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Leipzig's fireworks about to end? Focus on nature conservation and animal welfare!
On May 21, 2025, residents and the Greens questioned the planned use of fireworks in Thekla due to animal welfare concerns.
Leipzig's fireworks about to end? Focus on nature conservation and animal welfare!
On May 21st, Leipzig resident Alexandra Kühn and the Greens asked questions about a planned fireworks display that was to take place at the excavator in Thekla. As part of this resident inquiry, Kühn wanted to clarify how the city of Leipzig intends to prevent the fireworks from disturbing breeding birds and other animals. As [l-iz.de](https://www.l-iz.de/politik/leipzig/2025/05/einwohneranfrage-zu-feuerwerken- Sprengstoffrecht-schutz-wild-lebender-tiere-625327) reports, the public order office referred to German explosives law as well as the applicant's rights with regard to the approval process.
The topic of fireworks in protected areas is not new. A general ban on fireworks in landscape protection areas would be possible under the Saxon Nature Conservation Act, but has not yet been implemented. In connection with the application for the fireworks display, which was submitted on May 16, 2025, the lower nature conservation authority informed the organizer of the nature conservation hurdles in March 2025.
Permits and nature conservation
The public order office explained that a case-by-case assessment was necessary in order to take into account the freedom of the fireworker to practice his profession. However, fireworks may only be permitted if there is no risk of significant harm to protected species or protected areas. What is revealing is the fact that there were no authorized fireworks displays in nature reserves between 2022 and 2025. The number of approved fireworks displays in landscape protection areas fell from seven in 2022 to just four in 2024, with only one application registered for 2025.
Particularly notable is the decline in authorized fireworks displays in the immediate vicinity of landscape protection areas, where the number fell from 14 in 2022 to seven in 2024. Only one fireworks display has been reported in this region for 2025. Although the small fair regularly organizes fireworks in the landscape protection area, which also received permits, on May 22nd the Office for Environmental Protection issued a ban on the planned fireworks display in the landscape protection area.
Regulations and protective measures
The handling of trees and shrubs is subject to strict regulations that result from species and biotope protection as well as the protected area system. These requirements are independent of municipal tree or woody protection regulations. In the growing season from March 1st to September 30th, cutting or removing trees is generally prohibited, although only gentle shape and care cuts are permitted. These regulations aim to secure the availability of flowers for insects and to preserve breeding places for birds, as natur.sachsen.de illustrates.
In protected areas, the respective protected area regulations apply. Trees in national and European protected areas are subject to special regulations that ensure that the interests of nature conservation are protected. Projects that have an impact on “Natura 2000” areas must be subject to special regulations in order not to jeopardize the conservation goals. These regulations, which are seen as part of a complex, multi-layered system of environmental and nature conservation law in Germany, are based on both national laws such as the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG) and EU directives, as bpb.de explains.
In view of the current developments surrounding fireworks in Leipzig and the ongoing discussion about the protection of wild animals, the challenge for the city to strike a balance between leisure activities and nature conservation remains great. Given the strict legal requirements, it will be exciting to see how urban planning and environmental protection interests can be harmonized in the future.