Eco-points and compensation areas
District of Nordhausen
Eco-points and compensation areas in the district of Nordhausen, assessed via the Thuringian assessment model on the basis of the Thuringian Act for Nature and Landscape (ThürNatG). greeNature is your nationwide full-service partner for compensation of impacts between South Harz, gypsum karst and Golden Aue.
The District of Nordhausen at a glance
The district of Nordhausen is located in northern Thuringia on the southern edge of the Harz and borders Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony. The district seat and administrative centre is Nordhausen. The district comprises 15 cities and municipalities. Since Thuringia is not divided into administrative regions, the district administration is directly subordinate to the federal state level, technically accompanied by the Thuringian State Office for Environment, Mining and Nature Conservation.
In terms of landscape, the district is divided into three parts. In the north rises the forested South Harz with its extensive gypsum karst landscape, characterised by subsidence dolines, sinkholes, caves and karst springs. In the middle runs the fertile Golden Aue as a broad plain along Helme and Zorge between the Harz and Kyffhäuser. In the south, the Muschelkalk heights of Hainleite and Windleite adjoin, which naturally belong to the Thuringian basin with its edge plateaus.
Ecologically significant is particularly the Thuringian section of the South Harz karst landscape biosphere reserve, the world's only forested gypsum karst landscape. Nature reserves such as Alter Stolberg, Kohnstein and Rüdigsdorfer Schweiz secure orchid-rich beech forests, dry grasslands and cave systems. The caves and tunnels of the South Harz house numerous bat species, the forests are home to European wildcat and black stork. This Natura 2000 landscape substantially determines where impacts are permitted and how compensation must be environmentally appropriate.
Economically, agriculture and forestry combine with small and medium-sized business in the Nordhausen and Bleicherode area, raw material extraction and tourism in the Harz. Traffic projects along motorway A38 and federal roads, wind energy expansion, gypsum and raw material extraction and settlement and commercial development regularly trigger impacts. Their compensation in Thuringia must be assessed via the Thuringian assessment model on the basis of the impact mitigation regulation under §§ 13 to 15 BNatSchG and ThürNatG in eco-points.
🗺️ Associated natural regions
Go to natural region D18 ›
📍 Selected municipalities
🌿 Ecological features
- South Harz karst landscape biosphere reserve (Thuringian section), the world's only forested gypsum karst landscape with subsidence dolines, sinkholes and karst springs
- Golden Aue, fertile plain on Helme and Zorge between South Harz and Kyffhäuser
- Nature reserves Alter Stolberg, Kohnstein and Rüdigsdorfer Schweiz with dry grasslands, orchards and orchid-rich beech forests
- Numerous caves and tunnels in the gypsum karst as significant winter quarters for many bat species
- Muschelkalk heights of Hainleite and Windleite in the south with semi-arid grasslands and chalk beech forests
- Near-natural beech forests of the South Harz edge as habitat for European wildcat and black stork
- FFH and bird protection sites of the Natura 2000 landscape along South Harz and Golden Aue
✅ greeNature on the ground
greeNature operates nationwide and is familiar with compensation practice in Thuringia. We assess impacts via the Thuringian assessment model according to ThürNatG, coordinate measures with the lower nature conservation authority of the district of Nordhausen and work with the Thuringian State Office for Environment, Mining and Nature Conservation (TLUBN). We take into account the special features of the region, from the world-unique gypsum karst landscape of the South Harz through the fertile Golden Aue to the Muschelkalk heights of Hainleite and Windleite, from requirement identification through land securing to implementation, management and monitoring.
Typical measures in the district of Nordhausen
Dry grasslands and traditional orchards
Management and new creation of species-rich semi-arid and dry grasslands as well as standard-form orchard stands on the gypsum and Muschelkalk slopes of the South Harz, Hainleite and Windleite. Clearing, extensive grazing and adapted mowing preserve thermophilic communities and achieve significant enhancements in the assessment model.
