The VDN was founded in 1963. It is and always has been the umbrella organisation of the German nature parks. The work of the VDN is greatly influenced and shaped by the work of the specialists in the nature parks themselves.
The members of the VDN are the responsible bodies of each nature park. The VDN supports its members in advancing the nature parks by developing the landscapes into role models for man influenced landscapes. On top of that the VDN encourages the exchange and cooperation between German and European nature parks. The VDN’s work also focuses on the political representation of the nature parks and on the promotion of their activities and offers.

The EUROPARC Federation is a pan-European, politically independent, non-profit organisation.
It supports and promotes the whole range of protected areas in Europe with the common aim of protecting Europe’s unique variety of wildlife, habitats and landscapes.
Its membership – currently more than 370 organisations in 38 European countries – comprises protected area administrations and other state authorities responsible for protected areas at national and regional level, as well as independent conservation organisations and academic institutions concerned with protected area issues.