Unterhaching’s former mayor Erwin Knapek (SPD) has received the Bavarian State Medal for special services to the environment. The 79-year-old was presented with the award by Environment Minister Thorsten Faithr (FW), who honored a total of nine people in the former Dominican church in Bamberg. As mayor of Unterhaching from 1996 to 2008, Knapek worked to “reconcile the concerns of citizens and nature,” the laudatory speech said – for example when converting the Neubiberg military airport into a landscape park. “Thanks to your initiative, the people in Unterhaching and the surrounding area have access to a unique local recreation area and a retreat for the animal and plant world.” In addition, the trained physicist planned and built a geothermal power plant in the community. It was precisely in this area that Knapek, who now lives in Oberhaching, worked even after he left the town hall. The former mayor was President of the German Geothermal Association from 2013 to 2021.
Unterhaching: Knapek honored for services to the environment – district of Munich
