We bring together people who want to make a difference.
People and organizations who love to TAKE ACTION find the right leverage for effective nature conservation with us. Joy and real impact are not opposites.
We bring together people who want to make a difference.
People and organizations who love to TAKE ACTION find the right leverage for effective nature conservation with us. Joy and real impact are not opposites.
Claus-Peter Hutter, Honorary President and Initiator, has stood for practical nature and species conservation for decades and has shaped the foundation with his approach based on experience, groundedness, and a broad network.
Built on experience, ready for tomorrow.
Our foundation has stood for two generations for nature conservation that connects people, economy, and nature. The core idea remains unchanged: act responsibly, create practical solutions, and achieve impact together. This approach has shaped our work yesterday, today, and in the future.
Prof. Dr. Carolyn Hutter, President, leads the foundation in its second generation and combines scientific expertise with a strategic view of the future of nature conservation.
Claus-Peter Hutter, Honorary President and Initiator, has stood for practical nature and species conservation for decades and has shaped the foundation with his approach based on experience, groundedness, and a broad network.
Built on experience, ready for tomorrow.
Our foundation has stood for two generations for nature conservation that connects people, economy, and nature. The core idea remains unchanged: act responsibly, create practical solutions, and achieve impact together. This approach has shaped our work yesterday, today, and in the future.
Prof. Dr. Carolyn Hutter, President, leads the foundation in its second generation and combines scientific expertise with a strategic view of the future of nature conservation.
The loss of intact landscapes and a changing climate threaten both nature and the livelihoods of people – regionally and globally.
We bring together nature conservation, environmental education, and local partnerships – both regionally and internationally.
Our motivation: preserve nature, empower people, and show that sustainable action brings joy and achieves real impact.
Greetings from Stuttgart!
Carolyn Hutter
President with a clear focus on what matters most
Martina Neher
Multi-talent and Camino de Santiago finisher
Friedhelm Göltenboth
Scientific Director and tropical ecosystems expert
We are looking for you!
We ALWAYS need support.
We haven’t just started doing this yesterday...
1970 - Where It All Began
At just 15 years old, Claus-Peter Hutter turned his love of nature into real action and founded an initiative to protect quarry lakes as an international resting site for migratory birds in the Ludwigsburg district.
1980s and 1990s
Claus-Peter Hutter launched and implemented numerous initiatives and projects with many partners, including "Nature Without Borders," "Ecological Building Blocks of Europe," Europe's first municipal environmental partnerships, and the establishment of nature conservation centers across the continent.
1989 - Founding of the Predecessor Organization
The predecessor organization was founded as the Foundation for Environment and Education, laying the groundwork for what is now the NatureLife-International Foundation.
2007 - NatureLife-International Is Founded
NatureLife-International was founded to take its commitment to nature and the environment to a global level. From the beginning, we have been active locally, across Europe, and worldwide, including through reforestation projects.
2010 - First Environmental Award Presented
Reinhold Messner received the first NatureLife Environmental Award for his tireless commitment to preserving unspoiled mountain landscapes and protecting nature. Since then, dedicated public figures such as actor Hannes Jaenicke, Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson, and Filipino environmental activist Paciencia Milan have also been honored.
2011 - First Award for Early-Career Researchers
Since then, we have awarded an annual sustainability prize at the University of Hohenheim, honoring outstanding master's and doctoral theses on sustainable land use and biodiversity.
2013 - Partnership with Lufthansa and Steiff
In collaboration with Lufthansa, we commissioned the renowned Steiff manufactory in Giengen to create a charming tarsier plush toy. The real tarsier, a small primate, lives in the remaining tropical forests of Indonesia and the Philippines. Part of the proceeds was used to plant new trees in the animal's native habitat and restore damaged rainforest.
2014/2015 - EDEKA Südwest Partnership Begins
Since 2014, the "Living Vineyard" partnership has been developing vineyards into species-rich cultural landscapes together with vintners, municipalities, and EDEKA Südwest. To date, around 18,000 planted perennials have created new habitats for insects, birds, and reptiles. Since 2015, the "Our Homeland & Nature" competition has expanded the collaboration: each year, a joint EDEKA Südwest and NatureLife jury recognizes projects that protect, create, or restore biotopes and habitats.
2018 - Federal Cross of Merit for C.-P. Hutter
At the recommendation of Baden-Württemberg's Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier awarded Claus-Peter Hutter the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon. Through his books and creative campaigns, he succeeded in inspiring people from a wide range of social sectors to support nature and environmental protection.
2019 - Water Buffalo Arrive in the Bottwartal
In the Bottwartal north of Stuttgart, NatureLife and local partners launched a pilot project using water buffalo as natural landscape managers. This robust species helps reopen overgrown areas and restore wetland habitats, laying the foundation for a floodplain that regenerates step by step and attracts new species.
2022 - Nature Discovery Trails Are Created
In the Bottwartal, we opened the Five-W Discovery Trail, which shares knowledge about nature and local heritage at 19 stations via QR codes and brings environmental education directly into the landscape. In parallel, together with Porsche, a digital trail was developed in the Mettertal near Bietigheim-Bissingen, combining nature experience, landscape management, and local knowledge in a modern format.
2025 - Carolyn Hutter Becomes the New President
NatureLife completed a generational transition: on September 1, 2025, Prof. Dr. Carolyn Hutter took over as Chair of the Presidium, succeeding Claus-Peter Hutter, who shaped the foundation for decades and continues to support it as Honorary President. Under her leadership, the foundation places a stronger focus on digitalization, networking, and innovative partnerships while keeping its core mission unchanged: linking nature conservation, education, and poverty reduction locally and internationally.
