Eco-points in natural region D26
Ostfriesisch-Oldenburgische Geest
Eco-points and compensation in the Ostfriesisch-Oldenburgische Geest (BfN natural region D26) in north-west Lower Saxony. greeNature develops compensation measures nationwide and knows the impact mitigation regulation under the NAGBNatSchG and assessment through the Lower Saxony biotope value procedure.
Natural region D26 at a glance
The Ostfriesisch-Oldenburgische Geest (BfN natural region D26) extends over the north-west of Lower Saxony. It is a largely level lowland without significant elevations and belongs to the North German lowlands. Ground moraine plateaus from the Saale glaciation, extensive mires in the lowlands, and culturally and historically significant hedge banks and field copses are defining features. Surface water drains to the North Sea via smaller tributaries of the Ems and Weser, and the climate has an Atlantic character with high rainfall.
In natural-region terms, D26 is divided, among other things, into the Hunte-Leda-Moorniederung, the Ostfriesische Zentralmoore, the Ostfriesische Geest and the Oldenburger Geest. Podzol soils have developed on drier sites, and semi-peaty and peaty soils in the lowlands close to the water table. Land use is dominated by intensive grassland farming, and the proportion of woodland is low and consists mainly of conifer plantations.
The proportion of protected areas is comparatively low in the natural region. Important areas are raised bogs and wet and marshy meadows such as the Fehntjer Tief and the Große Moor near Aurich, which offer habitat for meadow birds and mire-typical species and represent important resting habitats for migrating birds. Many former raised bogs are today drained, used for agriculture or have been taken up for peat extraction.
This gives project developers a clear compensation framework. Impacts are assessed under the impact mitigation regulation of §§ 13 to 15 BNatSchG in conjunction with the NAGBNatSchG, in Lower Saxony through a biotope value procedure. Advance measures can be stockpiled through an eco-account under § 16 BNatSchG and are recorded in the official compensation register. Measures with high nature-conservation impact here are, in particular, the rewetting of mires and the enhancement of wet grassland.
📍 Districts covered
🌿 Ecological features
- A largely level lowland with an Atlantic climate and no significant elevations
- Extensive raised bogs in the lowlands, many of them drained or altered by peat extraction
- Culturally and historically significant hedge banks and field copses as a landscape-defining feature
- Important wet and marshy meadows such as the Fehntjer Tief and the Große Moor near Aurich
- A comparatively low proportion of protected areas and woodland, dominated by intensive grassland farming
- Important resting habitats for migrating and overwintering bird species
- High enhancement potential through mire rewetting and grassland extensification
✅ greeNature in this region
greeNature is active nationwide and knows the Lower Saxony impact mitigation regulation under the NAGBNatSchG, as well as the responsible lower nature conservation authorities and the compensation register. For the Ostfriesisch-Oldenburgische Geest, we develop measures that suit the natural region, from mire rewetting to hedge bank management, and support the nature-conservation assessment through the biotope value procedure.
Typical measures in natural region D26
Mire rewetting
Raising water levels in drained raised bog areas to regenerate peat-forming vegetation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Extensifying wet grassland
Converting intensively used grassland into extensively used wet and marshy meadows with adapted mowing to protect meadow birds.
Managing and creating hedge banks
Preserving, properly managing and creating the landscape-typical hedge banks as a habitat network and habitat for birds, insects and bats.
Restoring watercourses
Creating buffer strips along watercourses and giving the Tiefs (drainage channels) and streams a near-natural redesign to improve watercourse structure and connectivity.
Small water bodies and shallow scrapes
Creating shallow still waters and shallow scrapes as spawning habitats for amphibians and foraging areas for waders and meadow birds.
Converting to native site-appropriate woodland
Converting structurally poor conifer plantations into site-appropriate, native broadleaf woodland stands to increase habitat diversity.
Protected species in the Ostfriesisch-Oldenburgische Geest
Northern lapwing
A characteristic species of the wet and marshy meadows, breeding on open, wet grassland and benefiting strongly from extensification and rewetting.
About this species ›Black-tailed godwit
A meadow bird of the wet lowlands, of state-wide importance in north-west Lower Saxony and dependent on extensively used wet grassland.
Skylark
A breeding bird of the open geest and grassland areas, whose populations depend on structurally rich, extensive management.
About this species ›Moor frog
An amphibian species of mires and wet meadows, dependent on sunlit small water bodies and intact water levels in the lowlands.
About this species ›Bats
Use hedge banks and field copses as guide structures and hunting habitats, strictly protected under § 44 BNatSchG.
About this species ›Sand lizard
Inhabits warm, dry sandy sites and embankments on the podzol soils of the geest, strictly protected under § 44 BNatSchG.
About this species ›Your route to eco-points in D26
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 neighbouring natural regions
All about natural region D26
Request eco-points in natural region D26
We will promptly prepare a transparent offer with matching eco-points held in stock in the Ostfriesisch-Oldenburgische Geest.