Fight for the forest: Citizens defend themselves against clearing plans in Brandenburg!

Fight for the forest: Citizens defend themselves against clearing plans in Brandenburg!

in Kamp-Lintfort, an online petition entitled "Stop the Walddlodung between the Bendsteg and Heinrichstrasse" was launched on Change. The background of this Initiative is the planned conversion of a forest property in building land by the owner. Residents report on the felling of numerous young trees and have then decided to actively contribute to the protection of the forest. The petition was able to collect over 300 signatures within just three days.

The mayor commented on the concerned developments and said: "There are no plans on the part of the city to create building land in the area between Heinrichstrasse, Friedrich-Heinrich-Allee and Bendsteg." However, this statement was considered inadequate by many, since it cannot be regarded as a definitive protection for the forest. In order to actually create building land, changes to the land use plan and the drawing up of a development plan would be needed that could be made at any time as part of a planning approval process.

forest protection and economic interests

The situation in Kamp-Lintfort is reminiscent of similar problems in other regions, as in the east of Brandenburg, where the Lindhorst group plans to rod up to 370 hectares of forest for the construction of a large solar park, data center and an industrial and industrial area. Here, 200-250 hectares are to be used for the photovoltaic system, which the data center and the commercial area should supply with electricity.

The affected forest in Brandenburg used to be a military site and has now developed into a diverse ecosystem. It fulfills numerous ecological functions, including the role as CO₂ sinks, water storage and cooling of the landscape. It also houses rare plant and animal species such as eagle eagle and black stork. Residents of the surrounding villages fear negative climatic effects, such as heating and dryness, as well as noise and pollution loads.

Despite the resistance of environmental groups, such as the "Pro Wald Hohensaaten" initiative, which supports the transportation of regenerative energies, the clearing of forest areas is criticized. The Brandenburg Environment Minister Axel Vogel (Greens) has also spoken out against the project, but the final decision lies with the municipality. At the end of 2021, local politicians voted for the creation of a development plan in the sense of the investor.

global perspectives on forest protection

The problem of forest protection goes beyond the local level and is discussed as part of the “forest strategy for 2030” of the European Union, which promotes the protection of European forests. The latest studies show that a balance between ecological and economic interests is necessary to successfully design local and global forest protection. The example of Japan's illustrates how rash environmental protection measures have resulted in negative effects elsewhere in the past.

The knowledge gathered suggests that environmental protection and economic development must be reconciled. The outcome of the current initiatives and the reactions of the actors involved could not only be decisive for the forest in Kamp-Lintfort, but also provide information on how local environmental protection measures can be effectively and sustainably designed.