Local nature conservation: Turning to nature at the general meeting in Marktoberdorf!

Local nature conservation: Turning to nature at the general meeting in Marktoberdorf!

The annual general meeting of the Association for Nature Conservation took place in Marktoberdorf on November 28th, 2025, which was opened by chairman Josef Kreuzer. Numerous members and friends did not miss the opportunity to find out about the association's current projects and challenges. Harald Jungbold, who has been working as an area representative for a year, vividly presented 55 properties, totaling 60 hectares, which belong to or are leased to the Federal Nature Conservation Association.

The affiliated local groups are responsible for most of these areas and receive valuable support in management as well as purchasing and leasing matters. As part of this, work assignments are also organized, such as the care of buckthorn trees in the Hertinger Moos in cooperation with the Mammut company. A special highlight was the purchase of an ecologically valuable property on the Huttlerweiher. In addition, a bushy meadow in Pfronten is used for grazing by donkeys. Students planted fruit trees and berry bushes on a plot of land donated in Füssen.

Insights into the activities of the Federal Nature Conservation Association

As part of the meeting, Harald Jungbold presented impressive pictures of plants and butterflies that can be found in the protected areas. The lecture gave a deep insight into the diversity of nature and the importance of nature conservation. A central issue for 2025 will be the activity to prevent the four-lane expansion of the B12. The deputy chairman Thomas Reichart reported on the fifth Radl demonstration, which is directed against this expansion, and the discussion about this controversial project is gaining momentum.

The government of Swabia has already published a planning approval decision on climate protection, and the estimated costs for the Buchloe to Marktoberdorf section are around 471 million euros. Overall, the costs for the B12 expansion could even reach around one billion euros. Despite these enormous sums, there is still a lawsuit against the expansion that is being maintained.

Commitment and successes in nature conservation

Another notable aspect of the Federal Nature Conservation Association's commitment is the UMO environmental education program. In recent years, 64 measures have been implemented at 61 schools in Ostallgäu and Kaufbeuren. The amphibian collection saved an impressive 24,636 frogs, common toads and newts in over 1,455 hours. For these achievements, thanks went to the employees and volunteers who tirelessly support nature conservation work.

The activities of the Federal Nature Conservation Association are in line with the funding projects of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), which supports projects in the areas of nature conservation and landscape conservation. This support comes from the Federal Environment Ministry, which provides a variety of funding programs. Anyone who is interested in such projects can seek advice and find out about various options, which are available in the federal funding database.

Back in Rust, where the Rheinauen Nature Center also focuses on protecting and maintaining natural habitats, it becomes clear that nature conservation is a shared task in which many people participate. By initiating and implementing species and biotope protection projects, we actively contribute to the preservation of biodiversity. Projects like the little owl project encompass many building blocks of a strategy that takes both nature and citizens into account.

Thanks to the commitment of everyone involved, it is clear that nature conservation is not just a task for individuals, but involves the community as a whole. That simply makes it strong and gives hope that future challenges can also be overcome.