The Environment Chronicle

The Bundesverband Bürgerinitiativen Umweltschutz e.V (Federal Association of Environmental Action Groups) is the umbrella organization of environmental action groups in Germany. Since its foundation on 24 June 1972, by groups campaigning for environmental protection, the BBU has become a vital force in the development of the green and peace movements in Germany.

The Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU) was established by a charter of the Federal Ministry of the Interior on December 28, 1971 (GMBI 1972, No. 3, page 27), as part of the federal government's environmental programme of October 1971. The SRU was constituted and commenced operation in 1972. It consists of seven university professors from a range of different environment-related disciplines. The members of the Council are appointed by the German government for a four-year period. The interdisciplinary SRU is fully independent to determine the focus and scope of its reports.

The Advisory Scientific Council (SRU) is constituted by a government decree under the first environmental programme, to provide scientific advice for the government. Its brief is to present and evaluate the environmental and relevant political trends and situation in Germany, as well as to point out policy failures and potential remedies. It publishes a biannual report, and may also publish further reports and expert opinions on specific issues, if this is considered necessary by the council or requested by the environment minister.

Greenpeace has c. 2.9 million members worldwide. Its goals are conserving biodiversity and preventing pollution and climate change. It organises campaigns on climate, overfishing, trawler fishing, commercial whaling and marine pollution, as well as protection and sustainable use of tropical rain forests.

FoEI is an umbrella organisation for 57 national NGOs. The German NGO is BUND. The group's goals are the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. It concentrates on tropical rain forests, the oceans and climate change.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or sometimes USEPA) is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress. The EPA was proposed by President Richard Nixon and began operation on December 2, 1970.

The first environmental ministry at state (Land) level is set up in Bavaria.

The Federal Home Office gains a department of the environment.

The Club of Rome is founded to debate emerging global problems. The key impulse came from Aurelio Peccei (1908 - 1984), along with Alexander King, Dennis Gabor, and later Hasan Ozbekhan.

Naturopa is an organ of the Council of Europe (all its member states are also members of Naturopa). Its particular goal is to improve public awareness of the environment and nature conservation in Europe.

The European Diploma of Protected Areas is a prestigious international award granted since 1965 by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to protected, natural and semi-natural areas and landscapes of special European importance for the preservation of biological, geological and landscape diversity. The Diploma is awarded to protected areas because of their outstanding scientific, cultural or aesthetic qualities, but they must also be the subject of a suitable conservation scheme. The first areas to be awarded the Diploma were the Camargue National Reserve (France), the Peak District National Park (United Kingdom) and the Hautes Fagnes Nature Reserve (Belgium).

The World Wide Fund (as it is still known in USA and Canada) is founded. It now has 4.7 million members (individual and organisations) worldwide. Its goals are the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity, through conservation of species and habitats, and changes in consumer behaviour.

The Economic Commission for Europe is responsible for a great many fundamental environmental agreements, especially on air quality, water quality, industrial waste and environmental impact assessments.

NABU (then the BfV) starts a campaign against destruction of the countryside through land clearance.

The "Verein Naturschutzpark" sets up a protected nature park on the Lüneburg Heath.

Prussia sets up a State Office for the Care of Natural Heritage.

The Emscher cooperative is founded to regulate sewage treatment in the Ruhrgebiet. Similar cooperatives follow: Ruhrverband, Lippeverband, Niersverband, Wupperverband.

NABU (then the BfV) starts a campaign to save the yellow-billed egret and the bird of paradise, which are hunted for their feathers (for use in women's hats).

The "Society for Protection of Birds" (BfV) is founded by Lina Hähnle. In 1906, members of the aristocracy are successfully recruited, including the kings of Sweden, Rumania and Bulgaria, the royal couple in Wurttemburg, as well as most German Counts. US president Wilson joins in 1912, when the society gains charitable status. In 1934, the Forestry Minister orders it to be renamed the "Imperial Society for Protection of Birds" (RfV). After 1945, the society rebuilds in West Germany with its former name, becoming the "German Society for Protection of Birds" (DBV) with its White Stork logo in 1966, while the East German society is first subsumed under the GDR Cultural Society. After reunification, the society merges with the GDR Conservation Society to form the German Nature Conservation Society (NABU). After 100 years, NABU has 225,000 members, organised in some 200 local and youth groups, as well as 15 regional (Land) societies.

The first allotment club founded in Leipzig. The first major allotment parks are created in 1870.