Stiftung Naturlandschaften Brandenburg – Die Wildnisstiftung

Stiftung Naturlandschaften Brandenburg – Die Wildnisstiftung (the Brandenburg Natural Landscapes Foundation – The Wilderness Foundation) is a German non-profit foundation dedicated to securing and protecting large wilderness areas in the state of Brandenburg. It was founded on 16 May 2000 by a coalition of private and public founders, making it Germany's first nature-conservation institution created jointly by private and public founders with a supra-regional and even international character. Its founding deed was signed on 5 November 1999 by the Brandenburg Ministry of Agriculture, Environmental Protection and Spatial Planning, the Zoological Society Frankfurt, NABU, WWF Germany, the Landschafts-Förderverein Nuthe-Nieplitz-Niederung e.V., and private donor Marlene Bensinger. The Gregor Louisoder Umweltstiftung joined as a co-founder in 2007. The foundation's core mission is to acquire and permanently protect valuable natural landscapes on former military training grounds and to leave them to natural succession (wilderness development). On 80 percent of its land, no maintenance or development measures take place; these areas are dedicated to wilderness development. The foundation owns and manages more than 15,150 hectares across four former military training areas: Jüterbog (Forst Zinna; 7,200 ha), Heidehof (Fläming; 4,180 ha), Lieberose (East Brandenburg Heath and Lake District & Spreewald; 3,150 ha), and Tangersdorf (Uckermark; 670 ha). These areas were used militarily from Prussian army times until the withdrawal of the last military users, the Western Group of CIS forces, in 1992. Since then, large, largely unfragmented and ecologically valuable natural landscapes have developed, including wet meadows and moors, heathland, dune landscapes and forests, home to numerous endangered animal and plant species such as the wildcat, wolf and white-tailed eagle. Since its founding, the foundation's work has expanded from land acquisition and management to include research, environmental education, wilderness experiences, and partnerships in regional development projects around the wilderness areas. It implements coordinated wildfire protection concepts to increase safety, protect surrounding areas, and keep munitions-contaminated core zones free from intervention. It is a signatory of the Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft (Transparent Civil Society Initiative) and is a member of several umbrella organizations including the Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen, Nationale Naturlandschaften, Deutscher Naturschutzring, Initiative Wildnis in Deutschland, and Netzwerk Nationales Naturerbe. The foundation is legally seated in Stücken in the Potsdam-Mittelmark district, with its office in Potsdam and field offices near the areas in Jüterbog and Lieberose. It is governed by a foundation council (Stiftungsrat), a foundation board (Stiftungsvorstand), and a foundation advisory board (Stiftungsbeirat). Hubertus Meckelmann was the first chair, followed by Friedrich-Wilhelm Ulmke in 2018. Hans-Joachim Mader led the foundation council until 2016, when Christof Schenck succeeded him. Since 2015 there has been a full-time management, taken over by Andreas Meißner; since June 2022 he and Antje Wurz have led the foundation. From July 2024, the council appointed Antje Wurz and Andreas Meißner as the executive board of the Wildnisstiftung.

