Planning Advice for Soil Protection 2020

Map Description

The map illustrates areas classified into five soil protection categories. Each protection category is further differentiated by varying colour intensities, indicating the degree of impervious coverage, 0 % to 5 %, more than 5 % to less than 30 % and 30 % to 100 %. The soil associations are referenced by their corresponding numbers in the following sections. For a description of the soil associations, please refer to Table 7 of Map 01.01.

Highest protection level

The highest protection category primarily covers near-natural areas featuring rare plant communities or remarkable remnants of the ice age on the city’s outskirts.

Fig. 9: Areas designated as ‘highest protection level’

The highest protection category encompasses large, contiguous areas in the Spandauer Forst on valley sand with mesotrophic/ eutrophic histosols (1250, 1240) and oligotrophic transitional histosols (1200). These groundwater locations are associated with calcaro-gleyic cambisols, gleysols, eutro-gleyic dystric cambisols and calcaric gleysols (1150, 1231, 1210, 1220). The soil association that occupies the largest portion of this category (1200) is found in Schmöckwitzwerder (Schwarze Berge) in southeast Berlin.

Other sites near groundwater associated with the highest protection level include the Tegeler Fließ, featuring rare dystric gleysols, calcaro-dystric histosols, and eutrophic fluvi-eutric histosols (1180, 1280). The same is true for the soil association characterised by stagno-gleyed cambisol – gleysol – dried eutric histosol on valley sand (1164) in the Bucher Forst. Lastly, in Müggelheim, specifically in the Gosener and Müggelheimer Wiesen, dried eutric histosols in a valley sand lowland (1260) are also assigned the highest protection level. In the southwest of Berlin, in Kladow, areas with dried eutric-histosols containing fossil gleysols and dystric cambisols in meltwater channels around the Groß Glienicker See have been assigned the highest protection level (1290). Additionally, other areas situated at the edge of the Grunewald chain of lakes, such as the Pechsee and the Teufelssee (Grunewald) feature dried eutric transitional histosols, stagnic gleysols, fossil gleysols and dystric cambisols (1290, 1300). Also part of this category are areas in the Tegel Airport and Jungfernheide region, with fluvic soils (1320). In this protection category, the drained fluvisols with thick lime mud of Teerofen (1310) stand out in particular.

Smaller areas with eutric histosols and gleysols are located at the edges of water bodies such as the Krumme Lake in Grünau und Schmöckwitz, the Neuer Wiesengraben in Köpenick, the Krumme Laake in Müggelheim, the Fredersdorfer Mühlenfließ in the Rahnsdorfer Forst, the Lietzengraben and Seegraben in Buch (all 1231), and the Wuhle in Marzahn-Hellersdorf (1270). The groundwater-influenced soil associations in the Havel lowlands in Tiefwerder (1320), in the Königsheide in Johannisthal, and the fluvisols in Heiligensee also deserve mention.

Examples of areas in the highest protection category, with a primary emphasis on the archival function, include the ice-age-characterised arenic dystric cambisols associated with the podzoluvisols of the Frohnauer Forst (1080), and the arenic dystric cambisols associated with luvisols in Gatow (1130), which are used as farmland.

This protection category encompasses a total area of 4,139 hectares. Of this, 3,726 hectares (90 ) have less than 5 % impervious cover, 329 hectares (8 %) exhibit between more than 5 % and less than 30 %, and 83 hectares (2) more than 30 % impervious cover. This protection category accounts for 6 % of the total assessed area, an actual 4,044 hectares (98%) of which are without impervious cover (cf. Fig 6, Fig. 7 and Tab.1).

As expected, areas with less than 5 % impervious cover dominate within this protection category. The proportion of areas that are more than 5 % impervious is small, amounting to 10 % (cf. Fig. 6 and Tab. 1).

These areas are predominantly forests, but they also include parks and green spaces; mixed meadows, bushes and trees; residential areas, and farmland (cf. Fig. 8). Most of these areas have already some form of legal protection. The highest level of protection is provided by nature conservation law through the designation of formal protected areas.

Very high protection level

This protection category highlights all areas rated as ‘high’ for their yield function, their water regulation function or their buffering and filtering function. Areas with ‘moderate’ ratings as sites for rare plants or their archival function also fall into this protection category.

Fig. 10: Areas designated as ‘very high protection level’

Large continuous areas falling under this category, whether without any impervious cover or minimally impervious, are situated at the end moraines and push moraines. These areas feature the Soil Association dystric cambisol – regosolic cambisol – colluvial cambisol (1040), and can be found in Grunewald, on the Schäferberg, Seddinberg, Müggelberge, and in Gatower Heide. The slopes of these moraines are characterised by the Soil Association dystric cambisol – regosol – colluvial cambisol/ gleysol (1060), which runs along the Havel, the Griebnitzsee and the Müggelberge.

