The Independent has reported that the German government has announced their intent to turn 62 former military bases into nature reserves for wildlife.
“We are seizing a historic opportunity with this conversion — many areas that were once no-go zones are no longer needed for military purposes,” said Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks. “We are fortunate that we can now give these places back to nature."
The massive conversion of land – approximately 31,000 hectares – will increase the total area of protected wildlife in Germany by an impressive 25 per cent.
Instead of selling the land for a quick buck, opening up to damaging resource extraction or even recreational use, the German government has chosen to learn from a past of destruction and seek harmony and peace for their future.
It is something we, as individuals, governments, societies and cultures, can strive to emulate.
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