This contribution explains important amendments introduced by the recent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Modernisation Act and the amendments to the Federal Building Code (BauGB) in 2017 regarding environmental assessment from the viewpoint of biodiversity conservation. The introduction of the new protected asset 'land' (German: Fläche) is relevant not only in terms of land consumption but also for the conservation of nature, landscape and biodiversity. The obligation to establish central internet portals will increase the transparency of environmental assessments and thus also of the administrative process. The provisions on associated assessment procedures emphasise the need for a coordinated and integrated application of the environmental assessment. However, this does not affect the independence of the associated instruments (e. g. Natura 2000 impact assessment). The introduction of a duty to conduct monitoring as part of the EIA is particularly welcome in that this relates not only to the environmental impact of a project, but also to measures to prevent and compensate for interventions. However, the newly introduced Article 13b of the Federal Building Code, which provides for an accelerated procedure without environmental assessment and intervention regulation for certain development plans in undesignated outlying areas, runs counter to these positive developments.