On the basis of the FöNa guidelines (funding guidelines for nature conservation), the Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Agriculture, Nature and Consumer Protection of North Rhine-Westphalia (MUNLV) provides the Bergisches Land Nature Park with a maximum of € 72,000 per year to carry out maintenance measures for near-natural tourist infrastructure. These include, for example, maintenance of hiking trails (footbridges), renewal of existing recreational facilities (benches), environmental education measures (renewal of signage on theme trails), and visitor guidance measures. In principle, only infrastructures that already exist and have a corresponding need for renovation are eligible for funding. The maximum funding amount is 70% of each individual measure. An application for funding can be submitted by municipalities, cities or associations in the nature park area.

To apply, we ask for the following documents:

• A description of the situation in the ACTUAL condition as well as the necessary maintenance and care measures (type, scope, time period) with colored photos (current condition), as far as this is possible according to the type of measure in question
• a general plan of the location in space (at least 1:10,000 maximum 1:50,000), in which the maintenance and care measures carried out are marked and numbered
• an individual plan (at least 1:500 maximum 1:2,000) or aerial photographs with an areal representation of the measures and, if necessary, useful additional information (e.g. indication of left or right of the path)

After the preliminary review of the documents, we will send you the form for the proof of use with the notice of approval. The work may not be started before the notification of approval has been sent and must be completed by a certain date. The proof of use must be issued in duplicate and sent to the nature park in due time.

Please contact the nature park for exact deadlines and dates.

Please inform yourself - if necessary - on the website of the MUNLV about the FöNa guidelines and the associated funding opportunities. Please note that typical measures of nature conservation such as the maintenance of biotopes (mowing, free cutting, etc.) are not in the foreground for funding under the nature park flat rate. These measures should primarily be applied for at the specialized offices of nature conservation (lower nature conservation authority). You can find the FöNa guidelines by clicking on the button.