mini forest occupation: a warning for the municipality

Important nature reserve under threat 

The green woodpecker, badger, alpine newt, tubeworm, flatworm, European quail, alongside neighbours of the forest walking their dog – these are just some of the earthlings that feel at home in Graetheide, the green heart of Sittard-Geleen. For years, various nature and neighbourhood organisations have been calling for the whole area to be protected. In the municipality’s new proposal for the Omgevingsvisie (Area Environment Plan) 2040, however, the Lexhy forest, which is a large part of Graetheide, was not included as a protected nature area, even though it is part of the Natuurnetwerk Limburg, the plan that marks the local nature reserves on a provincial level, and has a high ecological value as a corridor for migrating animal species.

The municipality’s plan even states that parts of the Lexhy forest may be cut down in to make way for the expansion of the Chemelot campus, the petrochemical industrial and research site adjacent to the Graetheide. In addition, other parts of the forest be turned into a new high-voltage power plant, which would mainly supply power to the Chemelot industrial site, as the current one is obsolete. That new power plant could replace the old one on the same site or be built on the Chemelot territory itself. The Lexhy forest would not be the first forest in Sittard-Geleen to be cut down for the expansion of polluting industry: in 2022, part of the Sterre forest was cut down for the expansion of a car factory. In times of ecological, biodiversity and nitrogen crisis, this offensive and irresponsible – nature conservation should not give way for economic interests!

Mini forest occupation

That is why Lexhybos blijft Bos organised a successful demonstration and banner drop in March 2025 during the public participation evening on the new Omgevingsvisie 2040, which did not go unnoticed by the participants of the evening. They were the talk-of-the-town for days to come. In addition, they held a mini forest occupation, and gave climbing training to local residents. In doing so, they gave a preview and a warning of what lies ahead if the forest were to be cut down. Although the Area Environmental Plan unfortunately remained unchanged, the neighbours of the Lexhy forest are now ready to protect their forest at the time when the destruction of the nature reserve is set in motion.

Het Actiefonds is proud to have supported this pre-taste of forest occupation, and remains in solidarity with other forest occupations in the Netherlands and worldwide, and with everyone taking action against large-scale natural destruction!