Dune manager PWN may continue to cut down thousands of trees in the Bergen dune area, the judge decided today. Opponents wanted to stop the felling as quickly as possible and filed a lawsuit against the dune manager. These requests were rejected.
The trees in the forest in the Bergen dune area have already been cut down at a rapid pace by PWN in recent weeks. In total, around thirteen thousand pine trees will have to make way to save the dunes.
To stop the felling, the Duinstichting, a group of concerned residents who are committed to preserving the forest, has once again gone to court. PWN allegedly did not have the necessary paperwork in order. The judge ruled today that PWN has all the correct permits for felling. According to the judge, there is therefore no reason to stop the work at this time.
Why do the trees have to be cut down?
The reason for the felling is that the soil becomes acidic due to the limited wind action due to the trees. As a result, too little sand and salt is supplied.
According to PWN, the felling must be done quickly because, according to the dune manager, some parts of the dune are in poor condition. The pine forest in Bergen aan Zee is close to the coast and acts as a sturdy windbreak. In a large area behind this windbreak, the Lange Vlak, the soil has become so acidic due to nitrogen precipitation that biodiversity is declining rapidly.
The foundation is concerned that felling trees, removing roots and using heavy trucks will cause damage to the dune area, the protection zones around it and the underlying archaeological grounds.