Climate protest - Police clear camp of forest squatters in Cologne
The Cologne Police have cleared a camp of climate activists in Grember Forest. Approximately 18 participants had voluntarily evacuated, said a police spokeswoman. The dismantling of tree houses is still ongoing. The police and the city of Cologne justified the eviction by stating that staying in the forest, which has a high deadwood content, off the paths, is dangerous.
The group of protesters are against the planned expansion of the A4 highway at the expense of the forest. Another reduction of the Gremberger Forest "would severely impact its ancient growth and species diversity and is completely unacceptable," criticized the group "Grembi stays". A spokeswoman for the Federal Autobahn GmbH shared that the start of construction work is not before 2034 at the earliest, that is, in ten years. According to the current planning, it concerns an extension of a few meters. The recreational and recreational function of the Gremberger Forest will not be affected.
Gremberger Forest is considered the oldest piece of forest in Cologne. Among other things, beech trees, according to the city's statements, are over 300 to 400 years old. However, the forest has been divided several times over the years, both by railway tracks and by highways 4 and 559, which intersect at Gremberg Crossing.
- The climate protest in Cologne, Germany, focused on the planned expansion of the A4 highway, which threatens the ancient growth and species diversity of Grember Forest in North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Despite the ongoing climate protest demonstrations, the Cologne Police recently cleared a camp of activists in Grember Forest, citing safety concerns due to the forest's high deadwood content and off-path locations.
- The protest group "Grembi stays" argues that the dismantling of tree houses and eviction of activists in Grember Forest is unnecessary, given that the start of construction work on the A4 highway extension is not expected until 2034.
- In response to the climate protest and eviction, local authorities and the police have maintained that the forest's topography and historical divisions by railways and highways make it a hazardous location for long-term protests, such as the treehouse camp in Grember Forest.
