Reichswald in Kleve: Citizens support the national park despite resistance

Reichswald in Kleve: Citizens support the national park despite resistance

The discussion about the creation of a second national park in North Rhine-Westphalia has received new impulses in the Kleve region and beyond. This process underlines the tensions within the coalition and raises questions about nature conservation and future development of landscape projects.

successful citizens' request

in the Reichswald, which is known as the "Kleve's Green Lung" and stretches on the border with the Netherlands, have supported more than 17,000 citizens of a citizens' request whose aim is to show the region as a national park. This number clearly exceeds the required 10,601 voices and signals a strong public interest in such a project.

a cultural conflict between politics and the environment

This situation has also uncovered the political differences between the CDU and the Greens. Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) described a second national park as a "big win for North Rhine-Westphalia", but sees the need for acceptance on site to successfully implement the project. The Greens, on the other hand, criticize that the CDU suffers setbacks on site and suspect that there is an active resistance to the project.

coalition partner under pressure

The situation is particularly tense because the national park, which is more demanded by the Greens, is seen as the lead project of the current legislative period. Environment Minister Oliver Krischer and Minister of Economic Affairs Mona Neubaur (both Greens) are pushing the national park plan, which includes nature and environmental protection in the region as well as potential economic advantages such as tourism and jobs.

background to the current situation

In the past, other locations for a national park, such as the Egge Mountains, failed, which is considered the last chance in Kleve to successfully implement the project. Critics argue that a national park could hinder wind power expansion and other development projects, which reinforces the discussion about regional interests and nature conservation.

a look ahead

The perspectives for the Reichswald as a national park also result in international considerations that could affect the cross -border nature conservation with the Netherlands. However, political changes in the Netherlands could make cooperation difficult. Conservationists hope that the CDU will finally take a constructive course in order not to block the citizens' request again and help the project to be more radiant.

summary and conclusion

The discussion about the Reichswald shows how important citizen participation and political cooperation are for nature conservation. In view of the signs of change, the awareness of environmental issues in the region is crucial. Whether the project can be implemented successfully depends on the support of all political actors. This means that the decision-making through a second national park not only has local, but also far-reaching effects on the understanding of nature and development in North Rhine-Westphalia.

- Nag