Landcare Germany (DVL)
Landcare Germany (DVL – Deutscher Verband für Landschaftspflege) was established in 1993. DVL is the non-profit umbrella organisation of over 200 Landcare Associations in Germany. Trademark of Landcare Germany as well as its members is the cooperation between local land users, nature conservation organisations and municipalities on a voluntary basis. Each of these groups is represented on the association’s board by the same number of people and has an equal say (one-third parity).
Landcare Germany represents the interests of its Landcare Associations on a national level and functions as a platform for the exchange of practical knowledge.
Landcare Germany introduces expert knowledge within the field of landcare into all sectors of agricultural and regional policy. Thereby, it focuses on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) – first pillar – and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) – second pillar. Biological diversity, climate protection, water protection and soil protection constitute central contents of Landcare Germany´s work.
Key objectives of Landcare Germany are the cooperative implementation of Natura 2000, biodiversity strategies of Germany and its federal states as well as the European Water Framework Directive.
One-third parity
Landcare Germany´s unique characteristic of one-third parity is an equitably and fair construction which creates trust: the umbrella association as well as the Landcare Associations form a voluntary association of equals who engage in the fields of agriculture and forestry, nature conservation and politics who advocate for the cultural landscape and regional diversity.
Guiding principle
You can retrieve Landcare Germany´s Guiding principle here.
Executive Board
Maria Noichl MEP
Dr. Gerhard Bronner
Deputy Chairman
Chairman of Landesnaturschutzverband Baden-Württemberg
Ute Grothey
Deputy Chairwoman
Farmer
Deputy Managing Director of LPV Landkreis Göttingen e. V.
Board
Andreas Bergmann (agriculture)
Farmer
Executive Board of LPV Prignitz-Ruppiner Land
Volker Diefenbach (politics)
Mayor of the municipality of Heidenrod
Chairman of LPV Rheingau-Taunus
Prof. Dr. Kai Frobel (nature conservation)
Initiator of the “Grünes Band” nature conservation project
Deputy Chairman of LPV Mittelfranken
Deputy Chairman of LPV Frankenwald
Honorary Professor at the University of Bayreuth
Gerd Kämmer (nature conservation)
Spokesperson for the Federal Expert Committee on Biodiversity (Bioland)
District Nature Conservation Officer for Schleswig-Flensburg
Board member of Bunde Wischen eG
Sebastian König (nature conservation)
Managing Director of BUND Thüringen
Heinrich Meusel (agriculture)
Farmer
Managing Director of HEU-HEINRICH GmbH & Co. KG
Dr. Regina Ostermann (nature conservation)
Deputy Chairwoman of the Board of Stiftung Deutsche Landschaften
Managing Director of LEV Ortenaukreis
Karolin Pilz-Rieche (agriculture)
Agricultural adviser
Kai Pönitz (agriculture)
Farmer
Teacher for vocational schools
Volkmar Viehweg (politics)
Mayor of the municipality of Stützengrün
Chairman of DVL-Landesverband Sachsen
Chairman of LPV Westerzgebirge
Former members
2024: Dr Manuela Rottmann (politics) resigned from her position on the Board with effect from November 25, 2024.
2025: Romuald Bittl (politics) passed away on November 24, 2025
The Honorary Chairpersons
Josef Göppel
Honorary Chairman
† April 13, 2022
Founding Chairman of Landcare Germany (DVL)
Founding Chairman of the Board of Stiftung Deutsche Landschaften
Founding Chairman of LPV Mittelfranken
On September 20, 2022 DVL General Assembly elected Josef Göppel as Honorary Chairman.
Florian Meusel
Ehrenvorsitzender
Founding Chairman of LPV Thüringer Wald
Chairman of the Board of Stiftung Deutsche Landschaften
On September 26, 2023 DVL General Assembly elected Florian Meusel as Honorary Chairman.
