The towns and municipalities in the Bergisches Land Nature Park include a total of more than 2,000 villages, hamlets and districts that are undergoing profound changes, especially against the background of demographic change. At the same time, however, this special rural-village structure is one of the strengths of the Bergisches Land and accounts for a large part of its original attractiveness. The cultural landscape impresses with its small-scale structure and an alternation of forest, open countryside, stream valleys and well-known natural and cultural monuments as well as the settlement areas. The villages in the Bergisch region impress with their exemplary association structures and active voluntary work. Most people also live in the villages - i.e. not in the main towns. So it goes without saying that village development is and must be an important part of nature park work.

If the Bergisch village communities succeed in keeping young families in the villages by maintaining the necessary infrastructure, but also in offering the elderly the desired quality of life, the Bergisch Land will benefit from the commitment of the village communities with regard to demographic change.

The challenge must be to keep village life attractive and to look beyond the municipal boundaries. The interaction between districts, municipalities and local associations lays the foundation for this.