13 Sep. No deforestation of the Saarbrücken city forest!

MEP Manuela Ripa (ÖDP) on the planned deforestation of the Saarbrücken city forest

Ripa: "Absolutely irresponsible in times of climate crisis!"

(Saarbrücken/13.09.2024) In Saarbrücken, over four hectares of the St. Johann city forest - affectionately known as "Hanni" by the people of Saarbrücken - are to be cleared in the coming weeks for an extension to Saarland University. Manuela Ripa, a Saarbrücken member of the European Parliament for the Ecological Democratic Party (ÖDP), is stunned by this monstrous project. She expresses her solidarity with the resistance of local citizens who have joined forces in a citizens' initiative. The ÖDP politician commented: "I studied at Saarland University myself and know the value of being able to study here "in the countryside", surrounded by trees. Other university towns envy us for this beautiful and natural location. And now they want to wantonly sacrifice it for a new building. Yet there are enough vacant buildings or brownfield sites even in Saarbrücken's city center where additional research facilities could be housed."

The MEP refers to the climate protection concept recently presented by the Saarland state government. The original target of reducing CO emissions by 55% by 2030 has now been increased to 65%. This is to be achieved in particular through greater promotion of sustainable mobility. However, the fact that a valuable area of forest is now being sacrificed does not fit in with the supposedly desired policy change in terms of climate protection. Manuela Ripa comments: "4.5 hectares of valuable beech forest are to be destroyed without necessity. And this despite the fact that the 'Hanni' has an important function as a cooling area in the increasingly hot summers. In times of climate crisis, this approach is absolutely irresponsible. The forest also provides a home for many animal and plant species, forms a barrier against soil erosion and helps to regulate drinking water."

The ÖDP politician emphasizes that this approach is all the more scandalous as there are currently not even any concrete plans for the use of the additional buildings, but that they are to be erected "in reserve", so to speak. The MEP therefore supports the planned legal action by the citizens' initiative with BUND to prevent the clearing.

Manuela Ripa regrets that this is not the only project in Saarland that would have a massive negative impact on the environment. For example, planning permission was recently granted for the Linslerfeld site near Überherrn. The Chinese company SVolt is planning to build a battery factory there. The ÖDP politician explains that she is not against the construction of the factory per se, but emphasizes that there are more suitable areas for this - such as industrial wasteland - instead of realizing such a project in a priority area for drinking water protection and directly next to a nature reserve.