Organization

We are what we do: we protect Europe’s nature

The protection of Europe’s wildlife, the preservation of its habitats and the provision of a nature-friendly economic perspective for local people – that’s what the people who work for EuroNatur constantly strive to achieve. Since the Foundation’s inception, we have established a powerful network of partner organisations, scientists and conservation practitioners.

In keeping with our motto “Connecting people and nature”, we promote sustainable development in rural areas, particularly in regions of Europe that are seldom the focus of media coverage. We work to gain acceptance and awareness of nature conservation as well as to establish long-term relationships and achieve success in our project areas.

We manage this work, through our team of project leaders and our public relations and administrative staff, from our office in Radolfzell, Lake Constance. We also have a small office in Brussels which enables us to be near to decision-makers and government officials.

EuroNatur’s team of employed staff is supported by the Presiding Committee and the Board of Trustees whose members serve in a voluntary capacity. Both boards are made up of dedicated and motivated people who are committed to the preservation of Europe's natural heritage. With their expertise, and sometimes decades of conservation experience, they support the Foundation in matters relating to EuroNatur’s strategic orientation and social anchoring.

In 1995, EuroNatur Foundation established a wholly owned subsidiary, EuroNatur Service GmbH - a limited company. This small but efficient service provider publishes and sells landscape and wildlife calendars, its own series of guidebooks on EuroNatur’s project regions as well as a wide range of other reference books and exclusive items. The products can be found in the company’s online shop. EuroNatur Service GmbH also coordinates the annual photography competition “Europe’s Natural Treasures" and supports the work of EuroNatur Foundation by providing administrative services.

A brief history of EuroNatur

EuroNatur is a non-profit foundation which was established in 1987 by Friends of the Earth Germany (Bund für Umwelt- und Naturschutz Deutschland, BUND), the Nature And Biodiversity Conservation Union (Naturschutzbund Deutschland, NABU) and Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe, DUH). During EuroNatur’s establishment phase, the “European house" was joined by countries such as Greece, Spain and Portugal. In those days, the burning question was, “the house is getting bigger, but who is going to look after the European garden?” EuroNatur’s founders recognised that driving forward positive developments in Germany alone would no longer be enough. And so the concept of a Europe-wide movement for a nature without borders was born.

Right from the outset, EuroNatur was very actively involved in Eastern and Southeastern Europe. Shortly after the Foundation’s establishment there were dramatic upheavals in the region and the fall of the Iron Curtain opened up opportunities for cross-border nature conservation. Through the “European Green Belt” initiative we succeeded in building a powerful network to protect the natural treasures along the Green Belt. The Balkan Wars in the 1990s also presented us with significant challenges. It is therefore all the more rewarding to see how, in recent years, people from formerly hostile countries have made contact with one another through our projects. Nature conservation is thus providing new opportunities for developing understanding and for sharing experiences across national borders.

Even though there is still much to be done, by working together with our partner organisations in EuroNatur’s project areas, and with the support of EuroNatur donors and sponsors, we have achieved a great deal for the preservation of Europe’s natural treasures and will continue to fight for Europe's natural heritage.