Stiftung für Ornithologie und Naturschutz

The Foundation for Ornithology and Nature Conservation (SON) was established in 2001 in Melle (Lower Saxony) and is recognized as a non-profit foundation under civil law. It promotes nationwide measures for the preservation and optimization of natural and cultural landscapes, the collection of baseline data for species and habitat protection, as well as environmental education. SON supports private individuals, initiatives, schools, and associations in implementing their own projects and carries out its own programs, particularly to promote natural dynamics in forest and open-land areas. Operations are predominantly voluntary; the board currently consists of Dipl.-Ing. Torben Fuchs, Florian Seifert, and Volker Tiemeyer.

The SON is committed to sustainably linking ornithology and nature conservation by promoting natural development processes in cultural landscapes and strengthening citizen participation. We believe that civic engagement and civil society responsibility are essential to advancing the protection of habitats and biodiversity in times of limited public funding.

The funding programs and projects of the SON are aimed at private individuals and initiative groups, municipal and school educational institutions, scientific organizations and students (e.g., for conducting theses on SON sites), as well as conservationists, farmers, and citizens who wish to actively participate in the management and preservation of habitats.