The temporary ban on free overnight stays in the Saxon Switzerland National Park, which was first introduced in 2022, will be extended permanently. As in previous years, a ban on so-called "Boofen" will continue to apply from February to June 15th of each year, the Ministry of the Environment in Dresden announced. Outside of this period, overnight stays in the open air are still permitted in 58 designated areas in conjunction with climbing in the national park.
The ban was introduced in 2022 in response to declining populations of peregrine falcons, eagle owls and black storks, but also due to an increase in fires caused by people staying overnight.
"The regulation in place over the last three years has led to a noticeable decrease in overnight stays and thus to a calming of the area," said Saxony's Environment Minister Georg-Ludwig von Breitenbuch (CDU). After the test phase, the regulation should now apply permanently during the breeding and settling season. The maintenance and development plan for the national park has been amended accordingly. There are also plans to further expand public relations work and the presence of the national park rangers.
Copyright 2025, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved
