Schleimünde: Citizens' initiative wants to save Schleimünde with a petition
Lasse Johannsen
· 02.12.2019
At the weekend, 80 concerned citizens met at Arniss town hall for the founding event of the Citizens' initiative "Save Schleimünde". The meeting was attended by Kappeln's mayor Heiko Traulsen, several town representatives from Kappeln and Arniss, political representatives from Maasholm and the district president Ulrich Brüggemeier, among others. The initiator was Philipp Zülsdorff from the Schleimünde near-natural water hiking site association. The citizens' initiative is petitioning the government of the state of Schleswig-Holstein.
Request to the state government
"We call on the state government of Schleswig-Holstein to take all necessary measures to protect Schleimünde and restore its functionality in terms of flood protection and local recreation."
Intensive coastal protection
Intensive coastal protection measures are needed quickly because the Schleimünde nature reserve has been flooded several times since the beginning of the year and massive amounts of sand have been removed. This has already created a breach to the Schlei, which is further accelerating erosion. This is jeopardising access to the Schlei Baltic Sea fjord. There is also a danger for the Nature reserve and the Facilities on the pilot island - Campsite, barbecue areas, emergency harbour, pilot house and the traditional "Giftbude" restaurant.
High costs
According to the representatives of the citizens' initiative, the flood protection required to save the approximately 112-hectare peninsula serves not least the neighbouring villages of Kappeln, Maasholm and Olpenitz and is therefore a matter for the state. Jens Ambsdorf from the Kiel-based foundation " Lighthouse Foundation ", which bought the peninsula from the federal government in 2008. Since then, the foundation has invested around 800,000 euros in the coastal protection of Lotseninsel.
Headwind
Conservationists and environmental authorities point to the need for natural erosion for the neighbouring beaches. It would also create new breeding areas for the local birdlife.
