Court Halts Demolition of Berlin's Jahnstadion Over Sparrow Nesting Concerns

A Berlin court has ordered a temporary stop to the demolition of Jahnstadion, citing inadequate protection for the nesting sites of house sparrows.

The Berlin Administrative Court has issued an injunction to stop the planned demolition of Jahnstadion until at least February 28, 2025.
Environmental groups successfully argued that the demolition would destroy critical nesting sites for house sparrows, a protected species.
The Berlin Senate's plan to replace the stadium with a new €200 million inclusive sports facility is now on hold.
The court found that proposed compensatory measures, such as installing sparrow houses, were insufficient and not guaranteed to succeed.
The project has faced criticism for its high costs and lack of financial sustainability, with over 14,000 signatures collected opposing the demolition.