In Kooperation mit der Föderation der Natur- und Nationalparke Europas e.V. (EUROPARC Föderation) vergibt die Alfred Toepfer Stiftung F.V.S. seit 2002 die sogenannten Alfred Toepfer-Reisestipendien für Naturschutz. Diese Stipendien sind dazu bestimmt, Nachwuchskräften auf dem Gebiet des Managements von Schutzgebieten für Studienzwecke eine Reise in ein anderes europäisches Land als ihr Herkunftsland zu ermöglichen.

Studierende und Absolventen von höheren Bildungseinrichtungen vor Voll­endung des 30. Lebensjahres, deren Abschluss nicht länger als zehn Jahre zurückliegt, werden ebenso gefördert wie Berufstätige, die bereits seit mehreren Jahren aktiv für oder in einem europäischen Schutzgebiet tätig und nicht älter als 35 Jahre sind. Die Auswahl der Stipendiaten trifft die EUROPARC Föderation. Eine Bewerbung bei der Alfred Toepfer Stiftung ist deshalb nicht möglich.

Auf Vorschlag der EUROPARC Föderation wurden die Stipendien 2016 vergeben an:

Tymur Bedernichek, Jahrgang 1985, Ukraine, PhD. in Ecology (Agricultural sciences).

“I was born […] in the beautiful city of Lviv, less than 100 km from the Carpathians. Obviously almost all the vacations and holidays were spent in the mountains which were full of life. Moreover, the first book I read myself was not an alphabet book, but “Three Singles to Adventure” by Gerald Durrell. That is why I had almost no chances to choose another profession but ecologist and nature conservationist. Now I am a researcher in the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Together with the colleagues we have founded the Carpathian centre for alpine studies and plan to establish Deyl Alpine Research station in Maramures Mountains. The Scholarship gives me the opportunity to study the best examples of research and conservation in the Western Carpathians and Alps and not to invent the bicycle.”.

Baiba Galniece, Jahrgang 1984, Lettland, Master of Science in Umweltwissenschaften. 

“My professional career started with an interest in geography and later dived into vegetation science, and I earned a MSc degree in Environmental Sciences from Radboud University Nijmegen (the Netherlands). As an environmental scientist, I am fascinated by the responses of species and ecosystems to their abiotic environment, including the human changes therein and I am broadly interested in grassland ecology, its special distribution, plant seed production, biogeochemistry and management. Lately I have been working in the field of nature conservation and management issues in Latvia. My main duties as senior expert includes the implementation of nature protection policy’s according to national and EU legalization, monitoring of national and EU protected habitats and species and participating in public relation activities.

For future I see myself working in the field of nature conservation and I would like to challenge myself working for a large project and also use my knowledge and experience outside Latvia.”

Bryony Slaymaker, Jahrgang 1988, Großbritannien, Diplom in Biological Recording.

“I work as Community Involvement Ranger in the Peak District National Park for an organisation called the Eastern Moors Partnership (EMP). The EMP is a unique partnership between the National Trust and Royal Society for Protection of Birds, the aim is to protect and improve this special area for people and wildlife. I am passionate about protecting wildlife and providing opportunities for all people to love, learn and protect nature. I run a Junior Ranger group and work with schools and young people, as well as adult volunteers, and I run a programme of educational events throughout the year. I studied Zoology BSc and have been lucky enough to see many amazing kinds of wildlife around the world, but my favourite bird species is the humble Starling – I love to watch the murmuration flocks in winter.”