The corona pandemic has given wild camping a dubious boom. Many are drawn to nature, with or without a tent. But that’s not infrequently forbidden – and apart from that, it’s a bad idea for the environment.
Get out into nature, pitch your tent in a beautiful spot, look for happiness nearby instead of out in the big wide world. A tempting thought, at least some holidaymakers think.
Many conservationists believe that selfishness at the expense of the environment. Wild camping is often not allowed in Germany – but this is often disregarded, especially in Corona times.
What is the legal situation like at all?
While in Scandinavia everyone can set up camp in the great outdoors, this is not allowed in this country with this generosity. The exact regulations differ from state to state. In Baden-Württemberg, for example, you are not allowed to camp in nature. In Schleswig-Holstein, on the other hand, one night is allowed, but not in the middle of the forest. This is almost always taboo. A single night is also tolerated in Brandenburg. The amount of the fines also differs depending on the country.
If wild camping is not expressly allowed, it is probably forbidden, says Swen Walentowski from the legal portal anwaltauskunft.de as a guideline. This applies anyway in particularly beautiful places: “Wild camping is generally prohibited in national parks.” The same applies to nature reserves and many other protected natural areas – which often also include idyllic river banks, which canoeists may find attractive overnight camps.
Who can give me specific information?
Friends of nature can best get information from the Environment Agency, the Nature Conservation Agency or the local forestry office. The local tourist information offices also know the local rules.
And what about bivouacking?
The legislature does not know sleeping in the open air without a tent. So is it a smart stopgap to avoid legal trouble? “I tend to believe that bivouacking falls under camping, even if the legislature did not think so,” is Swen Walentowski’s assessment.
It depends on the individual case: If someone gets into an emergency in the mountains and cannot come back from the mountain, then bivouacking is allowed. It looks different when hikers consciously take a sleeping mat, sleeping bag and other equipment with them – just not a tent.
Do people follow the rules?
Many do not do that, in any case it is enough to disturb nature. This is exemplified by the Saxon Switzerland National Park. There is the so-called Boofen – Free overnight stays – only allowed in connection with climbing sports. There are a total of 58 places where climbers can spend the night outside. The park rangers check these places and ask questions.
There is just one catch: The rule that free overnight stays are actually only allowed for climbers is practically difficult to enforce, as Hanspeter Mayr reports. “Our rangers have already heard all the excuses,” says the head of public relations.
How big is the problem?
In the national parks in Germany, wild campers and visitors who just get into nature are a big problem. In the Saxon Switzerland National Park, between 2017 and 2019, between 20,000 and 35,000 people stayed in the Boofen – whether legally or illegally. “That’s 80 people a night, one and a half hotels,” says Hanspeter Mayr. “And each of them goes to the toilet in the morning and in the evening.”
But isn’t careful bivouacking unproblematic?
Hanspeter Mayr strongly contradicts this impression: “When people say that they don’t bother at all, then I have to say: Yes, it is because of the outstanding sensory performance of many animal species.” According to Mayr, the mere presence of people can lead certain animals to decide for or against a habitat.
Conclusion: It is a fallacy to believe that if you just keep quiet and take your rubbish with you, you don’t leave any traces in nature.
Does it help if I stay in the camper or car?
These vacationers also cause problems in sensitive natural areas such as the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. “There are no streams here because the water seeps away quickly,” explains Hanspeter Mayr. So people with mobile homes or their own car are drawn to the river, which is actually one of the best waters in Saxony in terms of water quality. Not last summer: “The whitecaps came towards us,” says Mayr.
In any case, the legal situation is clear: In Germany, according to ADAC, you can only spend the night with your camper outside of camping or parking spaces in order to restore your driving ability. The single night should be limited to ten hours, camping chairs are not allowed to be set up. Anyone who violates this must expect a fine. The rules are particularly strict in protected natural areas.
What alternatives do I have?
In protected areas there are sometimes special nature camps or trekking sites where you can legally pitch your tent. Sometimes there are toilets and a small fireplace. Such storage places were about in Sauerland and in the Eifel expelled. in the Black Forest there are several places available from May to October. In Schleswig-Holstein they are called Overnight places. It is important to find out about availability in good time.
This article was written by Von Philipp Laage, dpa
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