Mitigation and compensation measures
We document all data on our compensation obligations in the online specialist nature protection and compensation information system (Fachinformationssystem Naturschutz und Kompensation; FINK). In this way, we continuously document the status of the compensation obligations and can therefore fulfill the obligation to report to the Federal Railway Authority as defined in the Federal Nature Conservation Act. In 2023, 871 projects and 7,067 compensation measures (3,393 thereof being for species protection) were newly added to the system. From 2014 to the end of 2023, we added 9,198 projects – with a total of 60,087 compensation measures – to the system. These include 22,334 measures for species protection. The number of projects with nature protection compensation measures newly added in 2023 has decreased slightly compared to recent years. The main reason for this is the reduced number of later added projects from the early days of the IT system.
In 2023, DB Group launched about 20 different environmental projects, some of which relate to the new freight line between Riegel and Schallstadt. For the construction site equipment area of the planned new construction line Frankfurt—Mannheim, we are converting the pine forest in Pfungstadt into a climate-resilient mixed forest with the help of so-called plant nests, in which various domestic tree and shrub species are planted out. To this end, the Hesse Ecoagency will plant on our behalf more than 100,000 new trees and shrubs that are native to the area over an area of about 250 hectares by 2030. By the end of 2023, more than 32,000 deciduous trees and shrubs had already been planted.
