Optimum Use of Land
Frankfurt Airport is the most compact major airport in the world because it only has approximately 20 square kilometers of land to operate on. Consequently, limited space has forced us to deal very carefully with the resource "land". Traffic systems and other services offered by Fraport AG are distinguished by a high degree of functionality and minimum land use. This is also proven in connection with the airport expansion planning. We opt for an optimum capacity increase with the minimum amount of land consumption.
Best usage of our operation grounds helps to keep negative environmental impact at an acceptable level in the densely populated Rhein-Main region. Furthermore, land lost in favor of airport operations is compensated by afforestation programs in other areas off-site. The objective at the airport is to maintain as much "green" as possible.
Green Areas
At the airport free grounds or areas are kept green. This does not mean that we only keep the small patches next to the roads green. We try to have plants on facades, in inside courts of buildings or on top of the terminal roofs. Planning and upkeep are usually done by our specialists in the specific airport workshops. Fraport AG operates its own gardening workshop. They grow the plants that are also put in the terminals and company offices.
Ecology and Nature Conservation
The maneuvering area at Frankfurt Airport does not look like the greens on a golf course. The grounds between the taxiways add up to approximately 500 hectares. This is probably the largest green area in the region that is not used for agriculture. The area has become a home for many plants and animals that are seen to be endangered elsewhere. Some of this area has been developed into a heath because this type of vegetation is the best to minimize the bird strike danger. The green areas are not watered and no fertilizer is applied.
You may see rare birds such as the wheatear or whinchat. In the spring there are numerous endangered toads and frogs in the puddles. More than 300 different plants are found on these grounds.
Forest
Fraport AG owns approximately 300 hectares of forest in the vicinity of the airport. Our forest is maintained according to sustainable forestry principles. The trees in the forest close to the airport fences must be kept at a certain height depending on how close the trees are located to the runways. Legal requirements exist concerning any type of object (whether building or trees) once they are located close to runways. In these specific areas our foresters support the trees' growth in width in contrast to the growth in hight.
Bird Strike
Big birds or flocks of birds are dangerous for aircraft. Approximately 90 % of bird strike cases occur in the vicinity of airports. Consequently, the airport operator is obligated to minimize the risk of birds colliding with aircraft. In contrast to many other international airports, Frankfurt Airport does not scare the birds but relies on biotope management. The main feature of this management is to design the airport grounds and the surrounding area in such a way that birds are not attracted in the first place. Thus it can be prevented that birds have attractive areas to find food, to rest or hatch. The bird strike count of 3 to 5 per 10,000 aircraft movements is at the top in international comparison and proves the success of our efforts. Consequently, our experts are often consulted by other airports.
Compensation Measures
We always attempt to keep the negative environment impact as low as possible for any construction activity at this airport. Since compensation at the same location is most often not possible, we feel obligated to create new biotopes in the vicinity of the airport. For example, in 1992 we purchased approximately 100 hectares of plowland near the town of Trebur and started a afforestation program. The long-term objective is a flootplain forest. We created 23 hectares more forest than required by law. In 1998 this area was declared a wildlife conservation area (NSG Hohenaue).
Further areas have been purchased and afforestation programs started in view of the planned expansion of Frankfurt Airport. Focus is on development of floodplain forest next to the Rhein river. This will provide new recreation areas for the public and is a contribution to flood protection.
Home 
