marshes. They benefit from high water levels, shallow areas and late mowing, which work well as CEF and compensation measures.
About this species ›Skylark of the geest
The extensive agricultural landscape of the geest is habitat for the skylark. Skylark plots, flower strips and extensive arable margin strips improve breeding success and are proven measures under section 44 BNatSchG.
About this species ›Amphibians of moors and marsh ditches
Moor frog, grass frog and great crested newt live in the rewetted geest-edge moors and lightly loaded marsh ditches. Natural ditch banks and newly created small waterbodies secure breeding sites and habitat network.
About this species ›Sand lizard of the inland dunes
The inland dunes Nordoe with their calcareous grasslands are habitat for the strictly protected sand lizard under section 44 BNatSchG. Sunny sand areas and collected stone piles are important CEF components.
About this species ›Bats in hedgerows and forests
Old tree stands, hedgerows and buildings provide roosts for strictly protected bat species (Annex IV Habitats Directive). Replacement roosts are required as a CEF measure in case of demolition or tree felling.
About this species ›Kingfisher on the Störe
Near-natural, tide-affected bank sections of the Störe provide the kingfisher with steep banks for breeding. Steep bank modelling and bank restoration are typical CEF measures for waterbody interventions.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
A20 motorway with fixed Elbe crossing
The planned A20 with the Elbe tunnel between Glückstadt and the Lower Saxon Drochtersen crosses the Wilster and Kremper marshes. Such a large project triggers extensive compensation and replacement obligations and species protection measures.
Road and transport infrastructure
The A23 (Hamburg to Heide) crosses the district, together with expansion and maintenance of federal and state roads as well as cycle and path construction. Such projects regularly trigger compensation obligations that can be covered via eco-points.
Raw materials extraction and building materials industry
Chalk extraction and cement industry around Lägerdorf claim areas and require compensation. Excavated and reclaimed extraction areas are also well suited for developing high-quality compensation habitats.
Wind energy and grid expansion
The expansion of wind energy in marshes and geest as well as the associated transmission lines generate compensation requirements and often necessitate species protection assessments and FCS measures for wind-sensitive species.
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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in the district of Steinburg
Request eco-points in the district of Steinburg
We will promptly prepare a transparent offer with matching eco-points held in stock in the district of Steinburg.