RWE Begins Controversial Tree Felling at Sündenwäldchen for Hambach Expansion

The energy company has started clearing the forest to extract materials for a future lake, sparking environmental protests and legal challenges.

RWE has initiated the clearing of Sündenwäldchen near the Hambach mine, with plans to use the area for sand and gravel extraction to stabilize the future Hambacher See.
The forest serves as a critical ecological corridor connecting the Hambacher Forest and Steinheide, raising concerns among environmentalists about habitat loss for endangered species like the Bechstein's bat and hazel dormouse.
The Oberverwaltungsgericht Münster recently dismissed an emergency appeal by the environmental group BUND to halt the deforestation, citing RWE's operational priorities as more significant.
Protests have emerged at the site, with activists maintaining a presence through treehouses and a vigil, though the situation remains peaceful under police observation.
RWE has deployed hundreds of workers and security personnel, emphasizing the project's alignment with state-approved plans from 2021 and 2023, but environmentalists criticize the decision as a continuation of destructive practices post-coal mining.