Implementation of compensation measures and establishment of eco-accounts with the help of land consolidation, land management and land use planning

The research project aims to systematically demonstrate how land consolidation procedures can be used to implement compensation measures and establish eco-accounts under German nature conservation law. The focus is on the conceptual development of legally and organisationally viable models. These should show how eco-accounts can be established within the framework of existing or planned land consolidation projects and how independent procedures with this objective can be initiated in a legally secure manner in the future. The various land consolidation procedures should therefore be systematically examined for their potential to establish eco-accounts and to stockpile land for nature compensation measures.

By making better use of the possibilities offered by rural land consolidation, the implementation of compensation measures can be made more forward-looking, space-saving and efficient. The project thus contributes to the implementation of the ‘Guidelines for the project-independent stockpiling of compensation measures in federal highway construction (R BKS, ARS 08/2024)’ and to the simplification and acceleration of the planning and implementation of infrastructure measures in general. In addition, by improving the (advance) provision of land for compensation measures in accordance with the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), the actual compensation for interventions is also to be facilitated, accelerated and, from a technical point of view, implemented in particularly suitable locations, which is expected to add value to the protection of nature, biotopes and biodiversity.

The work is being carried out on a conceptual and scientific basis and includes legal analysis, the evaluation of practical examples and existing procedures where applicable, and the development of standardised procedures. The results will be summarised in a practical guide containing specific recommendations for action, procedures and examples of efficient approaches. This guide is intended to help simplify and standardise the establishment and use of eco-accounts in rural land use planning throughout Germany.

The project thus contributes to increasing the efficiency and speed of planning processes, supports the protection of agricultural land, and enables the early, ecologically optimised use of compensation measures. It provides a technical basis for administrations, participant communities and land agencies to make greater use of land consolidation in future as a tool for nature conservation compensation, climate resilience and sustainable land management.