Wiesbaden (dpa/lhe) - The state is currently looking for a boss for the controversial new Hessian meadow orchard center. "The advertisements for project management and assistance have been published, and job interviews will take place soon," said the Ministry of the Environment in Wiesbaden on request. The project has been criticized by the opposition in the state parliament.
It would have made more sense to link the state-wide center with the existing MainÄppelHaus on Frankfurt's Lohrberg, said SPD MP Lisa Gnadl (SPD). "The question arises as to why parallel structures are created." The FDP deputy Stefan Naas also explained that with the MainÄppelHaus there is already an established and successful structure.
The state government wants to provide around one million euros annually for a meadow orchard strategy. According to the announcement by Environment Minister Priska Hinz (Greens), the core is a state-wide meadow orchard center as a contact and networking point. The center is to be located at the landscape conservation association "Main-Taunus Naturlandschaft und Streuobst" in Hofheim.
"The ministry had received a project application from the MainÄppelHaus - with similar objectives to the implementation of a meadow orchard center," explained a ministry spokeswoman. However, the application was not economical and also focused on the Rhine-Main region. "The Hessian meadow orchard center, on the other hand, should be responsible for the whole of Hesse. That's why the meadow orchard center was not docked to the MainÄppelHaus."
