21 large and small nature conservation facilities from all over Germany entered the “Experience nature barrier-free” ideas competition – now eight winners from the North Sea coast to the shores of Lake Chiemsee have been chosen.
Radolfzell, 15.03.2023: The Global Nature Fund, Deutsches Seminar für Tourismus e.V. / Reisen für Alle, Nationale Naturlandschaften e.V. and the consulting firm Dr. Kai Pagenkopf congratulate the eight winners of the “Experience nature barrier-free” ideas competition as part of the “Nature without barriers!” project.
The winners are the Natura 2000 Information Center Haus der Flüsse in Saxony-Anhalt, the Märkische Schweiz e.V. Nature Conservation Park in Brandenburg, the Nagelfluhkette Nature Park in Bavaria, the Wasser Otter Mensch e.V. association in Schleswig-Holstein, the Zittauer Gebirge gGmbH Nature Conservation Center in Saxony, the Westhavelland Nature Park Center in Brandenburg, the UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea Visitor Center Cuxhaven in Lower Saxony and the Verein der Natur und Landschaftsführer*innen, Inn/Salzach e.V. in Bavaria.
“From the many good ideas for experiencing nature for everyone, we had to select eight particularly convincing ones. The many applications, feedback and further inquiries show how great the need for advice and support still is,” says Dr. Thomas Schaefer, Head of Nature Conservation & Living Lakes at the Global Nature Fund. The decision was difficult: a total of 21 applications were received from privately and publicly run nature conservation facilities throughout Germany – all with great motivation and good ideas on how to open up nature experience offers to everyone and break down communicative and physical barriers. It was not only the overall concept that was important to the jury, but also the fact that the maximum benefit was achieved for the applicants within the framework of the funding offered.
In the next step, the winners will receive professional advice on their facilities and concepts as well as 4,000 euros to realize their first ideas by the end of 2023. Barrier-free nature excursions, the development of tactile models and barrier-free adventure routes, a barrier-free otter picnic and the technical redesign for barrier-free access to information are among the selected measures.
The competition is over – now the work begins: for more nature without barriers. Stay up to date and follow further developments on the “Nature without barriers!” project website: https://www.globalnature.org/de/natur-ohne-barrieren
Background
The topic of barrier-free nature experience in nature conservation and environmental education facilities as well as in public guided tours is still not well established. There are many reasons for this. One is that there is not yet a sufficient range of training courses for the major educational institutions in environmental education. Accordingly, measures for barrier-free nature experiences in many nature conservation facilities in Germany remain the exception rather than the rule. Based on the experience of the last 10 years, the first step, which identifies possible adjustments and measures, is crucial. This step is to be supported in the “Nature without barriers!” project. The project pursues two main objectives: Conceptualization and implementation of accessibility & nature experience in the relevant educational systems in Germany and implementation of concrete measures for inclusive nature experience in nature conservation facilities as part of the ideas competition. The project is sponsored by the German Postcode Lottery and the HAKA Foundation.
Contact us
Global Nature Fund (GNF)
Dr. Thomas Schaefer
Head of nature conservation
Fritz-Reichle-Ring 4
78315 Radolfzell on Lake Constance
Phone: +49 7732 9995-89
schaefer@globalnature.org