BUND Stops Tree Felling in Karlshorst for Howoge Construction Project
Berlin, February 17 – The Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz (BUND) Berlin has taken legal action to prevent the felling of trees and shrubs in the Karlshorst district. The environmental organization filed a lawsuit with the administrative court, which has accepted the case and granted it suspensive effect. This means that the planned felling, scheduled for Wednesday, February 18, will not proceed for now.
The BUND’s objective is to prevent an exemption from species protection regulations that was granted by the Senate Department for Environment. The administrative court will now make a decision on the matter.
Howoge’s Infill Development Project Under Scrutiny
At the center of the dispute is a construction project by Howoge, a state-owned housing association, in the Lichtenberg district of Karlshorst. Howoge plans to undertake infill development-the construction of additional housing units-along Ilse- and Marksburgstraße.
According to BUND, this project would necessitate the removal of trees and shrubs from open spaces within a residential complex. Notices had initially announced the commencement of these works for Wednesday. However, due to the lawsuit’s suspensive effect, these activities are now on hold.
Environmental Concerns and Unestablished Replacement Trees
The BUND has raised several concerns regarding the project. The organization states that photographs show that replacement trees, planted last autumn as a compensatory measure for lost common house martin roosts, have not yet taken root. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the proposed ecological compensation.
Furthermore, BUND argues that it has not been established that the common pipistrelle bat is in a favorable conservation status. Consequently, the environmentalists contend that the exemption from species protection regulations should not have been granted.
The legal challenge highlights the ongoing tension between urban development and environmental protection in Berlin. The court’s decision will be crucial in determining the future of the Howoge project and could set a precedent for similar cases involving ecological considerations in urban planning.
The Howoge had applied for the necessary permits for the project. The BUND’s legal action underscores the importance of thorough environmental impact assessments and the proper implementation of species protection measures in urban development initiatives.
