Leipzig's fireworks in front of that? Focus on nature conservation and animal welfare!

Leipzig's fireworks in front of that? Focus on nature conservation and animal welfare!

Thekla, Deutschland - On May 21, the Leipzig resident Alexandra Kühn asked the green questions about a planned fireworks display, which was to take place at the excavator in Thekla. As part of this inhabitant request, Kühn wanted to clarify how the city of Leipzig intends to prevent disturbances from breeding birds and other animals by fireworks. As reported by l-iz.de, the regulatory office referred to the German explosive law and the rights of the applicant as far as the approval procedures are concerned.

The topic of fireworks in protected areas is not new. A general ban on fireworks in landscape protection areas would be possible according to the Saxon Nature Conservation Act, but has not yet been implemented. In connection with the application for the fireworks, which was submitted on May 16, 2025, the Lower Nature Conservation Authority already informed the organizer about the nature conservation hurdles in March 2025

permits and nature conservation

The regulatory office stated that an individual case examination was necessary to take into account the freedom of the fireworks. However, fireworks may only be approved if there are no considerable impairments of protected species or protected areas to be feared. The fact that no approved fireworks took place in nature reserves from 2022 to 2025 from 2022 to 2025. The number of approved fireworks in landscape protection areas fell from seven in 2022 to only four in 2024, whereby only one application was registered for 2025.

The decline in the approved fireworks in the immediate vicinity of landscape protection areas is particularly noteworthy, where the number of 14 fell to seven in 2024 in 2022. Fireworks in this region are also registered for 2025. Although the small fair regularly organizes fireworks in the landscape protection area, which also received permits, the Office for Environmental Protection on May 22nd issued a prohibition for the planned fireworks in the landscape protection area.

regulations and protective measures

The handling of tree and wood stocks is subject to strict regulations resulting from the protection of species and biotope and the protection area system. These requirements are independent of municipal tree or wood protection statutes. During the vegetation period from March 1 to September 30th, the cutting or eliminating of trees is generally prohibited, whereby only gentle form and care cuts are permitted. These regulations aim to secure the flower offer for insects and to maintain the breeding places for birds, such as [natur.sachsen.de] (https://www.natur.sachsen.de/schuetze-- landscapes-31260.html) illustrate.

In protected areas, the respective protective area regulations are decisive. Trees in national and European protected areas are subject to special regulations that ensure that the interests of nature conservation are maintained. For example, projects that have an impact on "Natura 2000" areas must be subject to special regulations in order not to endanger the conservation goals. These regulations, which are understood as part of a complex multi-layered system of environmental and nature conservation law in Germany, are based on national laws as well as the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNATSCHG) as well as to EU guidelines, such as bpb.de. In view of the current developments around fireworks in Leipzig and the continuing discussion about the protection of wild animals, the challenge for the city to compensate for leisure activities and nature conservation is still great. In view of the strict legal requirements, it remains exciting to see how urban planning and environmental protection interests can be harmonized in the future.