Association participation 4.0

Environmental associations have an important role to play in incorporating nature conservation concerns into infrastructure and construction projects through their involvement in planning and approval procedures. To date, this role has been fulfilled primarily by the large associations, such as BUND and NABU. It is more difficult for the 83 small and medium-sized environmental and nature conservation associations recognized in Germany. According to Section 64 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), environmental and nature conservation associations are entitled to submit expert opinions on around 1000 major infrastructure plans each year. The 83 small recognized associations often lack the capacity to exercise this right. Many of the small associations have not yet built up a sufficient network of experts or corresponding voluntary structures. The participation activities of environmental and nature conservation associations can be supported through digitalization, the recruitment of new volunteers and increased cooperation between different associations. The predecessor projects “Association Participation 2.0” and “Association Participation 3.0” have already driven this forward for the major environmental associations in three federal states. As part of the “Association Participation 4.0” project, a nationwide network is now to be developed that also includes the 83 small and medium-sized environmental organizations. The aim is to join forces in order to meet the high technical and organizational requirements for exercising their participation rights. The focus is on initiating systematic volunteer management for association participation activities and promoting cooperation between volunteers with the support of web-based applications and self-explanatory training courses.