Nature conservation associations in Saxony see their work at risk

Saxony's nature conservation associations see their work at risk due to planned cuts in the Free State budget. In an open letter, the eight recognized Saxon nature conservation associations urgently appeal to the state government.

The CDU and SPD in Saxony also want to cut 20 percent of support funds for the exercise of statutory participation rights at the same time as the cuts or the cancellation of funding for nature conservation projects, they said.

The consequences of the destruction of nature are a burden on people

"This not only considerably weakens nature conservation, but also jeopardizes an important democratic control function. The consequences of climate change and the destruction of nature are increasingly burdening citizens," it continued.

The nature conservation associations would advocate for compliance with the laws on the protection of natural resources and defend them in court if necessary. "Anyone who restricts this legal participation risks damage to nature and people."

Associations point to great expertise

In the letter to Head of Government Michael Kretschmer and Environment Minister Georg-Ludwig von Breitenbuch (both CDU), the associations demand that the level of support funding should at least be maintained.

They also make it clear that they are asked for their opinion on more than 500 projects every year. "Our expertise is based on decades of experience and enables us to provide well-founded assessments on a wide range of environmentally relevant topics (...)."

The announced cuts pose an existential threat to nature conservation, legal and voluntary work, the associations explained, referring to the participation rights enshrined in the Nature Conservation Act.

Without the funds, they would no longer be able to issue high-quality statements. While the administrative burden is constantly increasing, financial support has halved in real terms compared to the turn of the millennium.

Committed people are increasingly frustrated

They also pointed out another aspect. Civil society participation is an essential pillar of democracy that needs to be brought more to the forefront of politics and receive more financial support. "However, we are seeing that instead, committed people are increasingly frustrated by the fact that participation is hardly valued and is increasingly perceived as not being equal."

The letter was signed by the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (Nabu), the Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), the State Hunting Association and the State Association of Saxon Anglers, among others.