- The analysis on unlawful camping activities: the forest fire danger was significantly heightened
After approximately 1,500 unauthorized campers vacated the Harz region, the Lower Saxony State Forests conducted an assessment. Spokesperson Michael Rudolph stated during a site tour that the fire hazard was severe. He added that camping is prohibited in the conservation area, altering natural habitats and ecosystems in the process. Waste such as biodegradable matter and human feces were buried in the woods, leaving the environment in a worse state than promised, as per Rudolph. Recovery is estimated to take between 1 to 1.5 years, while nutrient restoration could take longer.
The district of Göttingen reported that the campers had left no trash behind. Although visible were the remnants of fireplaces, footpaths, and levelled spots where tents had been, a spokesperson had revealed this on Monday. The soil's nitrate content had increased due to the relaxation of the forest ecosystem.
The Forest Spokesperson: Animals will Bounce Back Quickest
"Animals will come back here the quickest," the Forest Spokesperson commented. "For them, this was a four-week off-limits zone. Once peace is restored, nature will also heal its wounds."
As scheduled, the Rainbow Family's camp concluded on September 3. At times, over 1,500 visitors from 63 countries participated. The campers had pledged to leave the site cleaner than they found it. Some campers expressed plans to stay past the official closing date. Last week, Goslar's district administrator, Alexander Saipa (SPD), expressed reservations about this.
The Gathering Stands for Peace and Nature Connection
This gathering, known as "Rainbow Gathering," lasted around a month. The tents were placed in a roughly 200-hectare section of a conservation area situated near the towns of Bad Grund and Clausthal-Zellerfeld. The area falls under the jurisdiction of both the Göttingen and Goslar districts.
According to participants, the camp represented peace and harmonization with nature. The districts enforced a ban on entry to the area, occasionally towed vehicles off the forest trails, and seized tents.
Despite the efforts of some campers to leave the site cleaner, the impact on the environment was still significant. The free time spent by the unauthorized campers in the conservation area resulted in altered natural habitats and ecosystems. With the departure of the campers, the Forest Spokesperson expressed hope that animals would quickly reclaim their habitats and the environment would heal.
