Preliminary Habitats Directive Assessment as part of Harbour Planning

The Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive (FFH Directive) prohibits any deterioration of protected habitats and species. The current condition of an area is to be maintained or improved as defined by its protection goals. Adverse effects due to altered or intensified use are not allowed if this is accompanied by a significant impairment. New projects or measures in the immediate reserve as well as in its sphere of influence must therefore be examined before they are implemented.

Within the plan approval procedure for the Central Terminal Steinwerder (CTS) OECOS GmbH was commissioned by the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) to carry out an FFH compatibility test under Article 6 Section 3 of the Habitats Directive and Article 34 Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG) with respect to the protected areas of the European network Natura 2000 along the river Elbe. OECOS GmbH conducted a compatibility study in accordance with its on-site examinations and made an assessment of whether interventions by the project can significantly affect the occurrence of protected species and habitats in the protected areas of the Natura 2000 European network along the river Elbe.