Citizens fight for the Bernauer forest: handed over 1,059 signatures!

Citizens fight for the Bernauer forest: handed over 1,059 signatures!

in the city of Bernau, located in the Barnim, resistance is formed against the planned clearing of an approximately 6 hectare forest on the Wandlitzer Chaussee. On December 17, 2024, the “Bernauerwaldretten” citizens' initiative presented a petition with impressive 1,059 signatures to the city administration. The initiative calls for the preservation of the forest, which not only comprises about 5,000 trees, but also fulfills numerous essential functions such as pollutant filtering, carbon storage and groundwater new formation. The city council had previously decided to pick up this forest in favor of a new industrial area, which met with indignant reactions, such as Bernau Live reported.

The members of the initiative find the fact that there are also copies of up to 120 years among the protected trees that are part of a species-rich mixed forest that houses over 30 wood and 20 bird species. Although the forest suffered from drought stress last year, it was still able to maintain its vitality. This shows the importance of the forest for local climate protection and the quality of life, as bernauerwaldretten.de . The citizens' initiative, which was founded on November 28, 2024, is not only committed to the direct preservation of the forest, but also for the fact that the concerns of the citizens in the economic development planned by the city are taken into account.