The clearing of parts of the Fechenheimer forest for the construction of the Riederwald tunnel is possible according to the Darmstadt regional council as the responsible nature conservation authority.
If the felling work is limited to selected areas, no effects on the long-horned beetle population discovered in the forest are to be expected, the authority announced on Friday.
The regional council has examined a corresponding report from the federal Autobahn GmbH, which is driving the construction project.
Ralph Euler
Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung, responsible for the Rhein-Main section of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sunday newspaper.
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Ewald Hetrodt
Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung in Wiesbaden.
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The expertise states that the protected beetle colonized some trees.
However, these places could be narrowed down locally, which is why environmental damage, i.e. damage to the long-horned beetle, can be ruled out in the first clearing section planned for this winter.
According to the regional council, Autobahn GmbH is planning another report for a second clearing section.
Trees that were already inhabited by the beetle as well as trees that could be considered for colonization were preserved in the first clearing section.
In preparation for further clearing, which will no longer take place this winter, the federal Autobahn GmbH responsible for the construction work is planning a renewed assessment of the trees that may be of interest to longhorn beetles and a targeted search for the insects.
The clearing is expected to start in January
The beginning of the clearing - probably in January - is not questioned by the lower forest authority of the state.
The impression given in a report by the "Bild" newspaper was "complete nonsense," explained Klaus Velbecker, head of the Groß-Gerau forestry office, in an interview with this newspaper on Friday.
Because Frankfurt falls within his area of responsibility, he represents the lower forest authority in this case.
In this capacity he has now been contacted by Autobahn GmbH.
She has applied for a general decree so that she can start clearing the 2.7-hectare forest area required to close the gap between the 66 and 661 motorways.
He could not issue this general decree, says Velbecker.
Because with the beginning of the clearing work, which already consists in the cordoning off of the area, the area is no longer forest.
This means that the Hessian forest law no longer applies and its authorities are powerless.
However, Velbecker believes that this is no harm to Autobahn GmbH.
They do not need the desired general decree at all.
Autobahn GmbH wants a 90 meter wide safety strip
In addition, Autobahn GmbH has asked the lower forest authority for a blocking order.
It should enable Autobahn GmbH to set up a 90 meter wide safety strip outside of the area to be cleared.
Apparently, the applicant is again based on the Forest Act.
According to this, the forest authority can “block non-public roads, forest paths and properties from entering and any type of use if there is a danger to the life and health of forest visitors”.
In principle, one could certainly argue that way, says Velbecker.
But the planned security strip runs on a property that belongs to the city of Frankfurt.
This means that it is not the lower forest authority that is responsible for the blocking order, but the municipality as the owner.
"We're completely left out." As reported, environmental activists have been occupying part of the Fechenheim forest for a good year.
The Autobahn GmbH wants to start with the clearing according to law and law, because for nature conservation reasons it must be completed by the end of February at the latest.