Nature Conservation Advisory Board

Tasks

The advisory boards are to contribute to the protection, maintenance, and development of the landscape and:

1. submit proposals and suggestions to the competent authorities and bodies,

2. communicate the aims and objectives of nature conservation and landscape management to the public, and

3. counteract undesirable developments in the landscape.

The advisory boards must be consulted prior to all important decisions and actions of the lower nature conservation authority. They must be informed in a timely manner. The advisory board must be presented with the lists of the use of substitute funds. The participation of the advisory board with the lower nature conservation authority is otherwise governed by Section 31 (4) Sentence 5 and Section 75 (1) Sentence 2.

In addition, the advisory board may object to an intended exemption, resulting in the representative body of the district or the independent city, or a committee authorized by it, deciding on the objection. (Section 70 (1) and (1) State Nature Conservation Act)

Composition

The advisory board consists of 16 members; it is composed of:

1. three representatives of the State Community for Nature Conservation and Environmental Protection North Rhine-Westphalia e.V. (LNU),

2. two representatives each of the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union Germany e.V. (NABU) and the Federation for Environment and Nature Conservation Germany e.V. (BUND),

3. one representative of the German Forest Protection Association State Association NRW e.V. (SDW),

4. two representatives of the regionally responsible Agricultural Association,

5. one representative of the Forest Farmers Association NRW e.V.,

6. one joint representative of the Horticultural Association Rhineland e.V., the Horticultural Association Westphalia-Lippe e.V., and the Provincial Association of Rhineland Fruit and Vegetable Growers e.V.,

7. one joint representative of the associations of hunters recognized under Section 52 of the State Hunting Act of North Rhine-Westphalia as amended in the announcement of December 7, 1994, last amended by Article 1 of the Act of May 12, 2015,

8. one representative of the Fisheries Association North Rhine-Westphalia e.V.,

9. one representative of the State Sports Association North Rhine-Westphalia e.V., and

10. one joint representative of the Beekeeping Association Rhineland e.V. and the State Association of Westphalian and Lippian Beekeepers e.V.

(Section 70 (4) State Nature Conservation Act)

Organization

The members of the advisory board are elected by the district council for the duration of its term of office. A deputy must be elected for each member. Only individuals who reside in the district of the nature conservation authority should be appointed or elected to the advisory boards. Employees of the district or the independent city may not be members of the advisory board.

Membership in the advisory boards is a voluntary activity.

The advisory board elects a chairperson and their deputy from among its members. The chairperson maintains communication with the lower nature conservation authority and other authorities and represents the advisory board to the public. In cases where decisions and actions cannot be postponed until a meeting of the advisory board, the chairperson may be involved on behalf of the board.

The chairperson convenes the advisory board. The advisory board is quorate if at least half of its members are present. Decisions are made by a majority of votes cast.

The nature conservation authority facilitates appropriate management for the advisory board and assists with the preparation of minutes. Additionally, the nature conservation authority is represented in the meetings of the advisory board.