Alder felling at Schorssower Haussee: safety or environmental outrage?

Alder felling at Schorssower Haussee: safety or environmental outrage?

At the Schorssower Haussee in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania there are two impressive alder trees that have lingered quietly and proudly on the shore for 160 years. But now they have fallen. Mayor Rocco Mache saw a serious danger to bathers after a large branch of one of the trees broke off last year. For this reason, the felling permit was issued by the district nature conservation authority in Güstrow, based on a visual inspection by an employee of the public order office. The alder trees had a trunk circumference of an impressive three meters and a height of 18 meters. A balance between the risk of breakage and the safety of those seeking relaxation was crucial for this decision, but it was met with a lot of criticism.

Gerd Taufmann from BUND (German Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation) described the felling as an environmental outrage and noted that the trees were in good condition. He calls for more comprehensive investigations and suggests crown shortening instead of felling. The loss of this centuries-old tree population could not only affect the landscape, but also have a negative impact on the surrounding flora and fauna. Oaks lose valuable wind protection and rare species lose their habitat.

Legal framework

The case raises questions about the legal provisions. According to the >Federal Nature Conservation Act<, an exceptional permit is required for felling between March 1st and September 30th. Critics like Taufmann emphasize that the environmental agency's decision may violate the Endangered Species Protection Act. Because that Federal Species Protection Ordinance (BArtSchV) regulates the protection of particularly endangered plant species in Germany and is intended to ensure that habitats for threatened species are preserved.

This is also particularly relevant Tree protection regulations, which prohibits the removal or damage of protected trees. These regulations apply to trees in public green spaces, which often have to exceed a trunk circumference of 80 cm at a height of 1 m in order to be protected. In cities, such tree protection regulations are the exception, which means that many trees - and therefore also valuable habitats - are at risk.

What happens now?

The State BUND plans to lodge an objection against the environmental authority's decision, citing gross procedural errors and possible violations of the Species Protection Act could exist. Even if safety concerns are understandable, many people wonder whether a better solution such as crown shortening should not be considered during felling.

The discussion about the alders at Schorssower Haussee shows once again how important a good interaction between public interest and nature conservation is. This felling could mark the beginning of a broader debate about how to deal with valuable natural resources. For many, one thing is certain: care and consideration for the natural environment should always come first.