Nature – Hanover – associations criticize changes in the law to protect the dikes – economy
Hanover (dpa / lni) – The environmental associations Nabu and BUND have criticized a change in the law for the protection of dikes. According to a press release on Tuesday, the amendment, which excludes the species-rich grassland of the dikes and the dike foreland in Lower Saxony, thwarts the goals of the Lower Saxony path. The Niedersächsische Weg describes a package of measures to protect species and insects agreed by politicians, farmers and nature conservationists.
The package also secured the dyke grassland as a protected biotope at the end of 2020. This is no longer the case due to the change in the Nature Conservation Act.
“It is a tragedy that the SPD and CDU are clearly opposed to legally fixed measures to protect and preserve biodiversity,” said Nabu state chairman Holger Buschmann. The amendment should have been discussed with the partners of the Lower Saxony path and withdrawn. The softening of the Lower Saxony path leads to a significant loss of trust, said the BUND state chairwoman, Susanne Gerstner.
Lower Saxony’s Environment Minister Olaf Lies (SPD), on the other hand, maintains that the change was necessary for flood and coastal protection. The dike renewal will be so pleasant. In addition, particularly valuable areas of species-rich grassland on dikes are still protected by the Wadden Sea National Park or so-called FFH areas. In the future, however, the conversation with those affected should be sought earlier, said Lies. There is already an offer to talk to Nabu and BUND.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:221004-99-06077/2