Fellows and Alumni
Fellows
Transfer projects of fellows 2026-2027
Projects of fellows 2026-2027
Mohammad Abdel Latif Alaqra', The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (Jordan)
Mentors: Ibrahim Al Hasani (BirdLife International); Nashat Hamidan (The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature)
Tina Anić, ENOVA, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mentors: Irem Silajdzic (ENOVA); Emina Sunje (University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina); Kasandra-Zorica Dropuljić (The Nature Conservancy)
Islam Annamamedov, Conservation X Labs (Turkmenistan)
Mentors: Christian Welscher (Michael Succow Foundation); Jumamyrat Saparmuradov (National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna under the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan; National focal point for the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora); Tatjana Rosen (Convention on Migratory Species; Central Asia Program at Conservation X Labs)
Aynura Babaliyeva, WWF-Azerbaijan
Mentors: Aurel Heidelberg (WWF Germany); Giorgi Beruchashvili (WWF-Caucasus Programme Office, Georgia); Konul Ahmadova (WWF-Azerbaijan)
Gantulga Bayandonoi, WWF-Mongolia
Mentors: Chimeddorj Buyanaa (WWF Mongolia); Ivana Šarić Kapelj (CEE Bankwatch Network); Markus Radday (WWF Germany)
Irina Grigoryeva, Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan
Mentors: Aibek Samakov (University of Central Asia); Alyona Krivosheyeva (Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan); Dag Encke (Tiergarten Nürnberg)
Maria Gurscaia, European Ranger Federation (Republic of Moldova)
Mentors: Erika Vaida-Bela (ProPark Foundation); Michael Großmann (Co-Founder of the European Ranger Federation)
Levon Harutyunyan, Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology (Armenia)
Mentors: Luba Balyan (Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia); Stoyan Nikolov (Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds); Tsovinar Hovhannisyan (Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets)
Inga Jurin, Dalmatian Islands Environment Foundation (Croatia)
Mentors: Marko Pećarević (Myrmex Consulting); Taida Garibović (GAIA consultancy in nature conservation)
Bakhromjon Kholkhujaev, Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change Republic of Uzbekistan,
Mentors: Luiza Mardonova (National Climate Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan); Rustam Murzakhanov (Michael Succow Foundation)
Burcu Lacin Alas, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye
Mentors: Nandintsetseg Dejid (Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Germany); Prof. Irfan Kandemir (Ankara University); Petra Kaczensky (Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences)
Belma Nahić, Forestry and Environmental Action (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Mentors: Ajla Dorfer (Forestry and Environmental Action); Anja Salzer (Agentur trotzdem consultancy)
Mara Ioana Nilca, WWF-Romania
Mentors: Camelia Ionescu (WWF-Romania); Iulia Puiu (WWF-Romania); Jens Wunderlich (Michael Succow Foundation)
Dossymzhan Nurmagambetov, Forestry and Wildlife Committee, Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Mentor: Andrey Kim (Committee of Forestry and Wildlife, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan), Stephanie von Meibom (TRAFFIC)
Aida Papikyan, Acopian Center for the Environment at American University of Armenia
Mentors: Arsen Gasparyan (American University of Armenia, Acopian Center for the Environment, Akian College of Science and Engineering); Tamar Pataridze (Caucasus Nature Fund)
Nino Peradze, WWF-Caucasus Programme Office (Georgia)
Mentors: Archil Guchmanidze (Flora and Fauna Georgia); Matt Spencer (WWF-UK)
Tamar Uguzashvili, SABUKO (Georgia)
Mentors: Luna Milatovic (IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group); Mariam Archuadze (SABUKO)
Xeniya Zyukova, Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan
Mentors: Gankhuyag Purev-Ochir (Mongolian Bird Conservation Center); Ilya Smelansky (Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan)
Gulnura Zhumabai kyzy, Ilbirs Foundation (Kyrgyzstan)
