Argenbühl presses a break: Biosphere area in the queue!

Argenbühl presses a break: Biosphere area in the queue!

In the Allgäu-Oberschwaben Region, the discussion about a biosphere area is put on hold! The municipality of Argenbühl has decided with an overwhelming majority not to get involved in the test process for the time being. This was done on the initiative of Simon Rimmele, a farmer and member of the local council, who emphasizes the urgent need for binding maps and zoning for the planned area. "We have been waiting for clear information and maps for months that enables us to make a well -founded decision," says Rimmele.

The application supported by several municipal councils demands a suspension of the participation until the process team presents concrete maps. Frustration on poor communication and unreliable appointments is great. "We have not received official information since the first regional conference in January 2023," complains Rimmele. The promised cards, which should be available until late summer 2024, have not yet appeared, which has a significant impact on trust in the entire process.

Criticism of slow progress

Franz Bühler, part of the team that implements the test process, contradicts the allegations. He explains that the maps shown so far only served as examples and the detailed cards are created by the Tübingen regional council. "It's not that we hold back something," emphasizes Bühler. But Mayor Timo Egger admits that personnel bottlenecks and the complex process have led to delays. "We urgently need to know when the cards are finished," he demands.

The decision to pause the process could further deteriorate the information situation for the local council. Mayor Roland Sauter will no longer take part in events on the biosphere area, but sees the need to remain informed. Rimmele remains skeptical: "Whether I get in again depends on whether the cards come in time and what they contain. For me, too much porcelain broke." The future of the biosphere area is therefore on the brink, while farmers are waiting for clear answers.