The fluvioglacial meltwater channels winding through Grunewald are associated with the Soil Association dystric cambisol – chromic cambisol – colluvial cambisol (1050). Two common soil associations with a great need for protection are those featuring dune-sand with spodo-dystric cambisol – podzol/ dystric cambisol – colluvial dystric cambisol (1090, 1100) in the Tegeler Forst, Rahnsdorf, Frohnau, Düppel and Müggelheim. At Müggelheim, these soils are partially mixed with the mentioned associations of end and push moraines.

Other areas in this category feature eutrophic fluvi-eutric-histosol – fluvic histo-humic gleysol – eutro-gleyic dystric cambisol (1280) in the Tegeler Fließ and dried fluvi-eutric histosol (1260) in the Gosener Wiesen. Small, scattered areas can be found on the Barnim Plateau with sandy sink fills, e.g. in Malchow and Wartenberg. The soil associations present here include dystric cambisol – colluvial cambisol (1072) and dystric cambisol – luvisol – dried eutric-histosol (1022). Other soil associations with a very high protection level are situated in the borough of Spandau (1030).

Areas in this protection category with a medium degree of impervious coverage, ranging from more than 5 % to less than 30 %, are concentrated on the Barnim and Teltow plateaus with boulder clay or boulder marl. Such areas are predominantly recorded on the outskirts of open single-family home settlements, or in parks and allotment gardens such as in Lichterfelde, Britz, Rudow, Bohnsdorf, Mahlsdorf and Kaulsdorf. The Soil Association consisting of luvisol – arenic cambisol (1010) makes up about half of these areas.

This protection category encompasses a total area of 14,364 hectares. Of this, 5,817 hectares (41 %) have less than 5 % impervious cover, 3,277 hectares (23 %) exhibit between more than 5 % and less than 30 %, and 5,270 hectares (37 %) more than 30 % impervious cover. This protection category accounts for 19 % of the total assessed area, an actual 11,687 hectares (81 %) of which are without impervious cover (cf. Fig 6, Fig. 7 and Tab.1). The main types of land use in this protection category are forests, residential areas, allotment gardens, and parks and green spaces (cf. Fig. 8).

High protection level

This category, comprising soils with a high protection level, is determined by their ‘high’ capacity to regulate the water balance or to filter and buffer substances.

Fig. 11: Areas designated as ‘high protection level’

A notable feature is a large expanse of land without impervious cover along Müggelsee, the Dahme, Seddinsee, and Crossinsee, where the entire forest area on valley sand with dystric cambisol – stagno-gleyed cambisol – gleyic cambisol (1160) meets these criteria. In addition, there are smaller areas with an acidic soil association of drifting sand with spodo-dystric cambisol – stagno-gleyic dystric cambisol (1190). These dune-sand and valley-sand soil associations with a high protection level can also be found in the Tegeler Forst and Jungfernheide. Another large continuous area is formed by meltwater sands over glacial sands, predominantly comprising the forested areas of Grunewald with the Soil Association dystric cambisol – colluvial cambisol (1070). Smaller areas without impervious cover are located primarily in the north, south and west of Berlin on the Teltow and Barnim plateaus. The most common soil association here is luvisol – arenic cambisol of boulder marl (1010). The soils of the former Tempelhof airport on boulder marl with calcaric regosol + loose lithosols + regosol (2489) also fall under this protection category.

Areas with a moderate degree of impervious coverage (less than 30 %) in this category typically consist of scattered fragments. The predominant Soil Association dystric cambisol – stagno-gleyed cambisol – eutro-gleyic cambisol (1160) features medium and fine sands running through the glacial spillway. Additionally, soils composed of glacial sands on moraine surfaces featuring dystric cambisol – colluvial cambisol (1170) in Charlottenburg, particularly in areas utilised for allotment gardens, also meet these criteria. Other soil associations include drifting sands consisting of spodo-dystric cambisol – stagno-gleyed dystric cambisol (1190) in Schmöckwitzwerder, Wedding and Heiligensee as well as ground moraines with luvisol – arenic cambisol of boulder marl (1010) in Bohnsdorf, Britz and Hermsdorf.

Soils with a high level of protection and a high degree of impervious coverage (30 % to 100 %) are mostly found in fragmented areas, especially in areas designated for residential use, allotment gardens and weekend cottages. Apart from the dominant Soil Association 1160, these areas are primarily comprised of aggraded soils characterised by regosol + calcaric regosol + hortisol (2483, 2485, 2486, 2484). Examples of designated areas include the Zoologischer Garten, allotment gardens in Britz and Französisch Buchholz, and residential areas in Hermsdorf, Heiligensee, Biesdorf, and Mahlsdorf.

This protection category encompasses a total area of 18,450 hectares. Of this, 9,966 hectares (54 %) have less than 5 % impervious cover, 2,911 hectares (16 %) exhibit between more than 5 % and less than 30 %, and 5,573 hectares (30 %) more than 30 % impervious cover. This protection category accounts for 25 % of the total assessed area, an actual 15,337 hectares (83 %) of which are without impervious cover (cf. Fig 6, Fig. 7 and Tab.1). The main types of land use in this protection category are forests, followed by residential areas, farmland, and allotment gardens (cf. Fig. 8).