Mentors: Michael Hotte (Wildlife Conservation Society); Zairbek Kubanychbekov (Ilbirs Foundation)
Transfer projects of fellows 2023-2025
Projects of fellows 2023-2025
Javokhir Abdukhalikov, Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Mentors: Jakhongir Talipov (Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan);Umberto Gallo-Orsi (Coordinating Unint of Raptors MoU, Convention on Migratory Species UNEP-CMS)
Iryna Burbylo, Frankfurt Zoological Society in Ukraine
Mentors: Vasyl Mochan (Frankfurt Zoological Society Ukrainian Carpathian programme); Leonardo Bereczky (Center for the Rehabilitation of Orphan Bears (Romania)
Barbora Chmelova, Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic
Mentors: Eliska Rolfova (Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic)
Dunja Delic Božic, Wise for Nature (Croatia)
Mentors: Zeljka Rajkovic (freelance); David Tidhar (Masdar - Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company)
Anastazija Dimitrova, Hans Em Faculty of Forest Sciences, Landscape Architecture and Environmental Engineering (North Macedonia)
Mentors: Prof. Dr. Dana Dina Kolevska (Hans Em Faculty of Forest Sciences, Landscape Architecture and Environmental Engineering, North Macedonia); Prof. Dr. Petar Jelev (University of Forestry Sofia, Bulgaria)
Mihaela Fratila, World Wide Fund for Nature Romania
Mentors: Cristina Iliescu (Transylvanian Highlands – Ecotourism Destination); Tibor Hartel (Cluj-Napoca University)
Jonáš Gaigr, Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic
Mentors: Karel Chobot (Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic); Radek Hejda (Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic)
Martina Hervat, Public Institution Brijuni National Park (Croatia)
Mentors: Karla Fabrio Čubrić (Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Croatia); Andrej Sovinc (IUCN WCPA)
Volha Kaskevich, Estonian University of Life Sciences
Mentors: Raymond D. Ward (Estonian University of Life Sciences); Miguel Villoslada Peciña (University of Eastern Finland)
Nana Khelkhelauri, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia
Mentors: Teona Karchava (Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia); Nika Malazonia (Michael Succow Foundation)
Marija Lekic, Center for Protection and Research of Birds (Montenegro)
Mentors: Stefan Ferger (EuroNatur); Mate Zec (The Nature Conservancy TNC)
Andrijana Micanovic, Montenegrin Ecologists Society
Mentors: Vuk Iković (Independent environmental protection expert and member of the project team for the establishment of the Natura 2000 ecological network in Montenegro.); Diyana Kostovska (Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation)
Mirzonazar Mirzoev, Tajikistan Nature Foundation
Mentors: Khalil Karimov (International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation); Stefan Avramov (Rewilding Europe, Rewilding Rodopes, CEEweb for Biodiversity)
Niloufar Raeesi Chahartaghi, Sunich Group (Iran)
Mentor: Dr. Neda Kardooni (CEO and founder of the non-governmental organization "Nedaye Tose'e”), Katrin Parvanova
Gulshad Shagiakhmetova, Ministry of Natural Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Mentors: Khalilulla Sherimbetov (State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Ecology and Environmental Protection); Sergey Zagrebin (Manager of GEF/UNDP/Ministry of ecology of the Republic of Uzbekistan "Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support GBF-EAS")
Kenzhekan Sultanbaeva, Ilbirs Foundation (Kyrgyz Republic)
Mentors: Zairbek Kubanychbekov (Ilbirs Foundation Public Fund); Tanya Rozen (Central Asian Programs for Conservation X Labs)
Madina Tauyekelova, Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan ACBK
Mentors: Alyona Krivosheyeva (Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan); Matt Lowton (Fauna and Flora International)
Alona Varukha, Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve (Ukraine)
Mentors: Oleksandr Borsuk (Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve); Anja May (Nationale Naturlandschaften Germany)
Mergen Yusupov, Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan
Mentors: Dr. Jumamyrat Saparmyradov (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Protection, Turkmenistan); Fariza Adilbekova (Convention on Migratory Species UNEP-CMS)
