Environmental Planning

We support your projects and planning permission applications by providing specialist reports on species protection in accordance with Section 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), as well as other documentation for environmental assessments such as Natura 2000 compatibility studies, and the associated surveys of habitat types and mapping work for avifauna, herpetofauna and other animal and plant species subject to assessment under German species protection law.

Our team of geoecologists, engineers and forestry scientists is also at your disposal for ecological construction supervision, water body monitoring and research projects.

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Environmental Planning

We support your projects and planning permission applications by providing specialist reports on species protection in accordance with Section 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), as well as other documentation for environmental assessments such as Natura 2000 compatibility studies, and the associated surveys of habitat types and mapping work for avifauna, herpetofauna and other animal and plant species subject to assessment under German species protection law.

Our team of geoecologists, engineers and forestry scientists is also at your disposal for ecological construction supervision, water body monitoring and research projects.

Get in contact

Range of Services

Planning and legal expert reports

  • Technical reports on species conservation for mining, wind power, solar parks, remediation projects, and more
  • Natura 2000 impact assessments (Habitats Directive)
  • Technical report on the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Aquatic ecological monitoring
  • Landscape conservation planning, impact mitigation measures

Mapping and monitoring
(Fauna & Flora)

  • Avifauna & Herpetofauna: Survey of Birds, Reptiles, and Amphibians
  • Specialized mapping of ground beetles, water beetles, and xylobiontic beetles (old-growth wood beetles)
  • Alalysing the macrozoobenthos
  • Biotope mapping, recording of plant species, and forest inventory

Construction supervision and protection

  • Ecological Construction Supervision (ECS): Ensuring compliance with environmental requirements during the implementation phase.
  • Biotope protection: Planning and monitoring of protective measures for valuable habitats

Our Portfolio

Biodiversity and Habitat Management at the Welzow-Süd Open-Cast Mine

The Welzow-Süd open-cast mine is supported from a nature conservation perspective through biomonitoring and species and habitat management. The wide range of individual activities extends from success monitoring in compensation areas and conventional landscape management measures to the supervision of special colonisation aids and an artificial bat adit, the translocation of rare animal and plant species, and the creation of special biotope complexes, such as wetlands in the post-mining landscape. In addition, an excursion for representatives of the competent authorities to the managed nature conservation areas is usually organised on an annual basis.

Client: Lausitz Energie Bergbau AG
Project period: since 1998

Ecological Surveys, Natura 2000 Screening/Appropriate Assessment Documents and Species Protection Assessments for the Approval Procedures of Photovoltaic and Wind Power Projects in the Welzow-Süd Post-Mining Landscape

For a planned photovoltaic project covering several sub-areas in two different municipalities, biotope types were mapped on approximately 480 ha in 2021 and 2022 and faunistic data were collected in accordance with the survey standards applicable in Brandenburg. The surveys covered breeding birds (territory mapping with point-accurate recording of species of particular conservation value), resting birds, reptiles, amphibians and other potentially occurring species relevant under the Habitats Directive (in particular the willowherb hawkmoth). Subsequently, a comprehensive survey report was prepared as the basis for the subsequent Species Protection Assessment (2022/2023), in which species-specific avoidance measures and measures to maintain continuous ecological functionality (CEF measures) were derived. In addition, documents were prepared to assess compatibility with the conservation objectives of the EU Special Protection Area “Lausitzer Bergbaufolgelandschaft”, Welzow-Süd sub-area. In 2024, the investigations were extended to cover a possible additional wind power use: all breeding birds were mapped across approximately 2,180 ha, and the species listed in Annex I of the AGW Decree were recorded across approximately 4,700 ha, including nest searches and occupancy checks. In addition, resting birds were or are being recorded from September 2024 to the end of March 2025 within a 1,000 m radius around the potential project area.

Client: Lausitz Energie Bergbau AG
Project period: since 2021

Ecological Surveys, Natura 2000 Screening/Appropriate Assessment Documents and Species Protection Assessments for the Approval Procedures of Photovoltaic and Wind Power Projects in the Welzow-Süd Post-Mining Landscape

For a planned photovoltaic project covering several sub-areas in two different municipalities, biotope types were mapped on approximately 480 ha in 2021 and 2022 and faunistic data were collected in accordance with the survey standards applicable in Brandenburg. The surveys covered breeding birds (territory mapping with point-accurate recording of species of particular conservation value), resting birds, reptiles, amphibians and other potentially occurring species relevant under the Habitats Directive (in particular the willowherb hawkmoth). Subsequently, a comprehensive survey report was prepared as the basis for the subsequent Species Protection Assessment (2022/2023), in which species-specific avoidance measures and measures to maintain continuous ecological functionality (CEF measures) were derived. In addition, documents were prepared to assess compatibility with the conservation objectives of the EU Special Protection Area “Lausitzer Bergbaufolgelandschaft”, Welzow-Süd sub-area. In 2024, the investigations were extended to cover a possible additional wind power use: all breeding birds were mapped across approximately 2,180 ha, and the species listed in Annex I of the AGW Decree were recorded across approximately 4,700 ha, including nest searches and occupancy checks. In addition, resting birds were or are being recorded from September 2024 to the end of March 2025 within a 1,000 m radius around the potential project area.

