Landscape and Gravel Foundation

Name

Landscape and Gravel Foundation

Legal name

Stiftung Landschaft und Kies

Website

https://landschaftundkies.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nature Conservation & Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

akta.pro primary industry

Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Threatened & Endangered Species (TES) / Protected Species Surveys & Compliance (EUAHAHAD)

Keywords

• Nature conservation services
• Environmental education programs
• Gravel pit habitat management
• Soil protection consulting
• Outdoor learning locations

Headquarters

HQ city

Rubigen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership fees from KSE Bern: Voluntary financing from companies in the gravel, quarry, and recycling industry (KSE Bern members). The foundation was established in 1976 and is supported by industry members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Stiftung Landschaft und Kies operates the Lernort Kiesgrube environmental education program at six locations in Canton Bern (Rubigen, Seeland, and mobile sites in Müntschemier, Aarwangen, Grünenmatt, and Wimmis), providing outdoor NMG (Nature-Human-Society) instruction for school classes, free teacher professional development courses, and supervised conservation work placements for companies and associations. For the gravel and quarry industry, the foundation implements the voluntary Branchenvereinbarung covering approximately 100 sites with a minimum 15% ecological-value target, and provides Bodenkundliche Baubegleitung soil science construction supervision services for KSE Bern member companies from permit approval through project completion. It also maintains two publicly accessible nature reserves (Reservat Täli in Wichtrach and Reservat Nassi in Lyssach) that provide habitat for rare species such as the yellow-bellied toad, natterjack toad, midwife toad, and sand martin.

Product overview

Landscape and Gravel Foundation (Stiftung Landschaft und Kies) is a Swiss environmental foundation established in 1976 that operates a unified environmental education and nature conservation service portfolio. The core offering is the 'Lernort Kiesgrube' (Learning Location Gravel Pit) program at multiple locations (Rubigen, Seeland, and mobile), providing outdoor environmental education for school classes. This is supported by supplementary services including educational materials (Lehrmittel), courses/excursions, supervised work assignments, a soil science construction supervision service (Bodenkundliche Baubegleitung), and nature reserves. The foundation also manages the voluntary Branchenvereinbarung (Industry Agreement) for biodiversity promotion across approximately 100 gravel pit and quarry sites in the Canton of Bern, and publishes educational films and technical publications. The offerings are interconnected: environmental education programs use the physical sites and teaching materials, while nature conservation services support habitat management that forms the basis for educational content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lernort Kiesgrube: Environmental education program with multiple locations (Rubigen, Seeland, and mobile) where school classes can experience nature-society education outdoors.
• Naturschutzkafi
• Stiftung Landschaft und Kies

Products and services

• Lernort Kiesgrube Rubigen Environmental education center offering infrastructure, teaching materials, and work equipment for outdoor NMG (Nature-Human-Society) instruction. Designed for independent work with guided offerings also available. Targeted at school classes from kindergarten to secondary level in Canton Bern.
• Lernort Kiesgrube Seeland Environmental education center offering instruction in German and French with appropriate infrastructure, teaching materials, and work equipment for self-directed visits. Guided offerings on biology, geology, and gravel pit technology available. Located in the Seeland region of Canton Bern.
• Lernort Kiesgrube unterwegs (Mobile) Mobile environmental education service where a foundation specialist accompanies school classes on a discovery journey through gravel pit habitats, sharing information about animals and plants. Available at gravel pits in Müntschemier, Aarwangen, Grünenmatt, and Wimmis for Bernese school classes of all levels.
• Lernort Steinzeit Oberwangen Nature experience center offering direct experiential opportunities with nature and engagement with the lifestyle of Paleolithic hunter-gatherers. Nature reserve and educational trails accessible to the public; school classes can participate in age-appropriate workshops.
• Weg des Kiesabbaus Wichtrach 2.2 km adventure trail with 9 information panels explaining the history of the Wichtrach gravel pit, Aare valley geology, and nature conservation in gravel pits. Open to the public free of charge.
• Kurse / Exkursionen (Courses and Excursions) Free public excursions and professional development courses for teachers in Canton Bern covering geology, biodiversity, and gravel pit ecology. Includes specialized workshops such as 'Innovation und Nachhaltigkeit' and 'Lernort Kiesgrube Rubigen' for teacher training.
• Arbeitseinsätze (Supervised Conservation Work Placements) Supervised practical conservation work sessions for school classes, companies, and associations combining work, learning, and playful elements in nature. Includes meadow mowing, hedge maintenance, invasive plant control, pond creation, and dry stone wall building. Free of charge for groups up to 25 persons, available September to April.
• Bodenkundliche Baubegleitung (Soil Science Construction Supervision) Service for KSE Bern members covering all soil matters from permit approval onwards. Includes reviewing permit documents, verifying baseline conditions before soil removal, advising on practical work, work acceptances, and reporting. Delivered by foundation soil expert Marco Zahnd.
• Branchenvereinbarung (Voluntary Nature Conservation Industry Agreement)

