Ausgleichsmaßnahmen

Ausgleichsmaßnahmen, often translated as compensatory measures, are legally mandated actions taken to mitigate or compensate for unavoidable adverse environmental impacts caused by development projects. These measures are a core component of environmental impact assessment and nature conservation law in many countries, particularly within the European Union under the Habitats Directive and the Environmental Liability Directive.

The principle behind Ausgleichsmaßnahmen is that if a project is likely to significantly harm protected habitats or species, and this harm cannot be entirely avoided or reduced through project design, then compensatory measures must be implemented. These measures aim to restore, recreate, or enhance habitats elsewhere to achieve a net neutral or even positive impact on biodiversity. Examples include creating new wetlands, planting forests, restoring degraded riverbanks, or establishing specific breeding grounds for endangered species.

The identification and implementation of Ausgleichsmaßnahmen are typically part of the planning and approval process for a development. Authorities assess the severity of the environmental impacts and decide on appropriate compensatory actions. These measures must be implemented before or concurrently with the development that causes the impact and are often subject to long-term monitoring to ensure their effectiveness. The goal is to ensure that biodiversity conservation objectives are met despite necessary development activities.