Wilderness Development in Germany (Wilderness Fund)

The funding program “Wilderness Development in Germany (Wilderness Fund)” of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) supports the development and permanent protection of large-scale wilderness areas nationwide. In line with the National Strategy on Biological Diversity, it significantly contributes to achieving the two-percent wilderness target by ensuring natural processes are permanently maintained in selected forests, moors, or floodplains. Funding is provided as grants and can cover up to 100 percent of eligible costs, including costs for land acquisition, ancillary acquisition costs, consolidation and expansion of existing areas, as well as the acquisition of usage rights or financial compensation payments for permanent renunciation of use. The call for proposals is open until December 31, 2030; applications must be submitted via the electronic form system easy-Online.

Eligible to apply are natural and legal persons under private and public law, as well as associations of persons with headquarters in the Federal Republic of Germany, including owners of suitable forest, moor, or floodplain areas, foundations, nature conservation organizations, cooperatives, companies, interest groups, as well as other non-profit or commercial entities. A prerequisite for funding is the real security of conservation objectives through registration in the land register or a priority notice of conveyance no later than the calendar year following approval. Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH provides professional support for the projects, assists with the application process, and accompanies implementation and evaluation to ensure long-term wilderness development and to raise public awareness of untouched nature.