Conservationists are fighting against planned land destruction in Mainz!

Conservationists are fighting against planned land destruction in Mainz!

In Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, the expansion of a large biotech campus is sparking bitter resistance. While the city plans to locate several companies in the thriving biotechnology industry, conservationists worry about the loss of valuable agricultural land and the environment.

A coalition of organizations known as the “Network for Sustainable Urban Development” has launched an online petition against the future use of a 50-hectare area between the university and the Mainz 05 stadium. In the current plan, this area is to be declared as a commercial area, which would result in fertile agricultural land being covered in concrete.

The dangers of sealing

Environmentalists warn that the planned expansion of the biotech campus could have serious ecological consequences. Susanne Schmid from BUND explains that the loss of fertile farmland not only endangers agriculture, but could also affect water management in the region. Sealing areas, i.e. covering the ground with impermeable materials, would also increase heat development in the city, as such areas only cool down slowly.

Mainz is already one of the cities with the highest sealing rates, as a study by German Environmental Aid shows. The network therefore demands that new biotechnology companies should not be located in a single area, but in areas that are already sealed in order to protect the environment and increase the amount of greenery in the city.

Decision is imminent

A crucial meeting of the Rheinhessen-Nahe regional assembly is scheduled for November 26th, at which delegates from the various districts and municipalities will discuss the future use of the affected area. The issue here will be whether the region wants to convert the area from a priority area for “green areas” and “agriculture” into a commercial area.

If the region agrees to the re-declaration, it would have far-reaching consequences; The city could then move forward with plans to expand the biotech campus. The climate protectors assume that the regional assembly will decide for each business. Immediately afterwards, the city council would be required to approve the land use plan and initiate construction planning.

The initiators of the petition are doing everything they can to collect at least 2,000 signatures by March 23, 2025 in order to send a strong signal against the plans in Mainz-Bretzenheim. This commitment demonstrates the desire to bring rational and sustainable urban planning to the fore and address the ongoing challenges of climate change. More details on this topic can be found in a detailed report on www.swr.de.