Protest in Remscheid: Environmental associations fight for strawberry fields!

Protest in Remscheid: Environmental associations fight for strawberry fields!

Things are boiling in Remscheid: A broad front of environmental organizations such as Greenpeace, BUND, NABU and the Bergischer Nature Conservation Association are protesting vehemently against the city's plans to build an industrial area on traditional strawberry fields. These 13 hectare areas are a piece of childhood for many people in the region, as strawberries were once picked diligently here. The resistance is strong because opponents of the plans agree: In view of the pressing problems of climate change, sealing areas is irresponsible.

However, the city of Remscheid remains stubborn. Head of the building department Peter Heinze explains that there is a lack of commercial space and that the creation of new jobs and tax revenue is urgently needed. He emphasizes that without offers to companies, these essential fundamentals could be lost. But environmental associations question this argument and point out that there are enough industrial wastelands in Remscheid that could be reactivated. Is losing these fertile lands really the only way to find economic solutions?

Petition and broad support from the population

The situation is getting worse: the petition to preserve the Lenneper strawberry fields has now reached the required quorum. Almost 2,000 people cast their votes, including around 1,300 Remscheid residents as well as supporters from surrounding cities and exiled Remscheid residents, such as OpenPetition reported. This participation shows how important the issue is to people and that they want to make their voices heard. However, a planned citizen dialogue to take residents' concerns seriously has not yet been implemented. Many simply feel ignored and are annoyed that purchases of parts of the industrial area took place without public involvement.

Residents are demanding a critical review of the plans and more transparency from the city administration. Over 800 comments on the petition not only demonstrate citizens' concerns, but also call for a rethink. In the discussion about the industrial area, the importance of environmental and climate protection is increasingly being pointed out, coupled with concern about vacant areas in the city. The mayor and political leaders are asked to comment.

Ecological consequences of sealing

In order to better understand the scope of the discussion, it is important to consider the ecological consequences of soil sealing. According to information from the Federal Environment Agency Excessive sealing not only significantly affects the fertility of the soil, but also the water balance. Rainwater cannot or can only seep away with difficulty, which not only endangers groundwater reserves but also increases the risk of local flooding. Sealed areas also do not help to cool the air and are unsuitable for plants, which severely impairs the natural fertility of the soil.

In Germany, soil sealing has increased in recent decades. By the end of 2023, over 52,074 square kilometers will be used for settlement and traffic areas, with around 45 percent of these areas actually sealed. This development is reflected in the continued loss of fertile land – a worrying reality that cannot be ignored.

The debate about the Remscheid strawberry fields is more than just a local issue. It is an expression of a larger social change that calls on people to stand up for their own environment and to critically question the world in which we live and want to live.