Wild treasures – nature on its way to wilderness
Germany can be really wild. It is a densely populated country, but still has some unique wilderness areas to offer.
Most of them are located within the country’s 16 national parks. In addition, there are more areas in Germany where nature takes its course. Foundations of our initiative ‚Wilderness in Germany‘ and also the federal states take care of those. Together, we make sure that Germany gets wild again.
This map presents only large areas with a consistent wilderness approach. The common understanding of wilderness of the ‚Wilderness in Germany‘ initiative, which is in line with the definition of wilderness of the ‚Wild Europe initiative‘, serves as a guideline for the areas overseen by nature conservation organisations. Amongst others, the following criteria should be met:
At least 1,000 hectares of continuous core zone available or planned (or 500 hectares for riparian forests, coasts and moors)
In the core zone, nature can take its course – without direct human intervention.
Interventions that are absolutely necessary reduced to a minimum (e.g. due to legal requirements, protection of adjacent cultural landscape, etc.)
Wilderness areas are permanently protected by law (e.g. through designation as a national park or nature reserve).
Many smaller areas, where nature takes its own course, are not shown on our map. Nevertheless, they are of crucial importance for the conservation of Germany’s biological diversity, not least to connect existing wilderness areas.
Please take a look at our map in German for up-to-date information.
