軍事基地が自然公園に 冷戦のおかげで野生動物が繁栄したドイツ

ドイツ連邦自然保護庁は6月18日、62カ所の元軍事基地を静かな自然公園に転用する計画を発表した。
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ドイツ連邦自然保護庁は6月18日、62カ所の元軍事基地を静かな自然公園に転用する計画を発表した。

AFP通信によると、バルバラ・ヘンドリクス環境大臣は「私たちは、今回の転用によって歴史的な機会を得ることになった。かつて立入禁止区域となっていた多くの場所が、もはや軍事目的で利用する必要がなくなった」と語った。

ドイツでは、軍の改革によって、7万6600エーカー(約310平方キロメートル)に及ぶ森林や湿地帯、草地、沼地を、野生動物のために残しておくことが可能になったという。ヘンドリクス環境大臣は「私たちは幸運にも、これらの場所を自然に還すことができることになった」と述べた。

ドイツ連邦自然保護庁の広報担当者ルース・シュトラウビング氏は、ハフポストUS版の取材に対し、小鳥のヒメアカゲラ(冒頭の画像)から、大きなアシナガワシ(下の画像)に至るまで、さまざまな鳥たちがこれらの自然保護区に住むようになるでしょうと語った。

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また、こうした保護地区では、鳥類が保護されるだけでなく、絶滅の危機に瀕しているコウモリやカブトムシも繁殖するようになる、とシュトラウビング氏は述べた。

昔の軍事基地や訓練場の大半は、かつて「鉄のカーテン」と呼ばれた国境線の西側に存在した旧西ドイツの域内にある。共産主義のヨーロッパと資本主義のヨーロッパを分け隔て、厳重に警備された境界地は、長く続いた冷戦の中で、思いがけず自然保護区化していたのだ。

現在、こうした地域の多くは、ヨーロッパ・グリーンベルトと呼ばれる、ノルウェーからトルコに連なる野生生物の生息地帯の一角をなしている。

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ドイツ北部の村シュラークスドルフにある「グリーンベルト」の一部。

「鉄のカーテンという、人の住まない厳重に警備された遠い境界の地で、自然環境はほとんど誰にも邪魔されることなく繁栄してきた」。グリーンベルトの広報担当者は、イギリスのインディペンデント紙に対してこう話した。「今日、ヨーロッパ・グリーンベルトは、バレンツ海から黒海に至る生態系のネットワークであり、記念碑的な風景となっている」

この記事はハフポストUS版に掲載されたものを翻訳しました。

[日本語版:佐藤卓/ガリレオ]

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