20 Years Global Nature Fund & Living Lakes Network

1998 - 2018: Milestones and Highlights

 
From Lake Constance into the World
Dangerous terrain: Lake St. Lucia in South Africa.
 

1998  

 

On April 29, the Global Nature Fund (GNF) is recognized as a non-profit foundation.


On June 11, the GNF officially establishes the Living Lakes Network in Los Angeles with the aim of protecting the habitats and drinking water resources of lakes and wetlands worldwide.

1999  

 

The GNF coordinates and organises the Living Lakes Network. Two international Living Lakes Conferences take place at Lake Constance (Germany) and at Mono Lake (USA).

2000

 

The GNF presents a solar boat for the use in the tourism sector powered by renewable energy at the EXPO world exhibition in Hanover.

 

St. Lucia Wetlands Park receives UNESCO World Heritage status.

 

The 5th Living Lakes Conference takes place at Lake Biwa in Japan.

2001

 

The 6th Living Lakes Conference takes place at Lake Baikal in Russia.

 

Start of the three-year project "Living Lakes: Sustainable management of wetlands and shallow water lakes" as part of the EU LIFE programme.

2002

 

The 7th Living Lakes Conference takes place at Lake St. Lucia in South Africa in the context of the UN Environment Summit.

Group photo during the 3rd Living Lakes Conference at Mono Lake
EXPO 2000 - Gerhard Thielcke and
Ecological cooking at Lake Biwa
Klaus Töpfer as speaker at the 7th Living Lakes Conference
 
Summer Camp at La Nava, Spain
Nestos Lakes, Greece
Group photo at Lake Constance as part of the EU Life Project
 

2003 

 

The "Nature Summer Camps" take place for the first time.

 

The 8th Living Lakes Conference takes place in the Broads in the UK. The report on climate development and its effects on lakes and wetlands is presented by the Tyndall Center.

2004

 

Lake Chapala in Mexiko is the first lake nominated as "Threatened Lake of the Year".

 

The 9th Living Lakes Conference takes place in the Columbia River Wetlands, Canada.

2005

 

Threatened Lake of the Year is Lake Victoria in East Africa.

 

Start of the project "Solar energy for fishing families" at Lake Victoria.

 

The 10th Living Lakes Conference at Laguna de Bay in the Philippines is dedicated to the topic "Protection of densely populated lake regions".

 

The Columbia River Wetlands in Canada receive the Ramsar conservation status. GNF receives the UN Decade of Education and Sustainable Development Award for the first time.

 

Start of cooperation with Sika AG

2006

 

Threatened Lake of the Year is the Dead Sea in the Middle East.

 

Start of the three-year Post Tsunami Project in Sri Lanka with the establishment of tree nurseries and the reforestation of mangroves.

 

The Laguna Atotonilco in Mexico receives the Ramsar protection status.

 

Start of the Living Lakes Network Eastern Europe (DBU Project).

 

The 11th Living Lakes Conference takes place at Lake Poyang in China.

2007

 

The GNF joins the German Climate Alliance.

 

Threatened Lake of the Year is the Pantanal Wetland in South America.

 

Start of the Living Lakes Network in Italy.

 

GNF receives the UN Decade of Education and Sustainable Development Award for the second time.

 

Start of the project "Trees for Life" in South Africa for reforestation and poverty reduction.

 

The Living Lakes Network has now 50 members.

 

Barton Boardwalk, Great Britain
Columbia River Wetlands in Canada
Renewable energies at Lake Victoria in Kenya
Floating houses in the Philippines, field trip during the 10th Living Lakes Conference.
Fishing boats in the Philippines.
Training course at Wollmatinger Ried as part of the DBU Project.
The Pantal Wetland is one of the most species-rich areas in South America.
 
Living Lakes Conference in Canada
Laguna Fúquene in Colombia
First African Regional Conference in 2005
 

2008

 

Threatened Lake of the Year is the Mahakam Wetland in Indonesia.

 

Lake Tengis in Kazakhstan becomes an UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.

 

The "Economy and Biodiversity" Campaign aims to encourage companies to become more sustainable.

 

In September the 10th anniversary of the Living Lakes network is celebrated at the 12th LL Conference in Italy.

2009

 

In January, the Living Lakes Network East Africa is founded.

 

Threatened Lake of the Year is Lake Atitlán in Guatemala.

 

Lake Chapala in Mexico is declared as a Ramsar sanctuary.

 

Start of the Living Lakes Network Germany in September.

2010

 

On first January 2010, the European "Business & Biodiversity" Campaign starts.

 

Threatened Lake of the Year is Lake Pulicat in India.

 

13th Living Lakes Conference "Lake and Wetland Management - Challenges in a Changing World", Mexico.

 

Start of the Living Lakes Network Canada (LLNC).

2011

 

Threatened Lake is the Laguna de Fúquene in Colombia.

 

The first "Living Lake of the Year" is Lake Plauer, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany.

 

The Living Lakes Network is awarded the UN Decade Project for the years 2012/2013.

 

Marion Hammerl, President of the Global Nature Fund, receives the Special Prize International Press Trophée de femmes 2011 from the Foundation Yves Rocher in Paris.

