Familie Werner und Anita Otto Stiftung

The Familie Werner und Anita Otto Foundation is the first German lake foundation of its kind. It was officially recognized on May 11, 2017, by the Ministry of the Interior and for Municipal Affairs of the State of Brandenburg (foundation register no. 236) and is a member of the Association of German Foundations. As a non-profit foundation under private law, it owns Lake Stolzenhagen and, according to its statutes, pursues the long-term preservation and protection of the lake, its shoreline, fauna and flora, as well as water quality. Its activities include ecological condition assessments, permanent monitoring stations for online recording of water temperature and water level, scientific depth profiles, and diving surveys of underwater vegetation. The foundation finances its work through lease income, donations, and reserves for special conservation purposes.

The foundation considers its central mission to preserve the Stolzenhagener Lake at least in its current ecological state and to prevent deterioration caused by overuse, eutrophication, or climate change. It acts in accordance with the EU Water Framework Directive, promotes proactive waterbody management, and relies on collaboration among the state government, district authorities, municipality, associations, organizations, businesses, and lakeside residents.

The funding and protection measures are aimed at all stakeholders who can contribute to the preservation of Stolzenhagener Lake: local residents and leaseholders, nature conservation associations, scientific institutions, municipal and state authorities, as well as children, adolescents, and adults within the framework of environmental education programs. The goal is to strengthen ecological awareness locally and promote sustainable actions.