Category Archives: Updates

Noch 18 Tage Rodungssaison. Die "Wegesicherungsarbeiten" am 2.2.2026 Achtung: Bilder von gekappten Bäumen, Rodungsfahrzeugen und frischem Totholz

2.2.26 “Road safety work”

Attention: This post contains images of severed trees/branches, clearing vehicals and freshly cut deadwood.

On Monday, 2. February 2026 at around 11 o’clock a truck,

On Monday, 2 February, at around 11 a.m., a van, a lorry and a harvester belonging to the company Arbor Artist drove into the forest. We knew from the Parks Department (Grünflächenamt) that ‘road safety work’ was to take place that day. Nevertheless, we decided to stay, observe and ensure that the cut wood remained in the forest.

The Parks Department has classified two trees as dangerous. One is a willow tree to the left of the tree house and the other is to the left of the entrance to the clearing. The forest workers cut them down to 8 metres and 6 metres respectively. At our request, the workers, who, by the way, spoke out in favour of preserving the Wild Forest, left the cut wood in the forest.

Harvester neben der zweiten Weide
Harvester next to the second willow tree

The Parks Department had actually promised us that they would instruct tree care workers to leave dead wood in the forest. However, the workers on site were unaware of this and had to make a follow-up phone call. During two further tree maintenance projects at the turn of the year, a large proportion of the felled wood was not left in the forest either!

bare trunk of a poplar tree, a little dead wood lying on the forest floor

The next day, activists scattered one of the piles of wood into smaller piles in the forest, while we left the second one alone. These piles of dead wood are excellent insect hotels, shelters and food sources! 🐜We are critical of cutting down entire tree crowns; the WiWa is a forest, not a park where everything has to be neat and tidy. Moreover, there are alternatives to felling half a tree.

Activists on top of a pile of deadwood

To our knowledge, no further tree maintenance work is planned for this clearing season. Nevertheless, we remain vigilant! ✊ #WildForestStaysWild

Project monologue 2025

Every year, the IBA and district office (Bezirksamt) provide information about their construction projects in Wilhelmsburg. We have gathered the following:

Planning for the so-called Spreehafenviertel district resumed in September, and objections from public authorities (TÖB), including nature conservation associations, are currently being examined. All of these authorities have spoken out clearly in favour of preserving the forest.

At the beginning of February 2026, the Main Committee (Hauptausschuss) of the Mitte district will hold a public hearing, “Spreehafenviertel/Wilder Wald, taking conflicting goals seriously”. Each political group can appoint experts who can be questioned on the topic by the committee members. The hearing is open to the public and is intended to provide the committee members, who will later decide on the development plan, with more background information.

The “Öffentliche Planauslegung” (in english: +/- public showing of the plans) has been renamed to “Öffentlichkeitsbeteiligung” (in english: participation of the public). When this part of the plan will take place they didn’t want to reveal. They did show the following timeline:

  • End of 2026 right to build, meaning building plan (B-Plan) completed
  • Starting 2027 start of making the land ready for building, meaning date of a possible clearing of the forest!

Neither the clearing nor the building permit for the 800 m² on Schlenzigstraße have yet been approved. They tried to blame BM-Bau for the construction plans on the 800 m² and claim that it has nothing to do with the so-called Spreehafenviertel. However, the city itself submitted the application, is the landowner and the land swap is only ‘necessary’ because they are planning new sports grounds in the so-called Spreehafenviertel on what is currently still part of the BM-Bau terrain.

We are staying alert, the battle for the Wild Forest has not yet been decided!

Wild Forest will stay! Logging Request Approved - What now?

Logging request approved – what now?

According to BUKEA, the application to clear 800 m² of the Wild Forest will be approved. Since the legally required compensation areas are to be created, their hands are tied. The fact that compensation areas are a big scam and that the Forest Law also contains many good reasons for the conservation and maintenance of forests is obviously irrelevant…

Luftbild vom Wilden Wald, rechts die Schlenzigstraße, in rot markiert das Gebiet das gerodet werden soll
the clearing area in red

When will the clearing take place?
As soon as approval has been granted, felling may commence as early as 1 October 2025.

What will be cleared?
800 m² on Schlenzigstraße.

How can I help to prevent the clearing?

  • Join our long vigil starting on 26 September 2025 and defend the forest with us.
  • We rely on dot (diversity of techniques), so get creative, grab your friends and let’s go!
  • Support us with donations in kind and money (ask us what we need).
  • Talk to us about what tasks you and your friends can take on.
  • Follow our social media channels for updates and share our content.
  • Put pressure on politicians!