2012

 

Threatened Lake is Lake Titicaca in Bolivia and Peru.

 

Living lake is Lake Stechlin, Brandenburg, Germany.

 

Marion Hammerl receives the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in Schloss Bellevue.

 

Living Lakes Network is distinguished as "One of the ten best ideas for nature conservation" in Spain.

 

The Living Lakes Network has grown to now 102 members.

Foundation of the Network Living Lakes Germany, September 2009
Group photo of the 12th Living Lakes Conference in Italy.
European Business and Biodiversity Campaign
Marion Hammerl during the 13th Living Lakes Conference in Mexico.
Village community in front of a well in Nimbo, Ivory Coast
Training environmental awareness in a tree nursery in India
Marion Hammerl receives the Federal Cross of Merit.

© Presse- und Informationsamt der Bundesregierung

 
Groundwater Fountain in Ivory Coast
Biodiversity in viticulture
Energy-efficient clay stoves are produced in Burundi and save wood and costs.
 

2013

 

Threatened Lake is Winnipeg Lake, Canada.

 

Living Lake is Lake Mindel, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

 

Living Lakes Network - One of the three finalists in Category I "Best Water Management Practices" as a part of the UN Water Decade "Water for Life" Best Practice Programme.

 

The Living Lakes Network is nominated for the UN Decade Project for 2014 for the fifth time in a row. In addition, the Living Lakes network is distinguished as an official measure of the World Decade by the National Committee of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.

 

Accession to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

2014

 

Threatened Lake are the Seven Crater Lakes (Sampaloc) of San Pablo City, Philippines.

 

Living Lake is Chiemsee, Bavaria, Germany.

 

The Okavango Delta in Botswana is declared the 1,000th UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

14th Living Lakes Conference "Lakes in densely populated regions - Balance between people and nature" in Nanchang, China

 

GNF joins Fairtrade Germany / TransFair e.V. - Association for the Promotion of Fair Trade in the One World.

2015

 

Threatened Lake is Hovsgol Lake, Mongolia.

 

Living Lake is Lake Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany.

 

Somkhanda Game Reserve - one of the greenest holiday destinations

The GNF project region in South Africa has received awards, as have the Living Lakes partner regions of Mono Lake, Okavango Delta, Madampe Lake Region, Lake Võrtsjärv and Lake District National Park.

 

The green filter plant in the municipality of San Miguel de Sema (Colombia) is awarded the first prize of the XII. Planeta Azul Awards.

 

In recognition of their efforts to advance the restoration of the Lower Jordan, EcoPeace is one of three finalists in the Thiess International River Prize.

 

The project "Natural design of company premises" is awarded project of the week in the context of the UN Decade of Biological Diversity 2011 - 2020.

 

The project "Biodiversity on campsites in Germany" is awarded project of the week within the framework of the UN Decade of Biological Diversity 2011 - 2020.

2016

 

Threatened Lake is Lake Tonle Sap, Cambodia.

 

Living Lake is Lake Constance, Baden-Württemberg.

 

Presentation of the UN Decade Award to the "Living Lakes Germany Network" project at the Radolfzell Nature Conservation Days by the Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann.

 

Start of the project "Biodiversity criteria in standards and labels of the food industry".

 

ECOVIN receives award as a project of the UN Decade of Biological Diversity for its joint commitment to greater biodiversity in ecological viticulture from the Lake Constance Foundation, Global Nature Fund and ECOVIN.

 

GNF becomes member of the Permaculture Advisory Board.

2017

 

Threatened Lake is Lake Tanganyika, located in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Tanzania.

 

Living Lake is Steinhuder Meer, Lower Saxony, Germany.

 

The GNF project "Combatting deforestation by planting trees and introducing improved cooking facilities in Burundi" is the national winner of the Energy Globe Award Burundi.

 

The GNF project "Green Filters - Innovative and Cost-Effective Wastewater Treatment Plants" is the national winner of the Energy Globe Award Colombia.

 

Lake Tota in Colombia is named one of the 2017 Sustainable Destinations Top 100.

2018

 

Threatened Lake is Madampe Lake and Bolgoda Lake, Sri Lanka.

 

Living Lake is Upper Swabian Lakes, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

 

Lake Mindel in Germany
Biodiversity - Water birds on the Steinhuder Meer, Germany
Network Meeting at Plöner See, Germany in 2017
Intact forest near Stechlinsee, Germany
Elephants at a waterhole in Tanzania.
Plants are introduced into the channels of the green filter in Susa, Colombia.
Green filter in the municipality of Susa, Colombia.
Presentation of the UN Decade Award to the "Living Lakes Germany Network" project at the Radolfzell Nature Conservation Days by the Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann.
Sustainable cultivation of food is one of the topics that the GNF accompanies in various advisory boards.
Fishing boats at Lake Tanganyika
Green filters also provide habitats for plants and animals, and additionally purify the incoming wastewater.
Field trip during the 14th Living Lakes Conference in China.
 
Intact mangrove forests are of immense importance for the climate and for the protection of the coasts.
The cross-border protection of rhinos is implemented with partners in Africa.
Permaculture is carried out on a number of cultivated areas.