30 years of natural miracles: Unteres Odertal National Park celebrates anniversary!

30 years of natural miracles: Unteres Odertal National Park celebrates anniversary!

Mescherin, Deutschland - On June 30, 2025, the Unteres Odertal National Park celebrates its 30th anniversary. The official celebrations were opened with a comprehensive exhibition in Mescherin, Uckermark. This exhibition, which bears the title "People on the River", provides insights into the living environments of people on both sides of the Oder, both on the German and the Polish side. National park manager Dirk Treichel emphasized the importance of presenting portraits of long -time residents and working people in the region.

30 years ago, the founding of the national park was shaped by controversy. Today, on the other hand, a positive development with a good coordination between land users and environmentalists is evident. In the nursing zones, measures are taken to protect endangered species such as the quail king. The annual recording of the breeding pairs of this bird and the agreement of use dates with the farmers enable sustainable management. In addition, financial compensation for late use dates are offered.

Expansion of the National Park program

An important part of the celebrations is the planned expansion of the national park program on the Polish side. The national park extends over 10,000 hectares in the districts of Barnim and Uckermark and will be supplemented in 2026 by founding a cross -border national park on the Polish side.

The opening of the hiking exhibition "People on the River" took place on June 27, 2025 in the Kranichhof in Mescher. This exhibition not only offers historical knowledge, but also promotes the exchange between the two countries and brings the charming floodplain landscapes closer to a general public. In addition, the “Little Wildkeeper” daycare center was officially certified as the first national park daycare center in the lower Oder Valley, which already underlines the promotion of environmental protection.

unique nature and biodiversity

The National Park Unteres Odertal is Germany's only Auen national park and the first cross-border large protection area with Poland. This park is one of the most species -rich habitats in Germany and houses near -natural mixed mixeds and flower -rich dry grass in adjacent slope areas. The heart of the national park is the floodplain landscape of the lower Oder Valley, which is shaped by large polder, which is regularly flooded.

Visitors have the opportunity to experience the meadow landscape up close, especially about the voluntary ecological year (FÖJ) in the national park. The visitor center, the National Park House in Criewen, was opened in September 2000 and offers interactive exhibitions on the floodplain landscape. The Naturwacht Brandenburg is also involved with junior ranger groups for children and adolescents between the ages of five and 16.

The development and maintenance of the national parks in Germany is of central importance for nature conservation. There are currently 16 national parks in Germany, with 12 of which reach the recommended minimum size of 10,000 hectares. National parks are areas with low human influence and play an important role in the preservation of biodiversity. The aim is to further improve the quality and management of these protected areas and to secure the habitats even more effectively.