Living Lakes Network Germany

Human beings have always been attracted and fascinated by lakes – and they continue to play an important role as habitats for countless animals and plant species, drinking water reservoirs, and also recreational areas. However, lakes in Germany are amongst the threatened habitats. This is where the "Living Lakes Network", established in 2009 by the Global Nature Fund - Internationale Stiftung für Umwelt und Natur, Radolfzell, comes in. Its network partners jointly implement pilot projects to promote sustainable development in the lake regions – with a view to protecting Germany’s lake regions so they remain healthy living environments over the long term. In 2016, the German government recognised the "Living Lakes Network" as an official project of the UN Decade on Biodiversity.

Since 2020, the German Eight team, which is based at the Rowing Performance Center in Dortmund, has been an ambassador of the "Living Lakes" network for at least four years. The annual network meetings with excursions will be supported by the Wilo-Foundation until 2024. The foundation also combines a traditional sponsorship with top-class rowing in Dortmund. In addition, it has been supporting international water projects of the Global Nature Fund - Internationale Stiftung für Umwelt und Natur, Radolfzell, for many years, including in Colombia, Jordan and Cambodia.

On the annual World Water Day (22 March), the network always awards a lake project the title of "Living Lake of the Year". The award is always given to environmental and nature conservation organisations that have successfully developed exemplary ideas for specific ecosystems and thus make an important contribution to environmental and water protection in Germany.

The Global Nature Fund, the Living Lakes Germany Network, the GRÜNE LIGA and the NABU Federal Committee on Living Lakes also invite you to lake conferences. In November 2024, the network's second lake conference brought together 80 experts from all over Germany.