The National Park Association turns 25
What’s so special about it? A club is celebrating its 25th birthday. It happens every day. Is correct! But the Association of Friends of the German-Polish European National Park Unteres Odertal eV is something special. Founded soon after the reunification of Germany by conservationists, local politicians, pastors, scientists and industrialists, it brought a lot of money to the region, above all interesting people, ministers, heads of government, including WWF President Prince Philip. The association has acquired a lot of land and leased it in accordance with nature conservation requirements, it actively supported the development of the Unteres Odertal International Park and promoted ecological agriculture. All of this happened as part of his civic commitment as a voluntary, charitable work. At the same time, many permanent jobs were created in this area.
Admittedly, the National Park Association was not always the favorite of the rulers in Potsdam, but neither did it want to be. Resistant to soil, yes, as he is, it was always about getting the best for the people of the region, but also for nature, for animals and plants that otherwise have no supportive representatives and lawyers, straightforward, indomitable, incorruptible and consistently.
Not everything was successful and perfect, but a lot has been set in motion. We look back and forward with gratitude to the next 25 years.
All of this wants and should be celebrated on Tuesday, November 14th, 2017. First with a congress “Eagle over Europe” in the Brandenburg Academy of Criewen Castle from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Then with a musically diverse, ecumenical creation service in the medieval village church in Criewen, followed by a vernissage opening on the subject of “Cradle of the Wilderness” by the Berlin painter Maria Bahrdt and finally, of course, with a hearty ceremony with short, crisp and beautiful speeches Music. The keynote address will be held by Dr. Paul A. Engstfeld, from 1990–1994 the 1st State Secretary in the newly founded Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Regional Planning of the State of Brandenburg (MUNR), who was largely responsible for the development of the national park region. At the time he came to Potsdam from the European Parliament and brought the European spirit, European parliamentarians and, ultimately, European money with him to the East. That is why the theme of the evening is both current and historical, “Europe and nature conservation”, which will also be addressed by other guests from Brandenburg state politics. In addition to Dr. Paul Engstfeld, Vice President of the Brandenburg State Parliament, Dieter Dombrowski (CDU) and Axel Vogel, Chairman of the Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen parliamentary group in the Brandenburg State Parliament. The journalist Eckhard Fuhr (FAZ / Die Welt) will moderate the event.
The board of directors