Global Nature Fund
The Global Nature Fund (GNF) is an international foundation for environment and nature, which was founded in the spring of 1998. The main office is located in Radolfzell am Bodensee, Germany. Other offices are in Bonn and Berlin. Since its inception, the GNF places worldwide for the preservation of lakes and other water ecosystems.
The network also founded in 1998, " Living Lakes / Living Lakes " is coordinated by the GNF. For once four founding members (Bodensee, Mono Lake in the United States, St. Lucia Lake in South Africa and the Japanese Lake Biwa ), the international network has grown to over 100 waters worldwide.
The Global Nature Fund realized a number of local projects with the active involvement of local residents in close cooperation with the partner organizations. Here, the GNF pursues the following main points:
Sustainable Development
The security of natural resources in developing countries is becoming increasingly important. Projects in the GNF people are always actively involved locally in the projects, whether in the sustainable fisheries in Indonesia, the construction of wetlands in Guatemala, in the mangrove restoration in India or in the provision of clean drinking water in Kenya.
Nature protection and biodiversity
With projects for rhino conservation in South Africa or the protection of the Baikal Seal in Russia, the world's GNF is committed to the conservation of biodiversity. In order to promote sustainable economic activity in Germany and Europe and to reduce the risks of economic activity on nature and the environment, the GNF collaborates with small and large companies.
Environmental Education
To inspire adults, children and young people in an exciting way for nature and the environment, is a further object of the GNF. The spectrum ranges from the establishment of conservation centers on environmental education events to an intensive public relations. For these environmental education programs Living Lakes has already won several awards as an official project of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.
Energy and Climate
The global commitment to climate protection includes besides forest protection and reforestation projects, for example in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Cambodia, the promotion of renewable energies. In the pilot project "Solar lamps for Kenya " environmental and health harmful kerosene lamps are replaced by climate-friendly solar lamps. In remote areas of Africa people are powered by solar stations with electricity and clean drinking water.
Living Lakes network
The Living Lakes network has now grown to over 100 members. The common goal is to be the protection of drinking water resources of our planet. According to the motto "Together we are strong" founded by a global network of national networks in Italy, Germany, Canada and China. Multinational networks exist in Latin America and East Africa.
Threatened Lake of the Year
In 2004, the GNF appointed for the first time on the occasion of the International Day of wetlands on February 2, a Threatened Lake of the Year, to draw attention to the acute situation in the respective waters.
Living Lake of the Year
On the occasion of World Water Day on 22 March is characterized GNF from a " living sea of the Year" in Germany. To environmental and conservationists put on these waters for the conservation of the ecosystem and biodiversity, and thus act the part of serious interventions in the natural environment and sustainable contrary.
2013: Mindelsee, Baden- Württemberg
2012: Stechlinsee, Brandenburg
2011: Plau, Mecklenburg- Vorpommern