German Survey on Nature Awareness 2019

The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety runs a survey on nature awareness among the German population every year. In this article, we bring you last year’s results, which have been published recently in a joint statement with Nationale Naturlandschaften e.V. – EUROPARC’s German Section.

Germans in support of Protected Areas, against genetic engineering

The Nature Awareness Study 2019 shows an increase in nature awareness among the German population and highlights the important role of Protected Areas. Some of the most notable findings unveil that the German population is supportive of Protected Areas and against genetic engineering in agriculture.

Nationale Naturlandschaften e. V. was invited to contribute to the federal press conference, along with Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze (listen to her statement here) and the President of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) Prof. Dr. Beate Jessel. The latter expressed her support to an investment package for Protected Areas and a boost in the recruitment of their staff.

The Nature Awareness Study 2019 shows an increase in nature awareness among the German population and highlights the important role of Protected Areas.

Source: Naturbewusstsein 2019

Peter Südbeck, Chairman of the Board of Nationale Naturlandschaften e. V. and Director of the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park, discussed the significance of the EUROPARC’s German Section for nature awareness in Germany and the important role that national parks play in terms of nature dynamics and wilderness.

As a practitioner himself, Mr. Südbeck also addressed the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic on everyday reality in Protected Areas. He emphasised the importance of high-quality Protected Area management and raising the profile of Germany’s rangers as mediators between men and nature. Listen to Peter Südbeck’s statement here!

If you understand German, download the joint press release and the Nature Awareness Study 2019, a Summary Paper and Peter Südbeck’s statement.