Living Lakes was founded in 1998 by the international environmental foundation Global Nature Fund (GNF). During this period, the Global Nature Fund has mobilized over 25 million euros from public and private sources to support the implementation of practice-oriented projects that link indigenous and local communities with environmental protection and nature conservation. The international network promotes the protection, restoration and sustainable use of lakes and wetlands – for example in northern Mongolia or in the highlands of Guatemala. Local people, often vulnerable population groups, are always at the center of the measures. The Living Lakes Secretariat in Radolfzell on Lake Constance organizes various measures for knowledge and technology transfer as well as international conferences and webinars.
The largest current project is the Living Lakes Biodiversity and Climate Project (LLBCP). Together with twelve partner organizations, GNF is implementing water and biodiversity protection measures in ten countries at a total of 13 lakes and wetlands: from the development of sustainable fishing and agriculture in and around the lakes to reforestation and the restoration of important ecosystem functions to the establishment of management plans.
Goals
Protection and restoration of damaged and threatened threatened ecosystems im context of wetlands and lakes
Safeguarding and improving the quality of life localr communities in these regions.
Model projects for conservation of the biodiversity of wetlands, lakes and lake regions and their their ecosystem services.
Impacts
100+
international events successfully implemented.
150
WaterOrganisations supports
Approx. 2,500
Lake managers trained and involved
Impressions
Contribution to the sustainability goals
Latest news
© Andy Arbeit Unsplash
EUROLakes: Three New Partners for the Protection of European Lakes
Three initiatives aimed...
UN World Lakes Day on August 27, 2026: GNF and Living Lakes Nominate India’s Sundarbans
UN World Lake Day...
17th International Living Lakes Conference 2026: Heading to India and the Sundarbans
17th International...
Off to the Wild Islands of the Danube: RAMSAR Traveling Exhibition in the Lech-Danube Corner
Off to the Wild Islands...
Contact persons
Project partners
Nagenahiru Foundation
EMACE Foundation
Autoridad Binacional Autónoma del Lago Titicaca (ALT)
Instituto Corazón de la Tierra
Action for Environmental Sustainability (AfES)
Fisheries Action Coalition Team (FACT)
Fundación Global Nature España
Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS)
Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands (SCPW)
Lake Constance FoundationLake Constance
Fundación Humedales
Nature Environment & Wildlife Society (NEWS)









