CSU on the environment and animal welfare

The CSU wants to limit and reduce the number of wolves and other predators. To do so, it should be permanently possible to remove wolves and otters, meaning to capture or kill them. The party justifies this with the protection of grazing animals, alpine pastures and fish farming.

Wolves and otters sometimes kill grazing animals and fish. The CSU wants fewer of these predators. It should be allowed to remove them for good. Removing here means catching or killing.

The CSU makes a promise of protection to farmers, keepers of grazing animals and pond farmers. The predator population is to fall to a level the party considers tolerable. It justifies this with preserving a cultural landscape that has grown over centuries. According to the party, people should be able to spend time and work in nature without fear.

The CSU wants to introduce a Wassercent (a levy on water extraction) to protect drinking water and deep groundwater. Water supply is to remain in municipal hands. The party rejects a water-sharing scheme between the states at Bavaria's expense.

The CSU wants to protect water in Bavaria. For this there should be a water levy. That is a charge for taking water. Private companies should not take over the water supply.

The party's aim is to save water, store it and distribute it across the state. Monitoring of water levels and the handling of drought and water quality are to improve in dialogue with farmers. Under the motto "municipal before commercial," the CSU opposes any privatization. It rejects the water-sharing scheme between states in the federal National Water Strategy. Other states should first recycle and reuse water before drinking water is diverted from Bavaria.

The CSU wants to restore 55,000 hectares of peatland as natural CO2 storage and convert forests into more climate-resilient mixed forests. Nature conservation is to be carried out in cooperation with land users. Existing programs for species protection and landscape care are to grow.

The CSU wants to bring peatlands back to their natural state. Peatlands store the climate gas CO2. Forests should get more different kinds of trees. Animals and plants should also get more protection.

The party wants to strengthen cooperative nature conservation and the network of biotopes and to promote restoration projects. The flood strategy is to be developed further and take flash floods into account more. For forests, the CSU relies on use and protection together and sees forest owners and hunters as partners. Nature parks, biosphere reserves and landscape care associations are to be strengthened. The party wants to expand the cultural landscape program and the contract-based conservation program and to continue the pact for traditional orchards.