Transfer projects of fellows 2020-2022
Projects of fellows 2020-2022
Nadia Alekseeva, Directorate of Protected Areas of Saint Petersburg (Russian Federation)
Mentors: Nino Natsvaladze (Department in the Directorate of PAs of St Petersburg); Stella Vareltzidou (Freelance consultant /CCNet, Thessaloniki; formerly Axios River Mgmt Authority)
Maya Ashirova, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (Turkmenistan)
Mentors: Aknabat Potayeva (Kopetdag Strict Nature Reserve); Tobias Garstecki (Freelance consultant); Rejepgeldy Amanov (Division of the Environment Protection and Hydrometeorology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Protection)
Boris Bozic, Milvus-Environmental Consultancy (Croatia)
Mentors: Huria Ogbamichael (Freelance change management consultant; Berlin); Dr. Gesa Geissler (TU Berlin)
Nona Budoyan, Ministry of Environment of Republic of Armenia (Armenia)
Mentors: Dr. Astghik Danielyan (GIZ Armenia);Dr. Lydia Slobodian (Serova, Washington, D. C.); Arsen Gasparyan (WWF Armenia)
Maya Eralieva, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (Kyrgyz Republic)
Mentors: Ruslan Mamyrov (Freelance economist and natl. expert in TP topic); Dr. Timm Tennigkeit (Unique forestry and land use GmbH, Freiburg)
Taida Garibovic, NATURA-JADERA public institution for management of protected areas in the County of Zadar (Croatia)
Mentors: Dr. Ivana Zubak Čižmek (University of Zadar); Anne Schierenberg (Nationale Naturlandschaften e. V., Berlin)
Asli Gemci, European Climate Foundation (Turkey), volunteer to WWF Turkey
Mentors: Sejal Worah (WWF India)
Siavash Ghoddousi, Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainability (Iran)
Mentors: Delaram Ashayeri (Department of Environment, IRoI); Julia Laux (Federal Agency for Nature Conservation Germany); Dr. Mahmood Soofi (Department of Cultural Heritage, IRoI)
Neza Hervatic, Municipality of Ankaran (Slovenia)
Mentors: Barbara Švagelj (Landscape Park Debeli Rtič); Mosor Prvan (WWF Adria)
Zerrin Karaaslan, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks (Turkey)
Mentors: Dr. Şerife Sertkaya (MoE, Planning Division for Protected Areas); Gernant Magnin (Freelance/CCNet, Hilversum); Dr. Nilgül Karadeniz (Ankara University)
Luna Milatovic, International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation - CIC Hungary (Hungary)
Mentors: David Mansell Moullin (Coordinator, Sustainable Wildlife Management; SWM); Dustin Gilbreath (Caucasus Research Resource Centre )
Rustam Murzakhanov, Michael Succow Foundation
Mentors: Bert Lenten (Freelance consultant; ex-AEWA, ex-CMS); Kirk Olson (WCS Mongolia); Mariya Gritsina (MSF/Research Institute of Zoology in Uzbekistan)
Ivana Saric Kapelj, Association Biom (Croatia)
Mentors: Marija Jurčević (BirdLife Europe); Marianne Carter (FFI, Cambridge)
Bogdan Vykhor, World Wide Fund for Nature Ukraine (Ukraine)
Mentors: Dr. Vasili Kostiushyn (Department of Animal Protection and Monitoring, National Insitute of Zoology); Kai Elmauer (Elmauer Institute)
Alumni Network
An important aspect of the Klaus Toepfer Fellowship Programme is its active network of close to 120 alumni from 30 countries. The Alumni network opens up opportunities for cooperation between alumni, their institutions, the programme countries, German institutions, trainers and mentors as well as strategic partners.
Alumni activities are planned and implemented jointly by fellows and the organizers of the programme.
Alumni reunions are an important element of the alumni network. Five alumni meetings have taken place so far, in 2015, 2017, 2023 and 2025 in Germany, and in 2019 in Georgia. In those meetings, participants continue learning on management skills by attending advanced level trainings, e.g. on media skills, negotiation and conflict resolution. They also engage in networking and peer coaching, reflecting their professional situation and the framework conditions for nature conservation in their region.
Alumni are also already involved in the Klaus Toepfer Fellowship Programme as mentors for the transfer projects of the current fellows and as ambassadors for the recruitment of further fellows.
