Of Bats and Bridges

A tiny, largely unknown species of bat has at least temporarily halted construction of a new bridge across the Elbe River valley -- something heated public debate, lawsuits and a threat from the UN cultural body UNESCO repeatedly failed to do.

Environmental organizations had brought the court action against Dresden authorities to prevent construction of the controversial Waldschlösschen Bridge, which was due to start on Aug. 13.

The judge in the case referred to the state administrative court ruling in January about the planned autobahn route though a protected nature reserve in the eastern German city of Halle an der Saale, which set stricter standards on the protection of natural resources. This ultimately reversed the 2005 decision to build a bridge through the natural area.

Now conservationists need to see to what extent the tiny bat known as the lesser horseshoe bat, or rhinolophus hipposideros, would be affected by the bridge construction, and how it can be protected. The bat is considered an endangered species.

World Heritage status

At a meeting in New Zealand in June, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, had threatened to withdraw the World Heritage Site status held by the valley on the Elbe as it passes through the city.

UNESCO placed the 20 kilometer long stretch of valley on a "red list" of endangered sites, angering local politicians. The UN body has never withdrawn World Heritage Site status.

Georg Milbradt, premier the state of Saxony criticized the UNESCO threat as "lacking respect for democracy." Residents of Dresden, the capital of Saxony, voted for the bridge to relieve road congestion in a 2005 referendum.