When Deutsche Bahn has to intervene in nature during construction projects, it ensures appropriate ecological compensation. As part of the Stendal–Uelzen line expansion, around 6.5 hectares of former farmland were converted into breeding and nesting site for cranes. Other endangered animal species also find shelter there.

To create the compensation site, Deutsche Bahn redesigned river courses to be more natural and slowed them down by placing stones. This creates damp grassland, where plant species such as reeds and rare animal species like grass snakes and great crested grebes can establish new habitats. And cranes, too, find a retreat at night in the shallow water.