Bavaria designates almost 60,000 hectares as natural forest.
There is great demand for more wilderness. Many animals, plants, and fungi depend on having large contiguous habitats where natural processes can take place undisturbed. Humans, too, feel a need to experience nature in its wild form – in places that are within easy reach. Germany offers a wide range of fascinating landscapes – from its coasts in the north to the Alps in the south. However, the country is densely populated and criss-crossed by roads. This makes it all the more pressing to preserve the last remaining intact natural landscapes for future generations.
And it is why we are supporting the creation of new wilderness areas on former military training grounds in Brandenburg and Thuringia. We are advising our partners there and providing funding for the local wilderness projects by supporting land purchases, for example. In the Wispertaunus region in Hesse, we are safeguarding natural forests close to Frankfurt am Main by linking up existing protected areas within the forest.
We have launched the Wildnis in Deutschland (“Wilderness in Germany”) initiative which gives us considerable leverage with regard to political decision-making. The alliance of 20 conservation organizations also pools its information and experience in managing wilderness areas. We coordinate activities and provide advice, especially to smaller initiatives that are campaigning for wilderness areas in their local region.
- We establish and extend protected areas
- We advise and support wilderness initiatives
- We influence decision-makers
- We finance and mediate the purchase of wilderness areas
- We train young nature conservation professionals
- We support wilderness research
11/29/2022Press release
Frankfurt Declaration: Together for Biological Diversity
11/29/2022Press releaseFrankfurt Declaration: Together for Biological Diversity
Ahead of the UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal: A call for science, politics, business, and civil society to join forces for nature-positive corporate action.
10/30/2022Project update
A boost for future conservation project leaders
10/30/2022Project updateA boost for future conservation project leaders
Three Frankfurt Spring School students won awards that will help push their conservation projects forward.
10/30/2022Press release
FZS Executive Director Dr. Christof Schenck receives German Environmental Award
10/30/2022Press releaseFZS Executive Director Dr. Christof Schenck receives German Environmental Award
The biologist, conservationist, and executive director of the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), Dr. Christof Schenck, was awarded the German Environmental Prize 2022.


Kellerwald-Edersee National Park expanded by approximately 2,000 hectares.

Bavarian Forest National Park grows by 600 hectares.

Wilderness in Germany initiative publishes “Wegweiser zu mehr Wildnis” (“Guide to More Wilderness”).

Hesse designates large areas of natural forest e.g. in Wispertaunus.

Foundation of Hunsrück National Park.

FZS Wilderness in Germany project starts work.

Start of the large-scale Hohe Schrecke nature conservation project.

Establishment of the Brandenburg Wilderness Foundation.