Medium protection level

This category, comprising soils with a medium protection level, is determined by their ‘moderate’ capacity to regulate both the water balance and to filter and buffer substances.

Fig. 12: Areas designated as ‘medium protection level’

Small parcels predominantly make up the areas with a moderate degree of impervious coverage, ranging from more than 5 % to less than 30 %. Along the stretch that meanders from Wannsee, through Nikolassee, Zehlendorf, to Westend, the prevailing Soil Association is that of dystric cambisol – colluvial dystric cambisol (1070). The same Soil Association is also found in areas such as Hasenheide, Viktoriapark, and the Landschaftspark Rudow-Altglienicke. The loosely built-up areas of Kladow and Gatow are characterised by dystric cambisol – luvisol – colluvial cambisol (1020), while dystric cambisol – colluvial cambisol (1030) prevails in Dahlem. A large portion of this category represents residential areas on the Teltow and Barnim plateaus, which feature partially aggraded soils. These soils consist of regosol + calcaric regosol + hortisol (2483 – 2486) and calcaric regosol + loose lithosols + regosol (2487 – 2489, 7777).

Most areas in this protection category have a high impervious cover, ranging from 30 % to 100 %. These are primarily concentrated on the Barnim and Teltow plateaus, located in the southern and northern parts of the city. They can be found mainly in densely built-up areas such as Steglitz, Gropiusstadt in Neukölln, Prenzlauer Berg, Marzahn, Pankow, Lichtenberg, or the Märkisches Viertel in Reinickendorf. The soil associations have been significantly shaped by human activity, with sandy aggradations forming the parent material from which the soils have developed. Consequently, the prevailing soil types are underdeveloped A – C soils, such as loose lithosols, regosols, calcaric regosols and humic regosols (2490, 2483 – 2489, 7777).

Permeable or largely permeable areas with 0 % to 5 % impervious cover are only minimally represented within this category (cf. Fig. 6).

This protection category encompasses a total area of 9,103 hectares. Of this, 886 hectares (10 %) have less than 5 % impervious cover, 2,172 hectares (24 %) exhibit between more than 5 % and less than 30 %, and 6,045 hectares (66 %) more than 30 % impervious cover.

This protection category accounts for 12 % of the total assessed area, an actual 5,502 hectares (60 %) of which are without impervious cover (cf. Fig. 6, Fig. 7 and Tab.1). Unlike the preceding categories, which were dominated by areas with impervious cover below 30 %, this category is mainly characterised by areas with a high degree of impervious coverage, ranging from 30 % to 100 %. These regions are primarily situated within residential areas on the plateaus, with some even located within the City Rail Circle Line (cf. Fig. 6 and Tab. 1).

In general, areas assigned to this protection category are located in residential areas (cf. Fig. 8).

Low protection level (soils without special requirements)

The majority of soils and soil associations with a ‘low protection level’ in Berlin are subject only to general soil protection requirements.

Fig. 13: Areas designated as ‘low protection level’

These soils often form extensive, contiguous complexes, primarily in densely built-up areas with a high degree of impervious coverage (2482 – 2489, 7777), especially within the city centre (2490, 2500). Industrial sites along the Spree in Treptow and along the Spree and Havel in Spandau as well as in Lichtenberg, Neukölln, Tempelhof, and Reinickendorf (2540), also fall into this category. Human activity has significantly shaped the soil associations in these areas, which have largely developed from sandy aggradations. A common feature is their relatively short pedogenesis, resulting in underdeveloped A – C horizons. These areas are mainly composed of loose lithosols, regosols and calcaric regosols.

Areas with a low degree of impervious coverage in this category mostly consist of former sewage farms comprising regosols, luvic regosols, dystric-eutric regosols, and gleyic regosols (2560, 2580, 2590) in the northeast of Berlin, with a few scattered in Gatow. The same applies to war debris hills (2510), landfills (2530), former industrial areas (2540) and railway tracks (2470). These areas have not been designated for protection due to their potential or actual contamination.

This protection category encompasses a total area of 27,879 hectares. Of this, 4,832 hectares (17 %) have less than 5 % impervious cover, 3,036 hectares (11 %) exhibit between more than 5 % and less than 30 %, and 20,012 hectares (72 %) more than 30 % impervious cover. This protection category accounts for 38 % of the total assessed area, an actual 15,413 hectares (55 %) of which are without impervious cover (cf. Fig 6, Fig. 7 and Tab.1). Soils with a low protection level are largely located in residential and industrial areas as well as fallow areas and locations designated for public service and other special uses. A high proportion of farmland received a ‘low’ rating because of its previous use as sewage farms. Due to existing contamination, these areas cannot advance to a higher protection category.