Quantifiable outcome

• 27.6% of total open operational surfaces of KSE members are ecologically valuable areas
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• KSE Bern (Kantonaler Kies und Betonverband)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatronage association of the foundation. KSE Bern engages in political, economic, and technical questions of the industry. The foundation handles nature conservation services for KSE members. In 2024, the Branchenvereinbarung was transferred to KSE Bern as contractual partner, with the foundation continuing implementation responsibility.
• ANF (Abteilung Naturförderung)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCantonal nature conservation authority (Amt für Wasser und Natur). Contractual partner in the Branchenvereinbarung. Provides exemptions from 10% ecological compensation and from protection status for nature values created by extraction.
• Baustoff Kreislauf Schweiz (Kies-, Beton- und Recyclingverband)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational industry association for construction materials, circular economy, gravel, concrete and recycling. Based in Bern.
• SCNAT (Akademie der Naturwissenschaften)minorOthersSwiss Academy of Sciences. Collaboration on nature conservation topics and environmental education.
• PHBern (Pädagogische Hochschule Bern)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeacher training institution. Collaborates on professional development courses (LeFo) for teachers related to environmental education at Lernort Kiesgrube.
• Institut für Geologie der Uni BernminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeology institute at University of Bern. Provides expertise for geology education programs and excursions.
• Pro Natura BernminorOthersCantonal chapter of major Swiss nature conservation organization. Regular collaboration and networking.
• Netzwerk Schweizer NaturzentrenminorOthersNetwork of Swiss nature centers. Connection to broader environmental education ecosystem.
• ERBINAT (Fachverband Erleben und Bildung in der Natur)minorOthersProfessional association for experiencing and education in nature. Networking and professional exchange.
• Stiftung Natur und WirtschaftminorOthersFoundation promoting nature-friendly business practices. Professional exchange.
• Festival der NaturmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual national nature festival. Lernort Kiesgrube locations participate annually, showcasing environmental education offerings to the public.
• Erlebnis GeologieminorOthersGeology education service provider. Professional networking.
• Natur Schule See LandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNature education provider in the Seeland region. Complementary educational offerings.
• Kulturmühle LützelflühminorOthersCultural venue in Lützelflüh. Cultural partnership.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BirdLife Schweiz: Swiss national partner of BirdLife International focused on bird and habitat conservation. Comparable through its species and habitat protection work, including species (Uferschwalbe) that the foundation actively manages in its gravel-pit habitats.
• ProSpecieRara: Swiss foundation dedicated to preserving rare animal breeds and plant varieties. Comparable as a species-level conservation Stiftung running outreach programs, parallel in mission scope and Swiss nonprofit structure.
• Pusch (Praktischer Umweltschutz Schweiz): Swiss environmental education foundation delivering curriculum-oriented programs to schools and teachers. Comparable as a Swiss environmental education organization serving similar teacher and school segments in the same cantonal context.
• Stiftung Natur und Wirtschaft: Swiss foundation promoting nature-friendly business areas and biodiversity on company sites. Highly comparable as another Stiftung structure working at the intersection of industry operations and ecological stewardship, and already a partner of Landscape and Gravel Foundation.
• info fauna (KARCH): Swiss center for amphibian and reptile conservation. Comparable because it provides species-specific expertise (notably for Gelbbauchunke, Kreuzkröte, Geburtshelferkröte — species the foundation manages in its reserves) and is an active partner.
• Pro Natura Bern: Cantonal chapter of Switzerland's leading nature conservation organization. Directly comparable as a regional Pro Natura entity delivering conservation programs and educational outreach in Canton Bern, and an established collaboration partner of the foundation.
• Netzwerk Schweizer Naturzentren: Network of Swiss nature centers coordinating educational offerings. Comparable as the umbrella body that aggregates the kind of Lernort-type outdoor education facilities that Lernort Kiesgrube operates, and a current partner of the foundation.

Broad incumbents

• Schweizerische Vogelwarte Sempach: Swiss Ornithological Institute combining bird research, conservation, and education. Comparable as a long-established Swiss conservation and environmental education institution with similar species-protection and public outreach functions.
• SCNAT (Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz): Swiss Academy of Sciences. Comparable as a larger, established scientific and conservation stakeholder partnering with the foundation on nature conservation topics and environmental education programming.
• Stiftung Landschaftsschutz Schweiz (SL): National Swiss foundation for landscape protection. Comparable as a higher-scale Stiftung advocating for Swiss landscape and biodiversity preservation with established public-facing programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stiftung-landschaft-und-kies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Landscape and Gravel Foundation