Client: Lausitz Energie Bergbau AG
Project period: since 2021

Aquatic Ecology Monitoring and Wetland Monitoring in the Vicinity of the Welzow-Süd Open-Cast Mine, and Further Implementation of Ancillary Provisions under Water Law

The aquatic ecology monitoring covers various water bodies (standing and flowing waters) in the vicinity of the open-cast mine. Faunistic and floristic surveys are carried out on a site-specific basis and in coordination with the competent authorities. These include, among others, macrozoobenthos, macrophytes, amphibians, dragonflies and aquatic beetles. In parallel, water flow, groundwater levels and similar parameters are documented. A small set of analytical parameters is generally also recorded on site. All monitoring results are summarised, analysed and assessed in a report. Changes compared with the previous monitoring cycle are identified.

Wetland monitoring covers various wetlands and groundwater-dependent terrestrial ecosystems in the vicinity of the open-cast mine. Faunistic and floristic surveys are carried out on a site-specific basis and in coordination with the competent authorities. These include, among others, avifauna, ground beetles, dragonflies, grasshoppers, amphibians and vegetation surveys on defined permanent observation plots. In parallel, water flow, groundwater levels and similar parameters are documented, and site-specific water supply is regulated as required.

All monitoring results are summarised, analysed and assessed in a report. Changes compared with the previous monitoring cycle are identified.

The implementation of ancillary provisions under water law includes the annual inspection and monitoring of water flows, partial regulation of water supply to specific areas, the recording of water levels and, where necessary, the implementation of maintenance-related tasks.

Client: Lausitz Energie Bergbau AG
Project period: since 2009

Species Protection Assessment (AFB), Ecological Construction Supervision and Species Monitoring for the Mülsen Motorsport Arena (Arena-E)

For the nature conservation assessment of the planned construction of a motorsport arena in a former gravel and sand open-cast pit, biotope types as well as animal and plant species were recorded. On the basis of these data, a Species Protection Assessment (AFB) was prepared. The project also included the public presentation of the results and several presentations to the municipal council and the technical committee of the municipality of Mülsen. Within the framework of the approval procedure under the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG), multi-year Ecological Construction Supervision (ÖBB) and subsequent species monitoring for the first five years of operation were stipulated as permit requirements. Beak supported the procedure with a focus on red-backed shrike, natterjack toad and great crested newt. The occurrence of further strictly protected species within the construction area, as well as species of particular relevance under species protection law in Saxony, was documented until autumn 2023. In addition, functional checks of the CEF measures for natterjack toad, great crested newt, red-backed shrike and other animal species were carried out.

Client: Motorsportarena Mülsen GmbH
Project period: 2012-2023

Species Protection Assessment (AFB), Ecological Construction Supervision and Species Monitoring for the Mülsen Motorsport Arena (Arena-E)

For the nature conservation assessment of the planned construction of a motorsport arena in a former gravel and sand open-cast pit, biotope types as well as animal and plant species were recorded. On the basis of these data, a Species Protection Assessment (AFB) was prepared. The project also included the public presentation of the results and several presentations to the municipal council and the technical committee of the municipality of Mülsen. Within the framework of the approval procedure under the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG), multi-year Ecological Construction Supervision (ÖBB) and subsequent species monitoring for the first five years of operation were stipulated as permit requirements. Beak supported the procedure with a focus on red-backed shrike, natterjack toad and great crested newt. The occurrence of further strictly protected species within the construction area, as well as species of particular relevance under species protection law in Saxony, was documented until autumn 2023. In addition, functional checks of the CEF measures for natterjack toad, great crested newt, red-backed shrike and other animal species were carried out.

Client: Motorsportarena Mülsen GmbH
Project period: 2012-2023

Nature Conservation Assessment for the Dismantling of Field Pipelines in the Döbern Mining Field: Natura 2000 Screening Assessments, Surveys, Species Protection Assessment, Landscape Management Plan (LBP) and Further Project Support

As the nature conservation component of the approval documents for the dismantling of 17 km of oil and gas pipelines in the district of Spree-Neiße, it was necessary to prepare documents for the assessment of compatibility with two Habitats Directive sites and one EU Special Protection Area, as well as to assess the species protection prohibitions under Section 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG) in a Species Protection Assessment. The technical basis comprised a representative survey of bird territories and sand lizard territories along the construction corridor, a biotope type mapping exercise and an assessment of selected habitat potentials for the occurrence of further animal species relevant under the Habitats Directive. Finally, a Landscape Management Plan (LBP) was prepared and coordinated with the construction planning. As part of the mining-law approval of the final operating plan, the procedure has been supported on site in an advisory capacity since 2024 (updated surveys, coordination with the LBGR and the LfU). Ecological Construction Supervision (ÖBB) is planned for the construction works in order to monitor compliance with the ancillary provisions under species protection law.

Client: Neptune Energy Deutschland GmbH
Project period: 01/2020-02/2021, support during implementation since 05/2024

Dr.-Ing. Frank Schmidt

Contact Person Environmental Planning

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Contact

Dr.-Ing. Frank Schmidt

Contact Person Environmental Planning

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