What bodensee-stiftung does

Bodensee-Stiftung (Lake Constance Foundation) is a private charitable foundation registered under German civil law (Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts), founded in 1994 and headquartered in Radolfzell on Lake Constance. The organization develops and implements projects across four core action fields: Energy Transition, Agriculture & Food, Nature & Water Protection, and Business & Biodiversity. Its work spans moor rewetting and paludikultur (wetland agriculture), regenerative agriculture knowledge networks (Boden-AGs operating cross-border across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), biodiversity training programs (AZUBI-Gärten), children's environmental education (Moor Kids, Power Kids), and the international Horticert certification system for sustainable peat substitutes, which entered regular operation in December 2025.

The foundation's technical core centers on nature-based solutions methodology: moor rewetting zoning concepts developed collaboratively with agriculture and municipalities, guidance for combining photovoltaic installations with paludikultur on rewetted peatlands (Moor-PV), biodiversity assessment along agri-food value chains, and certification frameworks for substrate sustainability. It maintains a substantial content library (Ergebnisbibliothek) of publications, tools, methods, and training materials, and runs international convening platforms such as the Fit for Biodiversity conference.

Bodensee-Stiftung operates a non-commercial revenue model funded primarily through project-based grants and endowments. Funding sources include EU programs (Interreg Alpenrhein-Bodensee-Hochrhein), federal agencies (Bundesamt für Naturschutz, BMEL via Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe), the state of Baden-Württemberg, the Rohr-Vogelschutz-Stiftung endowment, and major foundations (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, LBBW Stiftung, Baden-Württemberg Stiftung, Heidehof Stiftung, Deutsche Postcode Lotterie). Services to beneficiaries — municipalities, farmers, enterprises, schools, and the public — are provided free of charge as part of funded projects. The organization is led by Managing Directors Patrick Trötschler and Volker Kromrey, with a small team of project managers and staff, and operates across the Bodensee region with international reach through the Living Lakes network and transnational Interreg projects.

Name

bodensee-stiftung

Legal name

Bodensee-Stiftung – Internationale Stiftung für Natur und Kultur

Website

https://bodensee-stiftung.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bodensee-Stiftung is a private German environmental foundation, founded in 1994 in Radolfzell, that delivers projects in moor rewetting, regenerative agriculture, energy transition, and biodiversity across the Lake Constance region and internationally, serving municipalities, farmers, enterprises, and schools through grant-funded programs and partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Avoided Conversion & Ecosystem Protection (REDD+, Blue Carbon Conservation) (EUABABAC), Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK), Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Environmental conservation
• Nature protection
• Moor rewetting
• Sustainability education
• Biodiversity consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Radolfzell

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Project Funding: Primary revenue from project-based grants and funding from EU programs (Interreg), federal agencies (Bundesamt für Naturschutz), state ministries (Baden-Württemberg), and foundations. Projects are time-bound with specific deliverables.
2. Foundation Endowments: Annual income from Franz und Hildegard Rohr-Vogelschutz-Stiftung Bodensee endowment to implement bird protection purposes.
3. Donations: Accepts donations from the public to support environmental protection activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bodensee-Stiftung is a private environmental and nature conservation foundation that develops practical projects addressing climate, biodiversity, and nature protection across four action fields: Energy Transition, Agriculture & Food, Nature & Water Protection, and Business & Biodiversity. It delivers consulting and strategy development, research and development, knowledge transfer, participation projects, sustainability education, and operates the Horticert international certification system for sustainable peat substitutes. Projects are implemented with municipalities, agricultural operations, companies, schools, and the general public, primarily in the Lake Constance region with international reach.

