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Potsdam (dpa / bb) - The clearing of trees continues on the site of the planned factory of the US electric car manufacturer Tesla.

The Ministry of the Environment confirmed this on Friday.

Tesla must indicate the start of work - that has been done, said a spokeswoman when asked.

Initially, the "Märkische Oderzeitung" reported.

On Monday, the State Office for the Environment approved that Tesla may clear an additional 82.8 hectares of forest to build its factory.

According to the information, Tesla needs the site for pipelines and as a storage facility.

During an initial clearing, an area of ​​92 hectares had been cleared.

The nature conservation associations NABU and the Green League appealed to the State Office for the Environment against the new premature clearing.

"We are particularly critical of species protection when clearing," said representative Steffen Schorcht on Friday the German press agency.

"The nature conservation associations see themselves insufficiently involved."

Smooth snakes, buzzards, green woodpeckers and bats live in the cleared area.

Schorcht demanded an immediate stop to clearing and no further early permits.

This also applies to the permission for the construction of the paint shop by the State Office for the Environment.

Residents also criticize the project and fear problems with drinking water, among other things.

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Tesla plans to produce around 500,000 compact Model 3 and Model Y vehicles annually.

So far, Tesla has been building through individual provisional approvals because the complete environmental approval from the state of Brandenburg is still pending.