Protected areas and cultural landscapes

The conservation and sustainable development of our National Natural Landscapes is the goal of protected areas such as national parks, UNESCO biosphere reserves or nature parks. In addition to the protection and development of nature and cultural landscapes, the actors in these areas are also active in the fields of nature-friendly tourism/local recreation, environmental education/education for sustainable and regional development. In 2015 UNESCO created the "Global Geoparks" category, which has similar objectives and activities.

We have been supporting protected areas for years with the research, development and evaluation of their model approaches. In addition, we are active in the participatory elaboration of development strategies and framework concepts as well as in advising protected areas.

In order to conserve our nature and cultural landscapes, one focus of our work is the development and implementation of "protection through use strategies". This goes hand in hand with the promotion of regional value chains, especially in the field of environmentally and nature-compatible products and services. The research, further development, implementation and evaluation of such approaches is a central component of our work.

Contact person at IfLS: Dr. Ulrich Gehrlein (gehrlein[at]ifls.de, 069/9726683-17)

Projects in the field

Concept and strategy development

Framework concept for the Biosphere Region Berchtesgadener Land

The reflection of the previous activities and developments in the biosphere region Berchtesgadener Land within the framework of the periodic review provides the perfect occasion to also set the course for a sustainable development of the region in…

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A new management plan for the nature park Kellerwald-Edersee

In accordance with the criteria for nature parks in Germany, the IfLS is preparing the first nature park management plan together with the Reinhardswald Nature Park after its foundation in 2017.

Beginning with existing data of the founding period, a…

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A new management plan for the nature park Kellerwald-Edersee

A management plan will be developed in the next year (2022/2023) for the almost 600 square kilometer area of the nature park Kellerwald-Edersee.

The task of this management park plan is to present the current situation of the nature park and to…

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Update of the Master Plan for the UNESCO Global Geopark Swabian Alb

One of the obligatory tasks of UNESCO Global Geoparks is to record the development planning of their areas in so-called management or master plans.

The UNESCO Global Geopark Swabian Alb has a master plan, which was drawn up in 2015 and provided the…

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Evaluation

Interim evaluation PLENUM Tübingen

[Translate to English:]

PLENUM stands for the state of Baden-Württemberg's project for the conservation and development of nature and the environment. The aim of the funding is a nature conservation-oriented regional development that ensures a sustainable and nature…

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Assessment for the evaluation of the performance of the landscape management associations in Saxony

In Saxony, 13 landscape maintenance associations (LPV) have been the point of contact and mediator for rural development and nature conservation projects for many years. By a cooperative approach, goals for nature conservation can be integrated in…

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Evaluation of the nature parks in Baden-Wuerttemberg

It is not only the task of nature parks to preserve the nature and environment. Furthermore, they are an important place for leisure and recreation.

Commissioned by the Ministry for Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection Baden-Wurttemberg, the IfLS…

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Evaluation of the Management of Austrian National Parks

[Translate to English:]

Together with EUROPARC Deutschland e.V., IfLS was appointed by the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMLFUW) and the Association of Austrian National Parks to evaluate the management of all Austrian…

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Consulting

Periodic review of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Rhön

The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Rhön was recognised by UNESCO in 1991 as a transnational biosphere reserve in Bavaria, Hesse and Thuringia, has already successfully passed two periodic reviews (2003 and 2013) and is now undergoing the third evaluation…

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Globally Sustainable Municipality Palatinate

The project "Globally Sustainable Community (GNK)" Palatinate supports municipalities in the Palatinate Forest in the local implementation of the 17 SDGs of the Agenda 2030. In this context, the IfLS Consulting and Projects in a cooperation with the…

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ESD platform of the Bergstrasse-Odenwald Geo-Nature Park

IfLS Consulting and Projects supports the UNESCO Global Geopark and nature park Bergstrasse-Odenwald in the initial development of its new ESD platform.

In 2022, the geo- and nature park developed a strategic didactic concept "Education for a…

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Periodic review of the Biosphere Berchtesgadener Land

Every ten years, UNESCO reviews whether their recognised biosphere reserves may also retain their designation. The biosphere region Berchtesgadener Land was recognised as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1990, successfully passed the first periodic…

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Research and development

NaBioKom: Nature parks and biosphere reserves as regional communication platforms for sustainable forest management

Diverse demands on the forest and uses are associated with different interests, including those of forestry and nature conservation actors, which require a fact-based dialogue. The goal of sustainable, near-natural forest management is to balance the…

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Quality management in German biosphere reserves - Further development of criteria, recommendations and implementation strategies – BRuNa-Q

The IfLS carries out the R&D project "Quality Management in German Biosphere Reserves - Development of Criteria, Recommendations and Implementation Strategies for the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN). The IfLS is working on the project in…

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Quality management and improvement of the German UNESCO biosphere reserves – Operationalization of National Recognition and Assessment Criteria for Sustainable Management

To be acknowledged as UNESCO biosphere reserve (BR), the BR have to fulfill a total of 40 criteria. These are so-called recognition criteria (A) and assessment criteria (B). On the one hand, specific structural and functional aspects of a BR are…

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National Natural Landscapes and renewable energies – NNL-EE

[Translate to English:]

Nature Parks and Biosphere Reserves as parts of the National Natural Landscapes (NNL) make up ca. 30% of the German territory. Changes in land use due to the expansion of renewable energies have to be weighed against protected natural resources, such…

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Information, knowledge transfer and education

Decision Support for the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in Protected Areas - SDGimp

The United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda aiming at peace, prosperity and the preservation of ecosystems and the climate. To reach the Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the agenda targeted action on the local level is…

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Participation processes, Moderation and Event Management

R+D project "Insect protection measures and potentials for those in large protected areas" (conference series)

The large protected areas cover more than 30% of the German federal territory. Here in particular, insect protection measures could have a measurable effect on the area, the improvement of biodiversity and consequently of insect protection. Since…

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Preparation of a nature park concept for the Rhine-Taunus Nature Park

With the support of the IfLS the Rhine-Taunus Nature Park will become the pioneer of Hessian natural parks: After its foundation in 1968, almost 50 years of natural park work will be drawn up and the first Hessian natural park concept will set the…

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Preparation of the management and nature park plan for the Bergstraße-Odenwald Geo-Nature Park

For the Bergstraße-Odenwald Geo-Nature Park, the IfLS develops a Geo-Nature Park Plan in the form of a management plan. This will meet both the requirements of the Association of German Nature Parks (VDN) for a nature park plan and the UNESCO…

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Preparation of a nature park plan for the Taunus Nature Park

With the support of the IfLS, the Taunus Nature Park is developing a new nature park plan. After its foundation in 1962, after almost 50 years of working in the nature park, a work package for the future will be put together from existing goals and…

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