Weimar (dpa/th) - The German Nature Conservation Union (Nabu) is opposed to the possible deforestation of 70 hectares of beech forest for the expansion of a limestone opencast mine in northern Thuringia. In a resolution passed by the Nabu state representative assembly on Saturday, the environmental association warns, among other things, of negative effects on an adjacent nature reserve that is of European importance. At least eleven species of bats lived there, including the highly endangered pug bat, which is considered critically endangered in Thuringia.
"With the planned clearing, damage to these valuable habitats cannot be ruled out," said Nabu state chairman Martin Schmidt in a statement. A building materials company has applied for the expansion of the Deuna opencast limestone mine in Eichsfeld. The required environmental impact assessment is still pending. The State Office for the Environment, Mining and Nature Conservation recently asked the company to submit the necessary documents.
