Germany Is Turning 62 military Bases Into Wildlife Sanctuaries

20 June 2015

 - They were once military bases at the centre of a 50-year war between the world’s two superpowers. They will soon become a haven for rare birds and other animals.

The German government has announced plans to convert 62 disused military bases just west of the Iron Curtain into nature reserves for eagles, woodpeckers, bats, and beetles.

Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks said: “We are seizing a historic opportunity with this conversion — many areas that were once no-go zones are no longer needed for military purposes.

“We are fortunate that we can now give these places back to nature.”