Dispute over natural project - Aiwanger: Protecting the state forest from maldevelopments
It was an unusual step: Several local politicians sharply criticized Economy Minister Hubert Aiwanger for his statements regarding the Biosphere Region Spessart. They accused the Free Voter Politician of a "completely undifferentiated viewpoint" and "top-down approach" in an open letter.
Now, Bavaria's Vice-Minister-President is responding by dismissing the accusations and instead speaking about the need to prevent developmental issues on the forested lands of the Bavarian State Forests. What is the dispute about?
In Unterfranken, a Biosphere Region Spessart is intended to be established. The idea is a model region for sustainable living and economically viable activities in harmony with nature. Unlike a national park, it is intended to be significantly more economically utilized by humans, such as through marketing regional products and promoting sustainable tourism. Nature conservation associations and many politicians in the region support this. However, there is also criticism across party lines for the project.
"Don't keep beating a dead horse"
At an event of the association "Wir im Spessart" at the end of June, Aiwanger reportedly spoke out forcefully against the project, according to a report by the "Main Echo." He allegedly spoke of "stupidity," "naivety," and a "snappy idea." He also reportedly said that one should not "keep beating a dead horse."
The Landrat of Main-Spessart (Sabine Sitter, CSU), Aschaffenburg (Alexander Legler, CSU), Miltenberg (Jens Marco Scherf, Greens), and Aschaffenburg's Mayor Jürgen Herzing (SPD) were all upset by this. They accused Aiwanger of a lack of knowledge about the project and hasty statements. Moreover, Aiwanger had not even held talks with representatives of his own party.
The largest contribution to the Biosphere Reserve should come from the Bavarian State Forests
Aiwanger now complains in an open letter to the local politicians that it is inappropriate for them to ask him not to intervene in the debate from the outside. The Bavarian State Forests should make the largest contribution in terms of areas for the Biosphere Reserve. And anyone who points to critics within the Free Voters should remember, "that many and prominent CSU members are among you on site against the project," writes Aiwanger.
Moreover, a Landtag resolution rules out the allocation of further areas in the state forest. Since the state forest will not provide any further areas, the municipalities will have to forego income.
The Minister also casts doubt on whether a Biosphere Region will generate economic impetus. The Spessart is already a well-known brand and a unique selling point. "A new brand that overlays the existing one can also endanger what has been achieved."
A personal exchange between Aiwanger and the signatories of the open letter is currently not planned, according to ministry information.
- Hubert Aiwanger, the Bavarian Vice-Minister-President, finds himself in controversy over his comments regarding the proposed Biosphere Region Spessart in Lower Franconia's Unterfranken.
- The project, aimed at creating a model region for sustainable living and tourism, has garnered support from nature conservation associations and politicians, but also faces criticism across party lines.
- Critics, including Sabine Sitter (CSU), the Landrat of Main-Spessart, and Jürgen Herzing (SPD), the Mayor of Aschaffenburg, accuse Aiwanger of making hasty statements without sufficient knowledge about the project.
- Aiwanger, however, defends his stance, arguing that the Bavarian State Forests should contribute significantly to the Biosphere Reserve and that removal of further areas from the state forest would result in lost income for municipalities.
- California State University's Hubert Aiwanger also casts doubt on the potential economic impact of a Biosphere Region, expressing concern that it could overshadow and potentially harm the existing brand and unique selling point of the Spessart.
- In response to the criticism, Aiwanger notes that many prominent CSU members are also opposed to the project, challenging his critics to remember this fact.
- No personal exchange between Aiwanger and the signatories of the open letter against his remarks is currently planned, as confirmed by ministry information.
