We demand: that the Province of South Tyrol and the Municipality of Bressanone protect an important habitat: the Bressanone riparian forest, which the company Progress Holding AG bought from the Diocese of Bolzano - Bressanone in 2018 and decided to destroy to make room for an industrial building and parking spaces.

Reason: In the industrial area of Bressanone ONE remaining riparian forest has miraculously survived after various floodings alongside the Eisack river.

With its richness of plants and animals, the forest is now a rare habitat that urgently needs to be protected. In terms of the regulations in force, the riparial forest is classified with the codes 61210 and 61300 (alder-ash forest).

In recent decades, the province of Alto Adige has caused a deterioration in the quality of this habitat through the construction of the industrial area around the forest and the construction of a road separating the forest from the river.

Despite the strong impact of human activities, the forest, with an area of about three hectares, is home to numerous animal and plant species:

- In it, 64 species of birds have been observed, 29 of which also breed there. This means that it is a particularly suitable habitat for wildlife. Six of them are considered endangered in South Tyrol and for this reason have been included in the Red List of endangered species (spotted flycatcher, eurasian wryneck, nightingale, grey-headed- woodpecker,  common chiffchaff, hoopoe).

- Furthermore, this forest in South Tyrol is one of the last suitable habitats for the reproduction of the highly endangered rarely spotted tiny woodpecker and one of the few breeding grounds of the grey heron in South Tyrol, since 13 pairs breed there.

- Furthermore there are seven bat species that have been spotted in the forest and all oft hem are protected in South Tyrol.

- 21 insect species have been observed, including butterflies, beetles, bees, bumblebees and other pollinating insects.

- What’s more the plants studied by the botanists of the South Tyrol Museum of Natural History belong to 66 different species.

- In the riparial forest there are three species of reptiles, all of which are included in Annex IV of Directive 92/43 EEC (Animal and plant species of Community interest requiring strict protection).

The Brixner Auwald is also important for the creation of ecological corridors, which are absolutely necessary for the preservation of biodiversity in South Tyrol.

In recent years, the Province of South Tyrol and the Municipality of Bressanone have committed themselves to protecting the last original habitats along the Eisack river. Now, however, they intend to destroy them to make room for new industrial buildings and parking lots.

We believe that this place of great ecological value can still be saved and that it is not too late. Therefore we trust in your help to stop the destruction of the forest and to protect this important habitat.

Thank you for your support!

IMPORTANT! Once you have signed this petition, you have to confirm your signature by clicking on the link that will be sent to you by Change.org. Only then your signature will be valid.