Eifel National Park, located in North Rhine-Westphalia on the west side of Germany, was established in 2004 and spans over 110 square kilometers.
Its location in the most populous German state and one of Europe’s most densely populated regions (more than 20 million people are located a three-hour drive from the park if you include Belgium and the Netherlands) makes the protected area a regional tourist destination that attracts almost a million visitors every year.
Classified as a “national park in development”, the park has 30 years (until 2034) to let 75% return to nature before it can fulfill the criteria to become an internationally recognized national park, certified by IUCN.
During this period, nature can be assisted in restoring its natural balance by, for example, removing non-native species, planting native trees, and naturalizing waterways.
Spruce and pine trees, prone to bark beetle, are removed wherever possible as beech and oak are the predominant, native tree species in the large forest complex.
Under the motto “Let nature be nature,” over 50% of the area has been returned to nature through natural processes (process conservation) and rewilding.
Activities such as collecting wood and picking berries and mushrooms, previously a part of everyday life for local residents, are now no longer permitted in the park.
“Experiencing nature” is an important holiday motivation for 78% of the German population, with 51% wanting to vacation in areas where the environment is intact. (2009 Reise Analyse) Therefore, national parks such as Eifel that can offer intact nature experiences have great tourism potential.
The landscape includes coniferous and deciduous forests, numerous streams, rivers and lakes, valleys, rocky outcrops, and open grassland on the Dreiborn Plateau, a former military training area.
Home to around 11,000 animal and plant species, the park also protects 1,800 species classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List.