Scandal about nature conservation: Dentrol of the billion dollars is hitting Lower Saxony!

Scandal about nature conservation: Dentrol of the billion dollars is hitting Lower Saxony!

Niedersachsen, Deutschland - The State Office for Nature Conservation Lower Saxony (Labün) is currently being exposed to violent criticism. The State Audit Office raises serious allegations that raise suspicion of the embezzlement of around two million euros. The funds should not have been used expedient, so that the discussion about the effectiveness of the promotion of environmental associations has been re -sparked. The taz reports that Labün, since it was founded in 2015 under the then Environment Minister Stefan Wenzel from the Greens, with initial grants from 300,000 euros annually and later increases to 600,000 euros in recent years was.

The shareholders of Labün, including the BUND Niedersachsen, Nabu Niedersachsen and the Nature Conservation Association of Lower Saxony, should coordinate the participation of the associations on important planning approval procedures and legislative projects. However, the State Audit Office criticizes that the work of the laboratory has never been checked for its success. He also criticizes the insufficient representation of relevant associations and indicates that half of the funding has been illegally directed to eight environmental associations.

Significant defects and claims

The allegations burden the credibility of the nature conservation office. In particular, the fact that employees of the laboratory have been paid too high in several cases is under the magnifying glass. There were inadmissible salary allowances for which reclaims of around 3,000 euros were already raised. Christian Meyer, the current Environment Minister, admitted that mistakes were made in the past. The through -line of the funding was discontinued in 2022, but according to Labün, Labün has submitted extensive use of use that were never objected to. The NDR emphasizes that the regional accounting of two million euros calls for the lack of examination and the lack of examination The Ministry of the Environment is considered to be a co -cause for the grievances that have occurred.

While the criticism of the construction of the laboratory becomes loud, Minister Meyer emphasizes the relevance of the coordination office and the need to adequately promote nature conservation associations. He describes the procedure as transparent and pointed out that all funding in the state budget is recorded. Despite the serious allegations, it remains exciting how the funding of the state office for nature conservation will continue, since a legal examination of the allegations is still pending.

nature and environmental protection in Lower Saxony

In Lower Saxony, nature and environmental protection is also very important apart from the labün. The Lower Saxony State Operation for Water Management, Coastal and Nature Conservation (NLWKN) offers various funding programs that have been for initiative for securing the species since 2014 and of the landscapes. Since 2023, the focus has been on new measures under the name "Agarumwelt and climate measures (AUKM)", substitutes the older programs and attach particular importance to the coordination between nature conservation and agriculture.

These programs are part of a comprehensive strategy to protect and maintain habitats. They also support innovative approaches to cooperation between different actors. But it remains to be seen how the latest scandals will affect future funding. Lower Saxony has put a lot of commitment to nature conservation, and it is now up to those responsible to regain the trust of the public and to ensure that the funds also arrive where they are needed.