Court overturns protection for Germany’s Aller-Leine Valley in legal blow
A long-running effort to protect the Aller-Leine Valley has suffered a major setback. The Higher Administrative Court (OVG) in Lüneburg overturned the district’s conservation ordinance in two key cases. The ruling declared the existing regulations ineffective, leaving the area’s future protection uncertain for now.
The Heidekreis district first launched a detailed procedure to safeguard the Aller-Leine Valley in 2017. After years of work, officials passed an ordinance on 26 June 2020 to designate it as a protected nature area. The valley holds special status as both an FFH (Flora-Fauna-Habitat) site and a bird protection zone under EU law.
The court’s ruling leaves the Aller-Leine Valley without formal protection for the time being. The district administration must now prepare a revised ordinance and open it for public input. Until a new regulation is in place, the area’s conservation status remains unresolved.
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