Lower Saxony is suing Klasmann-Deilmann: 4.5 million euros in damages!

Lower Saxony is suing Klasmann-Deilmann: 4.5 million euros in damages!

In Emsland, more precisely in the Esterweger Dose, the signs point to a storm for the peat mining giants. The state of Lower Saxony has sued the large company Klasmann-Deilmann and is demanding an impressive 4.5 million euros in damages. The country's accusation is significant: It is alleged that the company mined too much peat, dug too deep and operated in unauthorized areas. These allegations cast a shadow over peat farming, which has been taking place here since 1959. NDR reports that this illegal mining has serious consequences in the nature reserve. The Environment Minister Christian Meyer (Greens) speaks of massive damage to the rewetting of the moors, which play a central role in climate protection as CO2 storage.

The roots of this conflict go back to 2020, when the Emsland district discovered that around 19,800 cubic meters of peat had been illegally mined. This led to mining stopping in the affected region. The company itself is not commenting on the allegations in the ongoing legal dispute. Instead, Klasmann-Deilmann emphasizes that the missing amount of peat - the equivalent of around 800 truckloads - was lost due to the drought summers of recent years and that she cannot be held responsible. Further information on the background is available here Hello Wippingen to find.

Environmental offenses and local reactions

The public prosecutor's office has already taken action against two people responsible for the company because there is evidence of excessive peat mining. There could soon be a fine here. For the residents and environmentalists in Emsland, it's not just about legal disputes, but also about protecting their homeland.

The Osnabrücker Land Environmental Forum is urgently calling for better measures to protect moors, because the damage that has been caused here is endangering the local ecosystems. Lower Saxony is currently planning not to issue any new licenses for peat mining, which could at least be a step in the right direction. But how will things develop now?

Klasmann-Deilmann has until the beginning of February to respond to the allegations. It remains to be seen whether there will be a hearing before the Osnabrück regional court or whether an out-of-court settlement can be agreed upon. In the meantime, the Gramoflor company plans to use less land for peat extraction and do more for compensatory measures. So a change is on the way - hopefully for the benefit of environmental and climate protection.