Nationwide working group of state-sponsored educational institutions in nature and environmental protection

The German Nationwide working group of state-funded educational institutions in conservation and environmental protection (BANU) is an association of eleven German country - environmental education centers , "guest members" are the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) called Branch International Academy for Nature Conservation Vilm (INA) and the Department of II 1.2. in Bonn and the Ministry of Urban Development and Environment , Department Environmental Education, Department of Sustainability from Hamburg (end of 2016).

organization

The chairmanship changes periodically among the educational institutions, at the end of 2016 the Academy for Nature and Environmental Protection Baden-Württemberg held it; The BANU maintains a central office in the Hessen Nature Conservation Academy in Wetzlar .

activity

Under the umbrella of the BANU, more than 2,000 seminars , congresses , symposiums and workshops as well as excursions take place annually nationwide in the various regions of the Federal Republic under the motto "Education offensive for more environmental awareness - ecological basic education helps secure the location of Germany " .

In cooperation with EUROPARC Germany , the Association of German Nature Parks (VDN), the Bundesverband Naturwacht e. V. as well as the working group for nature and environmental education Germany e. V. (ANU) is offering a course "Certified nature and landscape guide with BANU certificate".

Currently (end of 2016) the BANU is running a campaign “BANU - against right-wing extremist ecological claims”.

Guidelines for nature and environmental education for the 21st century

In October 1996 the association published a six-title catalog of the "Guidelines for Nature and Environmental Education for the 21st Century":

“Environmental education is a lifelong learning process. Environmental education is everywhere and always - it has to penetrate awareness even more and decisively influence action. "

“Environmental education offers visions for sustainable development . Nature and environmental protection face the new tasks and demands. "

“Environmental education expands its content. Our modern educational offer must extend from species protection to sustainability . "

“Environmental education uses new methods and instruments. From lecturing and teaching to acting in a way that is compatible with nature and the environment with pronounced environmental skills. "

“Environmental education offers partnership. Together we are strong - with new partners we can achieve even more. "

“Environmental education offers exemplary environmental education facilities. Further development is our chance. "

German nature experience day

On the initiative of the BANU against the " erosion of environmental knowledge in the population", the nationwide day of action "German Nature Experience Day " has been taking place since 2006 :

Sometimes over several days or a week, numerous events and hands-on activities take place in the individual German federal states , organized by the various environmental academies or other environmental education institutions of the various federal states and their respective partners, in order to discover the nature that surrounds us, to get to know better, knowledge gain over her and possibly develop a relationship with her. One focus is on self-organized hikes , "adventure tours", guided tours, etc., whose dates, contents, etc. can also be posted on the respective websites and thus made public; In addition, advertising materials are also created as a service and a small expense allowance may be reimbursed for instructors, lecturers, etc. on the proven successful implementation .

In 2015 the nature experience day took place on May 3rd, in Baden-Württemberg alone around 4,000 people took part in over 260 activities; In 2016, the Nature Experience Week was celebrated in Baden-Württemberg from April 30th to May 8th, and in 2017 it will take place in Baden-Württemberg from May 6th to 14th.