The Greens want no more solar plants to be built in Saxony's forests. The Free State should stop the conversion of forest areas for photovoltaic systems and instead advocate reforestation and forest increase, the Greens demand in a motion for the state parliament.
The increasing number of photovoltaic systems is a good sign for the energy transition, emphasized MP Thomas Löser. However, clearing forests is the wrong way to go. "We are destroying people's trust in the energy transition. After all, it is inexplicable why the forest, which is so valuable for people and animals, has to make way for a PV system, even though there are numerous more sensible locations available." He cited roofs or already sealed areas such as brownfields and parking lots as examples.
Authorities should not grant permission for PV systems in forests
"We Greens want to put an end to this development and are calling on the Saxon state government to take action. As part of its authority to issue directives, it can urge the lower building authorities to no longer issue permits for the conversion of forest areas for PV systems," said Löser.
"The preservation and increase of our Saxon forest serves as one of our most important foundations of life. Particularly in view of the increasing challenges of climate change, the forest has a special role to play with its cooling effect, as a water reservoir and CO2 sink," emphasized Wolfram Günther, who was also responsible for forestry as a minister in the last legislature.
The "Sächsische Zeitung" newspaper recently reported, with reference to a minor question in parliament, that 20 ground-mounted PV systems had been planned in Saxony's forests and some had already been implemented - on a total area of around 153.6 hectares. This corresponds to 215 soccer pitches. The majority of applications are still in the approval phase,
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