German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel and Mecklenburg-Western Pomeranian State Environmental Minister Dr. Till Backhaus opened the new Rügen Natural Inheritance Center, in Prora on the island of Rügen, at the end of May. In her remarks Merkel emphasized that the 13.5 million-Euro project was only possible due to a combination of various fortunate occurrences. The first piece of good fortune involved the associated historical developments: after the fall of the “Iron Curtain”, protected natural areas which had long been inaccessible became available for public use.
The second favorable circumstance took place more than 20 years ago when the German Federal Environmental Foundation (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, DBU) was created with its substantial endowment funds, which enabled the construction of the center, as the Chancellor pointed out. Finally, the “Experience Academy” (“Erlebnis Akademie”) of Rügen contributed its knowledge, and thus was born “an outstanding collaboration”: the Natural Inheritance Center on Rügen. On June 15th the Center will open its doors to the public.
