Deutscher Verband für Landschaftspflege e.V.

Deutscher Verband für Landschaftspflege e.V.

LANDCARE GERMANY

Founded:

1993

National structure:

Umbrella organisation with 190 member organisations

Biogeographical regions covered:

Atlantic, Continental, Alpine

Collaboration with farmers:

10.000

Main activities:

• training of Landcare associations and support of founding new associations
• projects on rural development and the protection of biodiversity, climate, soil and water
• consulting of political stakeholders on the Common Agricultural Policy

Collaboration:

• with European countries: Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Rumania, Spain, Slovenia
• International cooperation with Satoyama Initiative and Landcare Australia

Landcare Germany is the umbrella organisation of 188 Landcare associations in Germany. They support measures that preserve and restore cultural heritage landscapes (semi-natural or man-made) with their biodiversity. These activities not only benefit nature conservation but also a better quality of life of the regional population and other living beings in Germany. Due to its parity of nature conservationists, farmers, and communities, Landcare associations have a huge local acceptance. Often, they act as mediators between different stakeholders, mostly in rural areas. Landcare associations inform stakeholders and interested parties about the current situation in the region, discuss fears and challenges, and seek solutions. This way Landcare Germany contributes to the implementation of EU environmental targets, such as set in the EU Habitats and Birds Directive, Water Framework Directive (WFD), as well as European, national, and local biodiversity strategies. Maintenance of these cultural heritage landscapes also generates local and regional products and markets and therefore revenue. Landcare associations work in collaboration with farmers to find ways that ensure a reliable farm income while also preserving and improving agriculture-dependent habitats and species. This includes habitats in catchment areas of rivers and water bodies to achieve the goals of the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

Landcare Germany has years of expertise in fostering exchange and bringing together Landcare organisations from different European countries. These exchanges have aimed to broaden knowledge and implementation of European Directives in cooperation with farmers. Thanks to its experiences and European connections Landcare Germany has the capacity to establish a formal Network Landcare Europe. Such a network at EU level will help to better implement the European Directives by fostering the individual organisations in their activities together with farmers and local communities. It can also guide new initiatives and the creation of new Landcare organisations.

Landcare Germany can count on the experiences of Global Landcare and the International Satoyama Initiative, of which it is a member. These two international organisations promote the principle to live in harmony with nature and ensure local wellbeing and nature conservation.

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