Honouring Environmental Excellence
For many years now, the EuroNatur Award Ceremony has taken place at Mainau Castle.
© Peter SchmengerThe EuroNatur Award for Environmental Excellence shall honour an outstanding commitment in the field of nature conservation, the preservation of our environment, environmental education and the support of sustainable development. The award shall be presented to personalities who have committed themselves in an exemplary manner to the preservation of natural resources over a long period of time.
The EuroNatur Award for Environmental Excellence was awarded for the first time in 1992. Ever since several outstanding public figures have been honoured for their private, social, economical or political activities in the field of nature conservation. The festive award-ceremony accompanied by an international public relations campaign emphasized the merits of the laureats and the special needs of nature conservation.
Proposals for the EuroNatur Award for Environmental Excellence can be made by environmental NGOs, the members of the board of trustees and the chairmanship of EuroNatur, former prize winners and in special cases national and regional governments. Self-nomination is not possible.
List of Laureates
2024
German agronomist and non-fiction author Dr. Anita Idel for her high personal involvement for an animal-friendly and nature-compatible agriculture.
2023
The Save the Rivers Coalition Koalicja Ratujmy Rzeki. Outstanding commitment to protecting free-flowing rivers in Poland and dedicated cross-border cooperation.
2022
Antje Grothus, Fedir Hamor and the nature conservation initiative Free Svydovets. Outstanding engagement for the protection of Europe's last natural and old-growth forests - under the most difficult conditions.
2021
The researchers of the World Biodiversity Council IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services). Outstanding engagement for the protection of biodiversity and the environment.
2020
The municipality of Mals in South Tyrol. Tireless commitment to sustainable agriculture without pesticides.
2019
The “Brave women of Kruščica”, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Extraordinary courage and perseverance in protecting their river.
2018
Roberto Epple, President of the European Rivers Network. Outstanding commitment to the protection of European river landscapes.
2017
Gudrun Steinacker, former ambassador in Montenegro. Outstanding commitment for the protection of Salina Ulcinj.
2016
Gabriel Paun, founder and president of the Romanian NGO Agent Green. Outstanding commitment for the protection of Romania's primeval forests.
2015
Jonathan Franzen, best-selling US author and passionate bird-watcher. Outstanding commitment for bird protection in Europe.
2014
Hnutí Duha (Friends of the Earth Czech Republic) is one of the leading nature conservation NGOs in the Czech Republic, outstanding commitment for the protection of Šumava National Park/ European Green Belt.
2013
Dr. Mario Broggi, forestry engineer and ecologist. Outstanding dedication for the protection of European natural heritage.
2012
Dagi Kieffer (deceased January 2021), founder of the German Foundation for Ecology & Farming. Outstanding dedication for organic farming.
2011
Goran Gugic, Croatian conservationist and EuroNatur partner. Outstanding commitment for the protection of Sava and Danube floodlands.
2010
Dr. Ernst Paul Dörfler, conservationist and author from Eastern Germany, especially championing for the protection of Elbe floodlands.
2009
Island of Tilos (Dodecanese). The award was accepted by mayor Dr. Anastasios Aliferis on behalf of the citizens of Tilos.
2008
Prof. Dr. Herbert Sukopp, professor emeritus for ecosytem research at the Technical University of Berlin
2007
Luc Hoffmann, MAVA Founder and President Emeritus of MAVA Foundation
2005
Roland Emmerich, film director and producer
2005
Dr. Hans Bibelriether, former director of Bavarian Forest National Park (deceased 2025)
2004
Nelson Mandela, first democratic president of South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize winner 1993 (deceased 2013)
2003
Michail Gorbatschow, former president of the Soviet Union and Nobel Peace Prize winner 1990 (deceased 2022)
2002
His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales (since 8 September 2022 Charles III)
2001
Karl Ludwig Schweisfurth, founder of the Schweisfurth-Foundation and entrepreneur (deceased February 2020)
2000
Volker Angres, Head of Environmental Department, ZDF (German TV)
2000
Prof. Dr. Ernst Waldemar Bauer, nature documentary producer (deceased 2015)
1999
Prof. Dr. Klaus Töpfer, former Executive Director of the UnitedNations Environment Programme (UNEP) (deceased 2024)
1998
Matthias Platzeck, Prime Minister of Brandenburg
Other EuroNatur-Award winners:
1997 Prof. Dr. Bernhard Friedmann, former President and Member of European Court of Auditors - 1996 Arnulf Müller-Helmbrecht, General Secretary of the Bonn Convention and Ulf Doerner, engineer for environmental technology - 1995 Prof. Dr. h.c. Dieter Stolte, Director of Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (German television channel) (deceased December 2023) - 1994 Jürgen Weber, Chairman of the Board of Deutsche Lufthansa - 1993 Matthias Kleinert, former General Manager of Political and Foreign Affairs of DaimlerChrysler - 1992 Eco-city partnership Sersheim (Germany) / Canale (Italy)