The ”Landesbund für Vogelschutz in Bayern e. V.” (LBV), founded in 1909, is the oldest non-profit organisation  for nature conservation in Bavaria, Germany. It is the major organisation in Bavaria for the protection of endangered species and their habitats.
Since its foundation as an organisation for avian-protection 90 years ago the LBV has now evolved into a modern environmental association – state-approved, charitable and non-party. In cooperation with the “Naturschutzbund” (NABU), its partner, this independent Bavarian organisation exerts influence throughout Germany.

Facts
The approximately 60.000 members in Bavaria are subdivided in about 350 district groups, local groups and youth groups, working on a voluntary basis.
The LBV has assemblies in 75 rural districts – the biggest one is in Munich, which counts over 5.000 members. With its full time and voluntary employees, the Munich assembly gets involved with the protection of Munich’s nature and the environment in the city as well as its rural district.

Aims and strategies
The principal aim is to maintain the native fauna and flora by protecting their natural habitats. Strategies: Purchase and lease of threatened areas, habitat management, projects for preservation of species, nature research, statements on environmental impacts, political lobby work, public work, youth work, environmental education in schools and outside of schools.

  
Practical nature conservation  

• Conservation and creation of nature reserves for plants and animals by purchasing and leasing (1.800 hectares)

• nature reserves management

• elaboration of expertises on environmental impacts

• plantations, creation of wetland habitats and ponds, mowing of meadows etc.

• animal and plant census

• nest observation of endangered species

• development and realization of special projects for species preservation
  (i.e. white stork)

• development and realization of large projects with the European Union and the Federal Environment Ministry as well as the Federal State of Bavaria (re-naturalization of a fertile acre, restoration of mires etc.)

• development of concepts for a natural management of rural areas

Nature conservation policy

• Statements on submitted laws

• political lobby work

• information of the public by press, broadcast, television, as well as by brochures, leaflets and exhibitions

Environmental education/workshops

• organisation of workshops for professionals and non-professionals

• environmental programs for children and adults

• cooperation with teachers and schools

• organisation of events in the country and cities.

Naturschutzjugend im LBV  (LBV Youth Organisation)

The ”Naturschutzjugend” is very engaged in working for nature by organizing exhibitions and action camps, by taking measures for the protection of habitats and much more.
More than 1/5 of the members of the LBV are under 26 years and thus part of the “Naturschutzjugend”. Many of the 9.000 children and young people in approximately 130 children groups and youth groups are actively working in Bavaria.

Websites
www.lbv.de