Metrics
Where DB tracks meet conservation areas (E4-5)
We use geographic information systems, which store data about rail tracks and surrounding land and all digitally available information on protected areas in Germany. This enables us to quickly identify the points of contact between nature and DB Groupʼs tracks and land. There are different restrictions and requirements in each protected area, which are described in protected area ordinances. These are stored in our system and are taken into account in construction work.
Mitigation and compensation measures
We document data on our compensation obligations in the Web-based nature conservation and compensation information system (Fachinformationssystem Naturschutz und Kompensation; FINK). This enables us to record the current status of our compensation obligations on an ongoing basis and thus fulfill our reporting obligations to the EBA in accordance with the Federal Nature Conservation Act.
| Protection and compensation measures under nature conservation law since 2014 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projects with protection and compensation measures under nature conservation law | 11,021 | 10,130 | 9,198 |
| Protection and compensation measures under nature conservation law | 74,897 | 67,035 | 60,087 |
| of which protection and compensation measures under nature conservation law for species protection | 29,421 | 25,590 | 22,334 |
In 2025, 891 projects and 7,862 compensation measures (including 3,831 for species protection) were newly entered into the system. As in the previous year, the number of projects with compensation measures under nature conservation law increased in 2025 by about 9 % (previous year: about +10 %). At the same time, the number of protection, avoidance and compensation measures under nature conservation law increased, particularly in the area of species protection, which has been a growing technical priority in the planning of measures for years.