National Park Reichswald: Voting on the future until December 11th!

National Park Reichswald: Voting on the future until December 11th!

In the district of Kleve it is bubbling! Until December 11th, citizens have the opportunity to decide by postal voting whether the Reichswald should be declared a national park. The coordination documents flutter into the house these days. But the discussion is heated: twelve controversial points are in the room that affect the future of the forest.

The opponents of the national park warn of a loss of influence and fear that the drinking water supply is endangered by over 130,000 people. "A national park could make new buildings and modernizations of the water systems impossible," said the "No to the National Park" initiative. The NRW Ministry of Environment counters: "The existing permits remain unaffected and the drinking water supply is secured." Indeed, in 13 of the 16 German national parks, drinking water extraction is already being carried out in accordance with the protection regulations.

dispute over wind power and wild animals

Another hot topic are wind turbines. While the initiative against the national park is afraid that planned wind ranking areas in the Reichswald could torpedo the National Park edition, the Ministry of the Environment emphasizes: "No wind turbines may be built in a national park." But the opponents warn that the planned winds could still be realized, which would endanger the national park plans.

Another large problem child is the spread of the wolf. Opponents fear that the return of the wolves into the Reichswald endanger the safety of humans and pastures. The Ministry of the Environment sees no connection between the national park and Wolf and emphasizes that the wolf population grows independently of forest use.

The discussion about the Reichswald National Park is more than just a dispute over trees. It is about the future of the region, water, wind and wild animals. The decision that the citizens make could have far -reaching consequences!