Activists Defy Authorities, Prepare for Final Stand in Hambacher Forest
Environmental activists have restarted building tree houses and barricades in the Hambacher Forest, defying NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul's call for order and peace. This comes as the Coal Commission's decision on the forest's future remains pending, with clearances set to begin on October 6, 2025.
Tens of thousands of activists are preparing for a final stand on October 4, 2019, ready to face over 4,000 police officers. They plan to construct more barricades and tree houses, determined to protect the forest despite RWE's warnings of substantial short-term operational effects and potential revenue loss of hundreds of millions. The Coal Commission's first report, due soon, will address the future of coal in Germany, including the fate of the Hambacher Forest.
The court's decision has been delayed until 2020, and a ban on demonstrating nearby and within the forest has been overturned by another court in Aachen. Special trains and over 150 buses have been organised to transport activists from across Germany and Europe to the protest. Previously, the Higher Administrative Court of Münster ruled that RWE could not expand mining operations into the forest area.
Public support for preserving the Hambacher Forest remains high, with 79% of NRW respondents, including 71% of CDU supporters, backing its conservation. Activists continue to stand firm, ready to challenge the pending clearances and await the Coal Commission's report.
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