The Reichswald in the Kleve district will not be a second national park in North Rhine-Westphalia. In a citizens’ vote, 52.7 percent of participants voted against it, with a turnout of 41.8 percent.
North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister-President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) called for respect for the decision after the failed citizens’ vote: “We’ve been emphasizing from the start that a project of this kind can only succeed with the acceptance of the affected population” he told the “Rheinische Post” (Tuesday’s edition). “The people on the ground must also want a national park. That’s why we agreed on a broad participatory process in our coalition agreement.” The citizens in the Kleve district have now spoken out against the Reichswald national park. The regional vote must be accepted.
“The result also shows that projects for more species and nature conservation have many supporters” the head of government said. “Nevertheless, it remains the case that such projects can only be implemented together with the population. After the heated discussions on site in the past weeks, all parties should now meet again in a factual and respectful manner” Wüst added.