Aue restoration on Helme and Zorge
Dismantling of bank structures, connection of oxbows and development of watercourse buffer strips and floodplain forest in the Golden Aue. Near-natural flowing water sections create habitat for fish, amphibians and the kingfisher and simultaneously improve water and retention balance.
Extensification of damp grassland
Conversion of intensively used areas in the Helme and Zorge lowland into species-rich, extensively managed wet and damp grassland. Late mowing dates, no fertilisation and the creation of pools provide breeding and feeding habitats for meadow-breeding birds and field birds.
Near-natural forest conversion in South Harz
Conversion of structurally poor stands into site-appropriate broadleaf and beech forests with high proportions of mature and deadwood. Such measures secure habitats of European wildcat and black stork, network forest biotopes and serve as permanently secured compensation areas.
Species protection CEF and FCS
Advance compensation measures under § 44 BNatSchG, such as securing and supplementing bat shelters in caves, tunnels and buildings, habitat structures for sand lizards on sunny slopes and replacement spawning waters for amphibians, coordinated to the respective project.
Hedgerows and field copses in agricultural landscape
New creation and renovation of hedgerows, field copses and field margins in the impoverished arable landscape of the Golden Aue and edge plateaus. These structures network habitats, act as stepping-stone biotopes and support field birds such as the skylark.
Protected species in the South Harz, gypsum karst and Golden Aue
bats in gypsum karst
The caves, tunnels and old mining areas of the South Harz count among the region's significant bat shelter sites and house many of the strictly protected species under Annex IV of the FFH Directive. When impacts affect quarters or hunting habitats, replacement quarters and habitat securing as CEF measures are required.
About this species ›European wildcat in South Harz
The near-natural beech and mixed forests of the southern Harz edge are habitat for the European wildcat. Forest conversion, the preservation of mature and deadwood and continuous forest connections secure its retreat and migration areas and can be structured as compensation measures.
About this species ›black stork in forest valleys
The black stork breeds in minimally disturbed old-growth stands of the South Harz and uses near-natural streams and damp meadows as food space. Nest protection, restoration of forest waters and calming of breeding forests are typical protective measures.
About this species ›skylark of the Golden Aue
The open arable landscape of the Golden Aue and edge plateaus is habitat for the steeply declining skylark. Lark windows, extensive field margins and flower-rich fallows are proven species protection measures under § 44 BNatSchG for impacts on field land.
About this species ›sand lizard on dry slopes
Sunny gypsum and chalk slopes, slopes and wayside verges provide habitat for sand lizards. In construction and infrastructure projects, the preservation and creation of stone rows, margins and sunny spots are required as advance CEF measures.
About this species ›Amphibians in karst waters
Karst waters, ponds and fluctuating damp depressions are habitat for great crested newts, fire salamanders and other amphibians. New or restored spawning waters in spatial context secure breeding sites when impacts occur.
About this species ›Which projects trigger a compensation obligation?
road and transport infrastructure
Motorway A38 (Göttingen to Halle) and several federal roads cross the district. Expansions and rebuilding, town bypasses and engineering structures regularly trigger compensation and replacement obligations, which can be covered via eco-points.
wind energy and grid expansion
Wind energy expansion in the district's priority areas and associated transmission routes create compensation requirements and frequently necessitate species protection assessments and FCS measures for wind-sensitive species.
gypsum and raw material extraction
The extraction of gypsum and other raw materials in the South Harz is in particular conflict with karst and nature conservation. Such projects require extensive compensation, replacement and restoration measures, which can be represented via eco-points.
settlement and commercial development
Residential and commercial areas are developing in the Nordhausen and Bleicherode area. Nature conservation compensation can be efficiently covered via reserved eco-points and areas from the eco-account.
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 district of Nordhausen
Request eco-points in the district of Nordhausen
We will promptly prepare a transparent offer with matching eco-points held in stock in the district of Nordhausen.