The Hessian state government believes that more species protection and more wind energy are goals that can be reconciled with one another.
An "aid program for species sensitive to wind energy" is intended to provide evidence.
Together with the forest owners, protection zones are to be set up around the nurseries and nests of black storks, red kites, bats and other species.
Ewald Hetrodt
Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung in Wiesbaden.
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No more forest work should take place there so that the animals can raise their young in peace. Research on the habitats of animals is being expanded in order to gain knowledge for further protective measures. Mapping should help to keep an eye on the development of the locations. The Landesbetrieb für Landwirtschaft is expanding its advice on biodiversity. With structurally rich fields, flower strips, fallow land and improved management of the grassland, the food supply, especially for the red kite, is to be significantly improved.
Environment Minister Priska Hinz and Economics Minister Tarek Al-Wazir (both The Greens) presented the program on Friday together with representatives from associations that helped develop it.
The program can be "very helpful" when it comes to obtaining permits for wind turbines, said Joachim Wierlemann, Vice President of the Federal Wind Energy Association.
But more staff is also needed for the licensing authorities.
Every project is now being sued.
In view of the issues of species protection, the nature conservation organizations have problems with their base, stated Wierlemann.
It is therefore admirable that the Hessian state associations are in favor of the energy transition.
Protection from raccoons
Gerhard Eppler, Chairman of the Hesse Nature Conservation Union, also praised the program.
“We can only speak of a nature-friendly energy transition if the animal species concerned are brought into a good state of conservation and secured,” he said.
As an example of protective measures, he cited cuffs that are attached to trees in which black storks, for example, have their nests.
This prevents raccoons from stealing the brood.
However, the program only applies outside of wind priority areas.
There are no black storks within these areas, reported Hinz and Al-Wazir.
Eppler did not confirm that.
He emphasized the difference between the threatened species, which are generally strengthened, and individuals who, in exceptional cases, are not protected.
"Birds do not follow the planning concepts of the state government or maps of the regional plan," said René Rock, the chairman of the FDP parliamentary group. To claim that wind energy can help protect birds and species is absurd. With its program, the state government is trying to divert attention from its already judicially determined disregard for European species protection law. The jurisprudence gives priority to the protection of species over the construction of wind turbines, Rock stated. The state government should respect this in its approval practice and not wait until the courts force it to do so.