Former Environment Minister Wolfram Günther speaks out in support of ‘Capi’: ‘It must be a taboo!’

Dieser Artikel ist auch in deutscher Sprache verfügbar: Zum deutschen Artikel.

On Thursday, over 2,000 people demonstrated in support of preserving the Capa-Wäldchen – known as the ‘Capi’. Among them was the former Saxon Minister for the Environment and Deputy Minister-President, Wolfram Günther (Greens). A native of Leipzig, he has been concerned about the fate of the floodplain forest for decades. “It’s like my living room,” he said in an interview with the LZ. “And if it’s under threat, I simply have to be there.”

Mr Günther, in your view, what makes the Capa Wood so special that it’s worth preserving?

From an ecological point of view, but also for the urban climate, the Leipzig floodplain forest is the most important thing the city of Leipzig has. There is a north-western floodplain and a southern one – and at the point where they meet, right in the area of the stadium, the connection between the two is already severely compromised and thinning. That’s why there need to be even more elements there to connect them – and you can’t remove a connecting section at precisely this highly sensitive spot. That must be an absolute taboo in city politics!

You cannot build a sustainable future for this city at the expense of the floodplain forest. This floodplain forest – as the area where the air cools, where water can be stored, where species can find refuge, and where people can relax – must not be destroyed. That is why, when it comes to the interests of others, we must always find alternative locations and sites; this simply must be absolutely clear in Leipzig’s urban policy.

Opening rally at the Wäldchen. Demonstration by environmental organisations against the sale and deforestation of the Capa-Wäldchen (Capi) in Leipzig, 25 June 2026. Photo: Jan Kaefer

How do you rate the chances of actually being able to preserve this small patch of woodland?

The chances arise precisely because people are taking to the streets in such force. It’s such a powerful statement – over 2,000 people mobilised in just under a week, in this heat. I’ve been working in environmental law and environmental activism with all the relevant organisations for a very long time now, and I can’t remember the last time there was a joint appeal from all the environmental organisations in Leipzig. That, too, is truly something special.

It shows just how important this issue really is. And the fact that this has been achieved gives me great hope that the city council will finally sort this out as well. Public land is, after all, there precisely to serve the public good – and so you cannot simply sell such a valuable piece of public land – which, in principle, belongs to the city’s community – to a private individual. That simply has to be off limits.

Wolfram Günther (Greens/former Saxon Minister for the Environment) during the closing rally at Lindenauer Markt. Demonstration by environmental organisations against the sale and deforestation of the Capa-Wäldchen (Capi) in Leipzig, 25 June 2026. Photo: Jan Kaefer

What do you think would happen if the protests were ignored?

I hope that doesn’t happen; the people here wouldn’t put up with it, because that would be acting against the city’s long-term interests. You only need to look at the floodplain forest and its functions to realise that you simply cannot remove this connecting corridor. The floodplain forest isn’t self-sustaining; it still needs a great deal of support and protection. You can’t take measures that have exactly the opposite effect. If that were to happen, it would cause irreparable damage to this area for a long time to come. We don’t want to see that happen.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•