Financial Boost for Two Nature Parks in Saxony

Saxony is providing a financial boost to two of its three nature parks in the Free State. The Dübener Heide and Zittauer Gebirge Nature Parks will receive a total of 250,000 euros this year in addition to their basic funding, announced Minister of the Environment and Agriculture Georg-Ludwig von Breitenbuch (CDU) following the cabinet meeting in Dresden. The funds are intended to enable the two parks to expand their programs in the areas of education, public outreach, and regional development.

Inspiring young people to protect the environment

“The nature parks are indispensable partners in preserving our unique natural and cultural landscapes. With these additional funds, we are strengthening their role as regional platforms for education, sustainable tourism, and climate protection,” said the minister. Education for sustainable development, in particular, is a key building block for inspiring young people to protect the environment.

The district of North Saxony will receive 150,000 euros for the Dübener Heide. The district of Görlitz will receive 100,000 euros for the Zittauer Mountains. In the Dübener Heide, the funds will be used to create two temporary part-time positions focused on education.

In the Zittauer Mountains, the funding will support a project position focused on education and public relations to continue a model project for collaboration with schools and daycare centers. “In addition, funds are being allocated for the purchase of teaching materials and equipment, as well as for expanding signage to better inform visitors while also safeguarding the protected areas,” the statement said. The project “Designing Nature Park Schools in Saxony—Learning Globally, Living Locally” works in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs to teach children and young people about the importance of sustainability and a sense of place.

Nature parks cover 11 percent of Saxony’s total land area

There are three nature parks in Saxony: Dübener Heide, Zittauer Gebirge, and Erzgebirge/Vogtland, which together cover about 11 percent of the state’s land area. They are legally established model regions that combine nature conservation, sustainable tourism, education for sustainable development, and regional economic growth. The additional funding was approved by the Saxon State Parliament as part of the 2025/2026 biennial budget.

Developing Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change

Von Breitenbuch sees a particular challenge for the nature parks in developing adaptation strategies for climate change, managing visitor flows, and ensuring the protection of biodiversity. The annual base funding currently provided under Saxony’s Nature Conservation Act is not yet sufficient to fully fulfill these tasks.

According to the minister, the base funding for the Dübener Heide Nature Park amounts to 144,700 euros, for the Zittauer Gebirge Nature Park to 60,000 euros, and for the Erzgebirge-Vogtland Nature Park to 350,800 euros. The funds now allocated to the two nature parks were secured during the budget deliberations through an amendment proposed by the Green Party.

In the new biennial budget, the basic funding is to remain unchanged according to the government’s draft, von Breitenbuch emphasized. However, the additional 250,000 euros are to be divided among the three parks.

Dübener Heide Nature Park Spans State Lines

The Dübener Heide Nature Park is the only one of the nature parks that spans state lines. About half of it lies in Saxony and the other half in Saxony-Anhalt. Covering an area of about 770 square kilometers, it encompasses the region’s largest mixed forest. The river landscape between the Elbe and Mulde rivers is characterized by pristine bogs, heathland streams, and ponds. The region is home to cranes, white-tailed eagles, and many other animals.

The Zittauer Gebirge Nature Park opened in 2007 as Germany’s 100th nature park and covers an area of 133 square kilometers. This makes it the smallest nature park in Saxony, and it is located in the tri-border area of Saxony, the Czech Republic, and Poland. The area is characterized by bizarre sandstone formations and romantic valleys. Upper Lusatian half-timbered houses lend it a special charm. More than 400 kilometers of hiking trails and a well-developed network of bike paths attract sports-loving tourists.

The Erzgebirge/Vogtland Nature Park stretches 120 kilometers along the Elster River and the Erzgebirge Mountains. The area is considered a hiker’s paradise. Bogs, mountain streams, alpine and wet meadows, and orchards with scattered fruit trees define the region’s landscape. It is home to habitats for endangered plant and animal species. Among the plants are the fire lily as well as various gentian and orchid species. Animals living here include the Eurasian pygmy owl, the kingfisher, and the river pearl mussel.