Naturschutz: Ausgleichs- und Ersatzmaßnahmen

The aim of nature conservation is to preserve nature and the landscape on the basis of their intrinsic value and as the basis of human life. As the impairment or even destruction of nature and the landscape can have serious negative consequences for the environment, biodiversity and the living environment of humans, the aim is not only to protect the landscape but also to prevent and restore environmental damage and to ensure the long-term and sustainable usability of the natural balance.

Anyone wishing to carry out a project that changes the use or shape of land in such a way that it could have a significant impact on the ecosystem or the landscape - in particular through construction measures - generally requires an impact permit. The associated adverse effects on the ecosystem and the landscape must be kept to a minimum. Depending on the situation, unavoidable impairments must either be compensated for in the same way by nature conservation and landscape management measures or by equivalent compensation measures.

In addition to the impact permit, further nature conservation approvals may be required (e.g. species protection, biotope protection, Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive or Birds Directive, protected area regulations).

Official acts under nature conservation law are generally subject to a fee.

Further information and advice can be found on the website of the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry for the Environment, Agriculture, Food, Viticulture and Forestry. Many districts and towns with their own lower nature conservation authority have their own website, where you can find direct contact details.

The approval of interventions in nature and the landscape is the responsibility of the authorities that decide on the approval of projects in accordance with the relevant legislation (e.g. building inspectorate, pollution control or water authority). In these cases, the nature conservation authorities are involved within the authorities. The nature conservation authorities only decide on the approval of the intervention in a separate nature conservation procedure if no other authority is responsible or if the nature conservation authority has to make a decision anyway for other important reasons. The first point of contact for citizens is the lower nature conservation authorities. Their tasks are carried out by the district administrations or, in the case of independent cities, the municipal administrations.