Siegen-Wittgenstein reopens debate over Rothaarkamm National Park

The debate over establishing a new national park in the Rothaarkamm region of the Siegen-Wittgenstein district has been reignited. This proposal involves approximately 4,300 hectares of state forest.

While the initiative is part of the coalition agreement for the North Rhine-Westphalia government, previous attempts to designate a second national park in the state—alongside the existing Eifel National Park—had been rejected by all six candidate regions in 2024. However, the district council of Siegen-Wittgenstein recently voted by a narrow margin to reconsider the proposal.

Environmental Minister Oliver Krischer has expressed support, noting that while a Rothaarkamm National Park offers significant opportunities for regional development, local acceptance is essential. Experts recently presented findings at a citizens' forum to provide a basis for upcoming political decisions.