Ever since it was revealed that parts of the woodland near Sanem will be cut down to make room for a bypass, activists have made it their mission to protect the beloved woodland.
From late July to early August, environmental activists occupied the woodland for a duration of two weeks to protest the construction of a bypass through the area. Though the occupation has ended, people are still advocating for the forest to be saved. Over the weekend, the Sanem Citizens' Initiative (BIGS) thus organised an art exhibition in the midst of the Bobësch.
Faces were painted on trees and silhouettes of animals drawn on the ground to bring the woodland to live. According to BIGS member Marco Goelhausen, no forest should become the victim of a road construction project in times of a climate crisis.
Although the removal of trees in one location is often compensated with new trees planted in another, it still takes years to replace a veritable forest.
On 11 November, activists eventually managed to prevent the cutting of trees for the purpose of a gas pipeline, recounts BIGS secretary general Patrizia Arendt. The group found that workers lacked the proper building permit, which is why they were able to continue protecting parts of the Bobësch from being cut down.
On Monday 12 December, the town Initiative is scheduled to meet with officials from the Bridges and Roads Association to discuss the further course of action planned for the beloved woodland.
