Protection strategy

Greens recommend diet for soil erosion

Eva Hammerer and Bernie Weber presented a catalog of measures for soil protection on Thursday. Their aim is to protect arable land, the climate and, last but not least, the population.  

Every day in Vorarlberg, where land is already a scarce commodity, the area of around five soccer pitches is built on. For the Greens, this is far too much: "We have watched long enough as more and more meadows and fields are concreted over. We now need a strategy on how to deal with the limited resource of land and thus protect our livelihood for future generations," explained Eva Hammerer, head of the Green Party and regional spokesperson, and Bernie Weber, spokesperson for spatial planning and the economy, on Thursday. Top priority for Hammerer and Weber is the preservation of agricultural land. To this end, the two have now drawn up and presented a catalog of measures.

Bernie Weber and Eva Hammerer want to protect Voralrberg's soil. (Bild: Grüne Vorarlberg)

Build on land, don't hoard it
For example, the Greens advocate building on land that has already been zoned instead of piling up and hoarding even more building land - after all, a third of the already zoned building land is still undeveloped. "If we carry on as before, in 14 years we will lose an area in Vorarlberg that corresponds to the entire arable land in Vorarlberg. Then there will be no more potatoes from Vorarlberg and no more Ländle veal sausage," adds Hammerer. She is therefore calling for high-quality agricultural land to be safeguarded.

The Greens identify urban sprawl and traffic as the main causes of land consumption. For Hammerer and Weber, it is therefore clear that inner-city areas need to be redensified. This is the only way to avoid further spatial expansion of the municipalities and create more living space at the same time.

We have watched long enough as more and more meadows and fields are covered in concrete.

Eva Hammerer, Grüne

Breaking up concrete again
In addition to protecting healthy soil, the Greens also want to restore habitats and break up concrete. To this end, sealing is to be made subject to registration and a so-called green area ratio is to be introduced. The latter guarantees that future construction projects maintain or create appropriate green spaces in relation to the building development.

Strengthening town centers
It is also clear to the Greens that the era of greenfield shopping centers is over once and for all. Instead, investments must be made in the revitalization of town centers: "This benefits not only the stores in the centers, but also the residents. On the one hand, they enjoy an attractive and lively village center and, on the other, untouched nature as a recreational area right on their doorstep."