On 2 November 2026, workers began removing the last trees in the so-called “Elbe Forest” at Bubendey riverbank in Waltershof . The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) says it is carrying out the felling as part of the planned western expansion of the Eurogate container terminal; according to media reports and HPA documents, several hundred poplars, willows and other riverside trees and shrubs are affected. The measures have drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups and parts of local politics.
The felling is part of a protracted administrative and legal dispute. The HPA cites the port development plans and permits granted during the planning approval process and in subsequent decisions. District documents and motions from the Hamburg-Mitte District Assembly show that the question of exemptions under the Tree Protection Ordinance was already under discussion this year. At the same time, the “Elbe Forest Savers” initiative has submitted a citizens’ petition with more than 15,000 signatures, obliging the city parliament to consider it.
Nature conservation organisations and the initiative point to wildlife protection and climate-related concerns: the 2016 planning approval documents described breeding species in the area and the importance of the riverside trees and shrubs as habitat. Opponents of the felling are calling for the petition to be considered before the work is completed and for alternatives to port development to be examined. The authorities, by contrast, cite safety and operational requirements relating to navigational conditions and access to the port.
The legal position is complex: several documents from the City of Hamburg, including briefing papers for the district assembly and statements from the relevant authorities, show that responsibility for riverside land and environmental impact assessment procedures have been under ongoing review. According to information published to date, an interim court proceeding in the case has not been finally concluded.
The consequences and interests involved are becoming clear: in the short term, the felling will result in the loss of riverside trees and shrubs and protests in the city; in the medium term, compensatory measures and possible legal disputes are expected. Responsibility for the next steps lies with the HPA, the economic affairs authority and the municipal authorities. Statements by petitioners, authorities and project developers must be clearly attributed; predictions of a final resolution or delays remain speculative at present.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).