Meeting of nature lovers: protection of the natural landscapes in Vogelsberg!

Meeting of nature lovers: protection of the natural landscapes in Vogelsberg!

On January 31, 2025, a nationwide meeting of the “Info Center” working group of the National Natural Landscapes alliance took place in Schotten. The host was the renowned Nature Park Vulkan region Vogelsberg, which was organizing the meeting in the volcano. At this annual event, the focus was on the exchange of information as well as lectures and excursions. Patrick Krug, the first district councilor and representative of District Administrator Dr. Jens Mischak.

around 28 representatives from different regions of Germany, from Cuxhaven to the southern Black Forest, took part in the meeting. The aim of the working group is to preserve nature in about a third of the area of ​​Germany. The Vogelsberg Nature Park, which was founded in 1956, is the first and oldest nature park in Germany. Originally shown as a landscape protection area, the area of ​​the park has now expanded to 90,000 hectares.

sustainability and nature experience

The Nature Park Vulkanregion offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including cross -country skiing, hiking and mountain biking. The region is known for its important natural areas such as the Natura2000 areas, mountain mowing meadows and the raised bog in the Breungeshainer Heide. These areas are part of the commitment to promote sustainable use and preservation of biodiversity, which is also part of the initiative of the national-naturlandschafts.de

At the moment, however, the nature park is faced with several challenges, including declining state funding, a shortage of skilled workers and changing expectations on the part of the visitors. The program of the meeting therefore also included a tour of the volcano and an excursion to the Hoherodskopf, while information about measures for keeping areas opened openly, the rewetting of bogs and the renaturation of waters were conveyed.

diverse offers and central topics

The numerous attractions that the park has to offer are particularly remarkable. These include hiking trails, swimming lakes, forest apprenticeships and excellent opportunities for sports such as fishing and riding. In winter, around 50 km of groomed trails and two ski lifts await visitors. In addition, the focus of the nature park is on nature and forest pedagogy, supported by facilities such as the nature conservation youth hostel at the Hoherodskopf and the nature park information center.

The participants of the meeting was also presented by the information mobile phone of the Habichtswald nature park, which serves as a good example of the transfer of information in the region. Lectures that contained experience reports from the Rhön on natural history information centers as well as the final lecture by Dr. Arne Lindemann, the head of the Brandenburg Museum Association, illuminated the width of the topics that are relevant for the representatives.

The role of quality offensive

The bfn.de calls the "quality offensive nature park", which in 2006 by the Association of Deutscher Naturparke e. V. was launched as a central instrument for promoting and improving work in the German nature parks. The aim of this initiative is to support the nature parks in the acquisition of financial resources and to facilitate exchange with decision -makers. In accordance with the quality offensive, nature parks can prove their services through points in order to advertise as a "quality natural park" or "partner quality offensive nature park".

Overall, the meeting in Schotten represents an important step in the joint effort to make the nature park in Germany future -proof and to master the challenges of the time, while the protection of the unique natural areas and cultural sites is put in the foreground. It remains to be seen how the presented concepts and initiatives are anchored in the practical implementation of nature park management.