Zardugal

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PROTESTERS HINDER CLEARING WORKS AT KASTELETO FOREST


In order to expand nearby vineyards operated by KVS (Kooperativo Vito kaj Spiko) the Supreme Council granted permission to clear out parts of the Kasteleto forest. The decision caused an outcry among nature conservation associations, which quickly set up camps around and on trees to prevent workers from cutting them down. They criticize the decision had been made without consideration of lasting impacts on the ecosystem. Their claim is supported by researchers from the Kasteleto Institute of Zoology. According to them local wildlife has not been studied enough to ensure the clearing efforts do not have the potential to extinct certain species. They state that to this day formerly unknown lifeforms, especially insects are found in all of Kasteleto Forest on a regular basis and that the area that is to be cleared posseses a very unique climatic and botanic environment. Scientists therefore argue that it is very likely that the planned works might lead to the eradication of yet unexplored wildlife.

Amabesto Sojknabo, Commissar of Agriculture defends the measures in a statement issued to the press this afternoon:

The area currently in question marks only a small fraction of the whole ecosystem that is the Kasteleto forest and is partially separated from the rest of it by the Glorabio mountain range. Only the north side of this mountain range is affected by clearing works. This rather contained zone has been thoroughly screened for endangered wildlife species. Dozens of individuals of three species have been secured and will be reintroduced into the wild in other parts of Kasteleto forest once the project is finished. I can reassure you that this is not a mindless endeavour driven by desires to stimulate the economy at any cost. I therefore see the behaviour of protestors in the area as unjustified. My commissariat will make an effort to reach out to them and find a solution through dialogue, while also discussing with our colleagues from the Commissariat of Internal Affairs about strategies that need to be used in the event of a lack of willingness to cooperate on the part of the squatters. For the time being we have already agreed to again order an evacuation of the clearing zone and cordon it off to prevent any more protesters from entering the forest camps.