The Frankfurt Administrative Court has rejected the urgent application of a forest squatter against the closure and the associated ban on entering part of the Fechenheimer forest.

The court announced this on Monday afternoon.

The forest squatter had pointed out that he had a tree house in this piece of forest where his belongings were located.

His lawyer argued that the activist had the right to the inviolability of the home and therefore free access to his tree house and the right to enter the forest.

On the other hand, the Frankfurt Administrative Court pointed out that the general decree published by the city of Frankfurt in the official gazette on January 10, according to which a 90-metre-wide safety zone adjacent to the area actually to be cleared for the construction of the Riederwald tunnel is to be closed, is lawful.

The Hessian forest law expressly provides that forest paths and areas can be closed if there is a danger to life and limb of forest visitors.

According to the administrative court, this can be assumed in the period up to the end of January, i.e. during the actual clearing of around two hectares of forest.

The squatter can appeal against the court's decision.

However, the judges have not yet decided on another urgent application that the Federal Association of Friends of Nature had submitted and which is pending at the Administrative Court (VGH) in Kassel.

This decision is expected to be made in the coming days.

Demonstrators from Lützerath?

Meanwhile, the security authorities continue to keep an eye on whether the number of people protesting against the planned deforestation will increase.

The almost seven hectare area is now fenced and guarded, which means that demonstrators can no longer easily enter the forest to join the forest squatters.

The police had already pointed out a week ago that people who enter the "security zone" without authorization will be stopped and given a place, and the police will also take their personal details.

According to the authorities, there are currently no indications that demonstrators who were in Lützerath a few days ago and who took part in the violent protests there are now coming to Frankfurt.

However, the police made it clear that they were vigilant and had an eye on possible “migration movements” from North Rhine-Westphalia to Hesse.

It remained unclear on Monday whether the authorities would also resort to measures such as reporting requirements or preventive detention, provided the legal conditions were met.

Interior Minister Peter Beuth (CDU) announced at the end of November that, if necessary, criminals by radical climate activists would also be prevented by taking preventive custody of people who have previously committed criminal offenses or who are demonstrably planning to do so.

This was primarily intended in connection with the "Last Generation" group, but according to Beuth this instrument could also be used for other demonstrators who are willing to commit crimes for their concerns.