The programme also included a visit to the Wahner Heide national natural heritage. Most of the Wahner Heide area used to be military training grounds.

In recent decades, important habitats have been created and preserved there. In order to secure these habitats in the long term, the German government has transferred them to DBU and its subsidiary DBU Naturerbe GmbH as ‘national natural heritage’. The non-profit natural heritage subsidiary of the DBU – German Federal Environmental Foundation is committed to securing 66 mostly large-scale natural heritage sites covering over 70,000 hectares for long-term nature conservation throughout Germany. 

The Federal Forests Division Bundesforst, part of the Federal Real Estate Agency (BImA), is an important partner in the management and conservation of these areas. On site, the alumni were able to exchange ideas with experts of these institutions. The BfN also values the excellent cooperation with these experts.