Dossier Haneboesch in Differdingen: Protected forest to make way for industrial zone – but will nature conservation requirements be respected? Mouvement demands clarity

We are talking about part of the “Haneboesch” forest, next to the industrial zone of the same name near Niederkorn. This is an old “chickweed-oak-hornbeam forest”, which is protected as such at EU level. What is special about this type of forest, for example, is the abundance of early bloomers, which make the forest floor glow in shades of white, yellow and purple in spring alongside lush greenery, and the old oak trees, which provide a home for bats and birds.

The fact is that this forest has unfortunately been designated as part of the industrial zone in the development plan for some time (reserve zone), so its fate was already sealed in the medium or long term. Now the  has come and two hectares are to be cleared so that the industrial zone can grow. Unfortunately, it is legal to destroy such a forest, but only if its loss is compensated by certain nature conservation measures.

On the one hand, the forest as such must be replaced, i.e. “compensated”, by reforestation elsewhere. Of course, a forest that has grown over several decades, together with its entire ecosystem, cannot be replaced overnight by planting new trees in a meadow – but that is the legal situation.

Furthermore, so-called mitigation or compensation measures for the protected animal and plant species living there must be implemented before the deforestation work begins. These so-called “CEF measures” are intended to enable the continuous functionality of the habitat of these species so that they are affected as little as possible by the (dis)disturbing intervention – in this case the clearing of the forest. It is therefore imperative that they have been implemented prior to the intervention. The nature conservation permit for the felling work in Haneboesch has been submitted to Mouvement Ecologique and stipulates, among other things, that in the case of Haneboesch, bat boxes must be installed in the neighbouring forest, deadwood piles must be created for dormice and marsh irises must be replanted.

A parliamentary question from 13 December 2024 dealt with this dossier. The Mouvement Ecologique pricked up its ears when Minister Lex Delles replied. Because according to the statements in this answer, it seemed as if the deforestation work would begin at any moment, although the mandatory early compensation measures were still outstanding – this would be against the law!

Unfortunately, it is not clear on site whether all of these measures have been fully implemented or not. In fact, following a site inspection, the Mouvement Ecologique assumes that this is not the case. However, until these have been implemented and are functional, the forest cannot be cleared due to the law.

The response from the Minister of the Economy and rumours that deforestation work would effectively begin at short notice led to the Mouvement Ecologique even writing to the Ministry of the Environment with a lawyer’s letter.

In the letter dated 3 February 2025, it was emphatically pointed out that it appears that not all of the necessary measures have been implemented and that, accordingly, work may not begin . However, if this is the case, the Mouvement Ecologique will ask for the relevant proof. In the event of an infringement of the Nature Conservation Act, the letter to the Ministry stated that the Mouvement Ecologique would immediately take legal action to stop the logging work if it were to begin.

According to the Nature Conservation Act, the forestry work in question must be carried out by 28 February. This does not appear to have been the case. Did the letter from the Mouvement Ecologique work, or did it?

In any case, the Mouvement Ecologique is eagerly awaiting a response from the Ministry of the Environment

Translation by Deepl.

26.02.25