CDU on the environment and animal welfare

The CDU wants to actively limit the wolf population in Brandenburg as soon as the law allows. In its view, with around 1,000 wolves the population has exceeded a favorable conservation status, and damage to livestock farmers has become excessive.

About 1,000 wolves live in Brandenburg. The CDU thinks that is too many. Wolves attack farm animals. So hunters should be allowed to shoot wolves. This should happen as soon as the law allows it.

The wolf is to be added as a protected species to Brandenburg's hunting law to give hunters more legal certainty. The federal government is to fully transpose Article 16 of the EU Habitats Directive on removing wolves into German law. It is also to ask the EU to move the wolf to Annex V of the directive, which means a lower protection status. Native game populations are also to be protected from wolves.

The CDU sees hunting and fishing as a contribution to nature conservation and wants to strengthen both. Hunters are to play a bigger role in wildlife management and invasive species are to be hunted more intensively, while fishers are to be allowed to remove protected species more easily.

The CDU thinks hunters and fishers protect nature. It wants to support both. Foreign animal species should be hunted more. Fishers should be allowed to kill some protected animals more easily. Examples are cormorants and beavers.

Invasive animal species that harm native biodiversity are to be hunted more intensively. In forest conversion, the interests of hunters and forest owners are to be balanced under the principle of "forest with game." The CDU wants the federal government to allow easy removal of cormorants, beavers, great egrets, and otters. The state's weapons law is not to be tightened, and permits for hunting weapons are to be issued faster. Hunting and fishing associations are to be funded like environmental groups; plans also include reintroducing eel and salmon, a regional label for fish and game, and more nature education.

The CDU wants to manage forests actively and sustainably and improve their condition. Renewable raw materials such as wood, hemp, and reeds are to be used more through a bioeconomy strategy, for example in timber construction.

The CDU wants to keep using the forests. At the same time, they should get healthier. Wood may also be burned for energy. Wood, hemp, and reeds should be used more. For example, to build houses.

Cascading use of wood is to include its use for energy. Small private forest owners and forestry associations are to receive support and advice, and forest conversion is to use site-appropriate native and non-native tree species. Contractual nature conservation in forests and compensation for restrictions in EU Habitats Directive areas are to be expanded, and wildfire protection is to rely on prevention and education. An innovation cluster for the bioeconomy is planned; carbon sink services are to be rewarded, and technical and building-code barriers for renewable materials are to be adjusted.

The CDU wants to preserve allotment gardens in towns because, in its view, they provide recreation, local food, and habitat for wildlife. More funding is to be made available for them.

Almost 100,000 people in Brandenburg use small community gardens. The CDU wants to keep these gardens. They are good for nature and relaxing. There should be more money for them.

Funding under the allotment garden guideline is to be increased. A second funding guideline is to be financed from the environment budget. Garden associations are to receive support as their membership changes.

The CDU wants to tackle flood protection, water retention, and groundwater recharge together, since climate change and higher consumption are making water scarcer. In Lusatia, the Spree, Neisse, and Black Elster rivers are to be stabilized technically after damage from mining.

Water in Brandenburg is getting scarcer. The CDU wants to manage water better. Water should stay in the landscape longer. Cleaned wastewater should be used again. In Lusatia, rivers should be stabilized after mining.

Adjustable water infrastructure is to be kept and strengthened. Treated wastewater from the fourth treatment stage is to be reused or allowed to seep into the ground, and regional water cycles are to be strengthened. Recommendations from a Federal Environment Agency study on diverting water into Lusatia are to be examined and implemented. Peatlands are to be rewetted together with those affected, with incentives and compensation. Water for livestock troughs is to remain free of charge permanently, and agroforestry systems are to be promoted.