Product overview

Bodensee-Stiftung (Lake Constance Foundation) is a private environmental and nature conservation organization offering a diverse portfolio of projects, educational programs, advisory services, and knowledge transfer products. Their core offerings include moor rewetting initiatives (Moor muss nass), environmental education programs for children (Moor Kids, Power Kids), farmer knowledge networks (Boden-AGs), biodiversity certification systems (Horticert), and advisory services for companies and municipalities. The portfolio spans four main action fields: Energy Transition, Agriculture & Food, Nature & Water Protection, and Business & Biological Diversity. Services include knowledge transfer, research & development, consulting & strategy development, participation projects, sustainability education, and awards. The organization operates primarily in the Lake Constance region with international reach through Interreg projects and global networks like Living Lakes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Moor muss nass (Moore) Project focused on rewetting drained moorland areas in the Hegau-Bodensee region for natural climate protection, developing zoning and usage concepts in collaboration with agriculture, municipalities, and nature conservation.
• Horticert Certification System International certification system for peat substitutes that verifies ecological, social, and economic sustainability of various substitute materials to support the transition away from peat in hobby and professional horticulture.
• Moor Kids Environmental education project enabling children aged 8-14 in the Lake Constance district to explore moor landscapes, learn about biodiversity, rewetting, and the role of intact moors in climate change.
• Power Kids Environmental education project where elementary school children playfully learn about energy and climate protection in their local communities, discovering challenges and developing their own solutions.
• Boden-AGs Cross-border farmer working groups in the Lake Constance region exchanging knowledge about soil fertility and regenerative agriculture practices across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
• AZUBI-Gärten Biodiversity and climate adaptation training program for apprentices from any industry, combining theory and practice through implementation of apprentice gardens on company premises.
• Besser am Gewässer Project for ecological enhancement of riparian buffer strips with 10 pilot farms in the Lake Constance region, developing individualized measures to promote biodiversity and climate-resilient landscape structures.
• Naturnahe Gestaltung von Firmengeländen Advisory service supporting companies in the ecological upgrading of their premises through initial consultations and demonstration of possibilities for nature-oriented company grounds design.
• Wissenstransfer (Knowledge Transfer) Knowledge transfer services providing publications, tools, methods, training materials, and position papers to share expertise in environmental protection and sustainability.
• Beratung & Strategieentwicklung Advisory and strategy development services for businesses and municipalities on biodiversity, climate adaptation, and sustainable land use.
• Forschung & Entwicklung Research and development projects advancing knowledge in nature conservation, climate protection, and sustainable agriculture practices.
• Fit for Biodiversity Conference International conference bringing together perspectives on biodiversity management in agri-food systems, addressing impact creation, biodiversity-friendly agriculture, assessment along value chains, and credible communication.
• Zukunftsgrün (Spiel ohne Grenzen!) Cross-border competition project where municipalities work on nature, sustainability, and quality of life over three years, culminating in the award of the 'Grüne Holda' prize.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2818 hectares of moorland in Landkreis Konstanz emit 78,000 tonnes CO2 equivalents annually when drained
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor German nature conservation organization. Listed as project co-funder and collaborator on environmental protection initiatives in the Bodensee region.
• Deutsche UmwelthilfecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman environmental and nature conservation association. Listed as project co-funder.
• Living Lakes NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network of lake and wetland conservation organizations. Bodensee-Stiftung participates in global knowledge exchange and biodiversity projects.
• Regenerate ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform for regenerative agriculture knowledge exchange. Co-organizes Boden-AGs and certification model development with Bodensee-Stiftung.
• Meo Carbon Solutions GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in Horticert certification system development. Collaborates with Bodensee-Stiftung on international certification for peat substitutes.
• Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency for renewable raw materials. Project partner in Horticert development under German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture.
• Solarcomplex AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional energy company. Co-organizes annual 'Energiesysteme im Wandel' conference for 25 years with Bodensee-Stiftung.
• Landesforstverwaltung Baden-WürttembergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState forestry administration. Co-organizes annual energy transition conference with Bodensee-Stiftung.
• Mainau GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstate management company of Island Mainau. Co-organizes annual energy transition conference.
• IHK Schwarzwald-Baar-HeubergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of Commerce and Industry. Partner in AZUBI-Gärten project for biodiversity training of apprentices.
• Landschaftserhaltungsverband RavensburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape conservation association. Partner in AZUBI-Gärten biodiversity training project.
• PV-Netzwerk Baden-WürttembergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional photovoltaic network providing expertise and events on renewable energy for municipalities in Baden-Württemberg.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland): Germany's largest nature conservation association with ~900,000 members and nationwide infrastructure. Listed as a core co-funder/partner of Bodensee-Stiftung and directly comparable as a German conservation NGO focused on biodiversity, habitat protection, and policy advocacy.
• BUND (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland): Major German environmental and nature conservation federation with similar mission across biodiversity, agriculture, climate, and water. Comparable scope of advocacy, member-funded model, and federal-state structure; overlaps with Bodensee-Stiftung's four action fields.
• WWF Germany (WWF Deutschland): Largest international conservation organization with a strong German branch; comparable in environmental advocacy, project-based conservation, and corporate sustainability partnerships. Operates at much larger scale across all four of Bodensee-Stiftung's action fields.

Direct peers

• Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH): German environmental and consumer protection association operating nationally across nature conservation, packaging regulation, and climate. Already a core partner of Bodensee-Stiftung; directly comparable in advocacy-driven, project-based engagement with municipalities and corporates.
• Global Nature Fund: International environmental foundation headquartered near Lake Constance that initiated the Living Lakes network — the same network Bodensee-Stiftung participates in. Direct peer in lake/wetland conservation, Living Lakes coordination, and corporate biodiversity engagement.
• Michael Succow Foundation (Michael-Succow-Stiftung): German foundation dedicated to peatland/moor conservation, paludiculture, and nature-based climate solutions in the Baltic region. Directly comparable niche specialization in rewetted peatland agriculture that mirrors Bodensee-Stiftung's Moor muss nass and paludiculture programs.

Regional players

• Naturschutzstiftung Baden-Württemberg: State-level conservation foundation operating in the same geography (Baden-Württemberg) with similar portfolios of moor/peatland protection, sustainable agriculture, and corporate biodiversity engagement. Direct regional peer.

Others

• Heinrich Böll Foundation (Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung): German political foundation affiliated with the Greens that funds environmental, climate, and sustainability projects including moor/peatland work. Comparable as a German Stiftung funding nature conservation R&D, though primarily political/educational rather than operational conservation.
• Meo Carbon Solutions GmbH: Lead partner in developing the Horticert certification system with Bodensee-Stiftung. Comparable as a sustainability services firm operating in carbon accounting and certification; thematically aligned via joint product development rather than direct competition.

Emerging players

• Wetlands International: Global not-for-profit dedicated to wetland conservation and wise use, with expertise in peatland rewetting and paludiculture. Comparable niche specialization in peatlands/wetlands that overlaps with Bodensee-Stiftung's moor rewetting focus, but operating at global rather than regional scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bodensee-stiftung

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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