Preparation of the National Park Plan - Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald

2.2. Environmentally friendly accessibility of the
national park for educational purposes
In accordance with the national park regulations, the
Bavarian Forest National Park should be made accessible to the
public for educational and recreational purposes. Natural
history education and nature-based recreation are connected in
that the recreational facilities always fulfil an educational role
and vice versa.
Educational and other information is communicated in the
open air as well as in special visitor and information facilities
(see Appendix „Bildungs- und Erholungseinrichtungen”). The
information facilities in the area include a network of marked
paths and nature trails as well as guided tours organised by the
national park administration. The main educational centres of
the Bavarian Forest National Park are the Lusen National Park
Centre (Hans-Eisenmann-Haus with tree top walk, animal
enclosures, plant and rock displays), the Falkenstein National
Park Centre (Haus zur Wildnis with animal enclosures and
Stone Age cave), the Jugendwaldheim (forest youth house), the
Wilderness Camp at the Mount Falkenstein as well as the forest
playground. These information and educational centres were
built on the edge of the national park and serve environmental
education as well as visitor management purposes.
The national park administration’s educational programme
also includes facilities close to the national park such as the
Forest History Museum in St. Oswald and the national park
information points in Bayerisch Eisenstein, Zwiesel, Frauenau,
Mauth and Spiegelau.
CONCEPT AND OBJECTIVES 15
2.3. Promotion of general environmental education
The educational work of the Bavarian Forest National Park
is not just confined to the aims and objectives of national parks;
it should also encourage a general understanding of nature and
environmental protection, as well as stimulate action. The
educational work of the national park with its fascinating
natural environment provides a unique natural experience. It
provides an active experience of nature and raises the question
of whether this experience can be transferred to other areas of
life; it’s not just about nature but also about people’s personal
development.
Increasingly, elements of education for sustainable
development are being implemented. Education for sustainable
development is not a subject but a process. It goes further than
ecological questions and covers also economic and social issues.
In relation to education for sustainable development and in
keeping with its model role, the national park tries to direct its
activities and facilities to provide a model for excellent
environmental management, with the objective of achieving
EMAS certification.
The Bavarian Forest National Park as part of a worldwide
network of protected areas also has the opportunity to apply
elements of global knowledge.
In the Bavarian Forest National Park, methods from the
experience oriented communication of knowledge have been
developed and put into practice under the motto of “Experience
the Forest – Understand Nature”. These have since been taken
up by many other educational establishments. Our role as
a pioneer in environmental education should be maintained and
further developed.
Emphasis in the environmental education programme is on
youth work. An objective is also to work closely together with
the Bavarian Forest Nature Park.