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At its annual general meeting, the Rhön Nature and Habitat Association unanimously elected the long-time chairman Dr. Hubert Beier elected honorary chairman.
Hilders – According to the association, more than 50 members came to the meeting. They followed the board's decision and elected Dr. Hubert Beier unanimously elected honorary chairman. Beier led the Rhön Nature and Habitat Association from 2003 to 2024 and has been a member of the board since it was founded in 1991.
Rhön Nature and Habitat Association now has an honorary chairman
Today's chairman Sebastian Müller and district administrator Bernd Woide were the first to congratulate the new honorary chairman. In his laudatory speech, MP Müller emphasized the level-headed and clear attitude with which Beier had led the association over decades. He cited his great connection to his homeland as a special characteristic. Beier managed to pacify the often different interests of municipalities, land users and nature conservation and explore viable compromises. “Dr. Beier took on tasks that would have filled two professional lives,” said Müller, referring to Beier's extensive commitment.
The new honorary chairman worked professionally as managing director of the forest owners' association and the district farmers' association and was also active in numerous voluntary positions, including in the district council. He was acknowledged as having played a key role in shaping the development of the Rhön Biosphere Reserve and the rural region over many years. The Rhön Nature and Habitat Association has been a support association for the biosphere reserve for 35 years and also acts as the responsible LEADER action group for the region.
The mayor of Hilders, Ronny Günkel, also underlined the importance of the association for rural regional development in his welcoming speech. As the association announced, two new members were gained: Walter Kemkes, the long-time head of the Bliesgau and Southern Black Forest biosphere reserves, and the Gersfeld local nature conservation association. This will further expand professional expertise in the areas of nature conservation and regional development.
The association wants to raise awareness of cultural landscapes
In his annual report, Sebastian Müller looked back on numerous LEADER and regional budget projects that could be funded in 2025. The offer of fruit tree pruning trial courses in the Rhön communities also started as a separate club project in 2025. According to Müller, the aim of these courses is to impart knowledge about caring for orchards and to increase awareness of the value of traditional cultural landscapes.
According to the club, the club's established partnerships are also diverse. As an example, Müller cited the interaction with the IHK Fulda to promote the Rhön Star Park as well as the long-standing cooperation with the Fulda Environmental Center. These networks make a significant contribution to linking nature and landscape protection, tourism and regional economic development.
