Lower Oder Valley National Park is an opportunity for the region
An amendment to the National Park Act of 1995, which has been repeatedly requested, in particular the draft amendment presented by Bischoff and Wiebke (Member of the Bundestag), is being approved by the Association of Friends of the German-Polish European National Park “Unteres Odertal” e. V. decidedly rejected. The deputy chairman of the board, Dr. Ansgar Vössing:
“The Lower Oder Valley National Park is far too good to be sold off in the beginning of the election campaign tumult. The structurally weak, increasingly materially and personally draining Uckermark will lose one of its last chances if it continues to dismantle the only national park in Brandenburg, the only floodplain national park in Germany, instead of developing it into an outstanding tourist magnet. A weakening and dilution of the National Park Act of 1995 would make Brandenburg look ridiculous, and it would also destroy one of the best-known and most successful projects initiated by the then Environment Minister Platzeck, now Prime Minister.
The National Park Act of 1995 was a difficult compromise, an attempt to balance the interests of nature conservationists and users. The result was a long, not always convincing law, which at least represents a basis for future development. The only substantial restriction that this law provides — all other restrictions were left to treatment guidelines, which should have been in force in 1998, but not all have been in force to date — is now to be deleted according to the proposals of Bischoff and Wiebke , that is, no more total reservations are shown. In addition, the already very weak position of the national park administration will be reduced to practically zero. Hunting, fishing and angling should continue as usual and as usual without restrictions.
Such an amendment would be the end of the only national park in Brandenburg, all that would remain is the shell, i.e. only the name. Although it is effective in advertising, it would then be meaningless and an irresponsible fraudulent label that our association, like all nature conservationists, has to reject.
The Association of Friends of the German-Polish European National Park Unteres Odertal e. V. will continue to work in accordance with the statutes for a real national park that deserves this name, i.e. a national park according to IUCN Category II. But even if the Brandenburg state parliament weakens or abolishes the national park, the association will continue its work in accordance with its grant decisions and the maintenance and development plan. ”
