Large-scale resettlements in the face of solastalgia and solatium – The roller coaster ride of property rights in the Rhenish lignite mining area

Over the past decades, 50 villages in the Rhenish mining area of Germany have been abandoned due to lignite mining. This paper, using a mixed-methods approach, examines the consequences of these resettlements. The methodology includes a content analysis of legal documents, policy papers, court rulings, judicial commentaries, and secondary literature. Additionally, interviews, surveys, and workshops were conducted between 2021 and 2023. The study focuses on the land acquisition process in several affected villages and how residents were compensated for their losses. It critically evaluates whether the principle of social compatibility achieved its intended goals. The situation in these areas is unique, as some villages initially designated for removal were later spared due to revised mining plans. Two theoretical concepts are discussed: solastalgia, which describes the relationship between ecosystem health and human well-being and explaining the psychological impact of these turbulent experiences; and solatium, an international concept used to compensate for emotional distress and pain caused by losing one's home. Although solatium does not exist in German law, the paper shows how stakeholders sought to mitigate economic and emotional harm through an innovative compensation approach combined with participatory measures. • The transformation process in the Rhineland was marked by uncertainty. • Courts and policymakers prioritized environmental arguments over property rights. • The concept of the public good cannot be definitively defined by law. • Monetary compensation cannot fully prevent feelings of solastalgia.