Voter Rejection Ends Plans for Second National Park in NRW

A narrow majority in Kleve voted against the Reichswald National Park, leaving the state without a viable location for the project.

The Reichswald proposal, the last viable site for a second National Park in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), was rejected by 52.7% of voters in a regional referendum.
The project, championed by the Green Party, aimed to boost biodiversity, tourism, and conservation but faced strong opposition over economic concerns and land use restrictions.
All six regions identified by the NRW government as potential National Park sites have now rejected the idea, effectively halting the initiative.
Critics, including local farmers and the CDU, argued that a National Park would harm local industries, including forestry and agriculture, and impose restrictions on recreational activities.
In response to the setback, NRW’s Environment Minister has pledged to focus on alternative conservation efforts, such as moorland restoration and expanding protected areas.