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Bats save Pütnitz amusement park from demolition: court decides!
Court stops demolition of Bernstein Resort in Ribnitz-Damgarten to protect bats. Current developments and backgrounds.
Bats save Pütnitz amusement park from demolition: court decides!
The dream of the new “Bernstein Resort” on the Pütnitz peninsula near Ribnitz-Damgarten has been dashed for the time being. A ruling by the Greifswald Administrative Court has stopped the demolition of 63 old buildings on the site of the former military airport. This area should offer space for 620 holiday homes and apartments as well as its own adventure world and even a riding stable. But the reasons for stopping construction are more serious than they first seem. The decision is based on the protection of bats, which find valuable habitat in the area.
The Association for Landscape Design and Species Protection in MV (VLAMV) had filed an application for interim legal protection. This happened after approval for demolition was granted by the Vorpommern-Rügen district in February 2025. At that time, however, no previous survey of the bats' winter quarters had been carried out. The court sees this as risky because the loss of these quarters could be irreversible. Pütnitz is considered a real “bat hotspot” with twelve confirmed species that need shelter even during the cold months.
A broad commitment to nature
The court ruling is supported from several quarters. In addition to the VLAMV, the citizens' initiative “No Mass Tourism on Pütnitz” is also behind the decision. The two groups are now demanding that the demolition work and the felling of over 500 trees stop immediately. “It is important to us to protect nature in this region,” emphasizes a spokesman for the initiative.
The judge's decision reflects widespread awareness of environmental protection. Regional nature conservation associations are increasingly committed to ensuring that economic developments are in harmony with nature. The Pütnitz area, which has been used for military purposes since 1935, now offers the challenge of preserving old structures and at the same time developing new, sustainable concepts.
What happens now to the construction plans?
The project was to be implemented by Center Parcs, among others, which planned 3,200 beds in the new holiday homes. Other attractions such as the “Pangea Island” experience and a campsite with 300 pitches should round off the offer. The Pangea Festival is currently taking place on the site, an event that provides a bit of positive distraction while future decisions about the overall project hang in the balance.
The ball is now again in the court’s court, which must decide on the next steps. While those responsible for the project, such as Supreme GmbH from Rostock, hope to be able to start soon, it turns out that species protection plays a crucial role in the planning. According to bfn.de there are strict guidelines for dealing with the vulnerable bat populations, which apply not only to wind turbines, but also to large construction projects such as the planned resort.
What happens next remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Nature has an important voice in Pütnitz, and the court has listened to it.