The Stiftung Naturlandschaften Brandenburg was founded on 16 May 2000 in Potsdam, jointly by private and state founders. It is Germany's first nature conservation institution created jointly by private and public founders with a supra-regional and even international character. The founding deed was signed on 5 November 1999 by the Brandenburg Ministry of Agriculture, Environmental Protection and Spatial Planning (2.6 million DM), the Zoological Society Frankfurt von 1858 e.V. (2 million DM), NABU, WWF Germany, the Landschafts-Förderverein Nuthe-Nieplitz-Niederung e.V., and private donor Marlene Bensinger (these four together donated 0.22 million DM). In 2007, the Gregor Louisoder Umweltstiftung joined as a co-founder. Further organizations and individuals have supported the foundation through donations and project-related funding since then. Since its founding, the foundation has pursued the goal of permanently securing valuable natural landscapes on former military training grounds for nature conservation and leaving them to natural succession (wilderness development). On 80 percent of the foundation's land, no maintenance or development measures take place; these areas are dedicated to wilderness development. For the safety of people and for nature and species protection, coordinated wildfire protection concepts are implemented on the natural areas. The aim is to increase safety during wildfires, protect surrounding areas from fire spread, and keep munitions-contaminated wilderness areas in the core zones of nature conservation areas free from intervention. Since 2000, land acquisition and management of the wilderness areas were the primary focus. In the meantime, the scope of tasks has expanded to include research, environmental education and experiencing wilderness, as well as partnership in regional development projects around the wilderness areas. The foundation is a signatory of the Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft. The foundation's areas on former military training grounds are located near Jüterbog (Forst Zinna; 7,200 hectares), Heidehof (Heidehof; 4,180 hectares), Lieberose (3,150 hectares), and Tangersdorf (670 hectares). In total, the foundation owns and manages areas of over 15,150 hectares. The foundation's areas were partly used militarily from Prussian army times until the abandonment of the last military use by the Western Group of CIS forces in 1992. Large-scale, largely unfragmented and ecologically valuable natural landscapes developed (wet meadows and moors, heathland, dune landscapes and forests) with numerous endangered animal and plant species. The legal seat of the foundation is Stücken in the Potsdam-Mittelmark district; the office is in Potsdam, and field offices near the areas exist in Jüterbog and Lieberose. Through advisory boards with representatives from all adjacent municipalities, the population's influence on the foundation's activities is enabled. The foundation has three bodies: the foundation council (Stiftungsrat), the foundation board (Stiftungsvorstand), and the foundation advisory board (Stiftungsbeirat). After the founding, Hubertus Meckelmann took over the chairmanship of the foundation, and Hans-Joachim Mader led the foundation council. The foundation pursues the vision: "We, the Stiftung Naturlandschaften Brandenburg – Die Wildnisstiftung, protect large wilderness areas so that nature can develop freely there. In doing so, we promote biological diversity, climate protection and the preservation of our livelihoods. We give Brandenburg's wild natural treasures space and time to develop and convey to people the meaning and beauty of wilderness." Mader was succeeded by Christof Schenck in 2016. In 2018, Meckelmann handed over the foundation chairmanship to his previous deputy Friedrich-Wilhelm Ulmke. Since 2015 there has been a full-time management of the foundation, taken over by Andreas Meißner. Since June 2022, he and Antje Wurz have led the foundation. Until June 2024, an honorary board managed the foundation's business. From July 2024, the council appointed Antje Wurz and Andreas Meißner as the executive board of the Wildnisstiftung. Important projects include the Ecological Corridor South Brandenburg, Pyrophob, Wildnis im Dialog (on behalf of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation in cooperation with the Zoological Society Frankfurt), the Wilderness Conference, and Wilderness Ambassadors. The foundation is a member of the Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen, Nationale Naturlandschaften, Deutscher Naturschutzring, Initiative Wildnis in Deutschland, Netzwerk Nationales Naturerbe, Lokale Aktionsgruppe (LAG) RUND um die Fläming-Skate e.V., and Naturwelt Lieberoser Heide GmbH (formerly I.N.A. Lieberoser Heide GmbH).

• 2024

  From July 2024, Antje Wurz and Andreas Meißner appointed as executive board.

• 2022

  Since June 2022, Andreas Meißner and Antje Wurz lead the foundation.

• 2018

  Friedrich-Wilhelm Ulmke succeeds Hubertus Meckelmann as chair of the foundation.

• 2016

  Christof Schenck succeeds Hans-Joachim Mader as chair of the foundation council.

• 2015

  Full-time management introduced, taken over by Andreas Meißner.

• 2007

  Gregor Louisoder Umweltstiftung joins as a co-founder.

• 2000

  Foundation established on 16 May 2000 in Potsdam.

• 1999

  Founding deed signed on 5 November 1999 by private and state founders.

Germany's first jointly private-public nature conservation foundation; one of the largest private owners of wilderness areas in Germany; focused on permanent wilderness protection, biodiversity, climate protection, and environmental education.

• Wilderness areas on former military training grounds

  Over 15,150 hectares across Jüterbog, Heidehof, Lieberose, and Tangersdorf, left to natural succession.

• Wildfire protection concepts

  Coordinated wildfire protection systems implemented with districts, fire brigades, forestry, and nature conservation experts.

• Environmental education and guided excursions

  Guided excursions and hiking trails make the beauty and fascination of the landscapes experienceable.

• Research projects

  Participation in projects such as PYROPHOB and Waldbrand Klima Resilienz.

1. 1Wildnis schützen | Stiftung Naturlandschaften Brandenburgwildnisstiftung.de
2. 2Wildnis? Aber sicher! | Die Wildnisstiftungwildnisstiftung.de
3. 3Stiftung Naturlandschaften Brandenburgde.wikipedia.org
4. 4Stiftung Naturlandschaften Brandenburgwikidata.org