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
10/29/2021Blog
Dr. Christof Schenck awarded One World Medal
10/29/2021BlogDr. Christof Schenck awarded One World Medal
On October 28, 2021, the German Development Minister, Dr. Gerd Müller, presented the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) One World Medal to FZS Executive Director Dr. Christof Schenck.
03/12/2021Project update
COVID-19 pandemic impacts on FZS supported sites
03/12/2021Project updateCOVID-19 pandemic impacts on FZS supported sites
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused negative impacts to most places where FZS operates, but the crisis also provides valuable learnings and opportunities that could strengthen protected areas in the future.
01/14/2021Project update
Legacy Landscapes Fund promoted by Angela Merkel during the One Planet Summit
01/14/2021Project updateLegacy Landscapes Fund promoted by Angela Merkel during the One Planet Summit
During the One Planet Summit, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel stated that Germany will be contributing to protecting 30% of the planet’s land and sea using the ‘Legacy Landscapes Fund’, a joint initiative that includes FZS as one of the partner organizations.


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.