Greens vow to fight planned Vorarlberg nature protection law

Vorarlberg’s Greens have announced they will oppose the planned nature protection law, saying it conflicts with Austrian federal legislation and European law, ORF Vorarlberg reported.

At a news conference on Monday, the party criticised provisions that would allow roads up to four metres wide to be built without a nature protection procedure, regardless of their length.

The draft would also permit agriculturally used moors of up to 500 square metres to be drained without a nature protection review. Municipalities, the nature conservation advocacy body and environmental organisations would lose participation or appeal rights in numerous proceedings, the Greens said.

Daniel Zadra, the Greens’ environmental spokesman, warned that the law would harm Vorarlberg and create legal uncertainty. Bernie Weber, the party’s economic affairs spokesman, said it would violate fundamental principles of the rule of law and European environmental law.

“We will use all political means to push for changes before the state parliament adopts the law. If there are no fundamental changes, we will also examine all possible legal steps,” Zadra said in a statement.

Public consultation open

The draft law is currently under review and can be viewed until September 25 through the Vorarlberg government’s publication portal and at various public offices. Anyone interested can also submit comments online.