Nature conservation on Sylt

Ferdinand Avenarius, a scholar, publicist and conservationist born in Berlin in 1856, spent Since 1903, he has preferred to spend his summers in Kampen. On what was then the northernmost edge of the village, the Wattweg, he built a truly bizarre house - in a A blend of Black Forest idyll and Frisian style. From his study, he could see all the way to the birdcage. The house had a "solarium" where the owner and his often prominent guests (such as Max Frisch or Stefan Zweig) could sunbathe nude if they wished. The fact that the dune and heath landscape between Kampen and List was placed under nature protection in 1923 is due in no small part to his efforts.

His work clearly demonstrates that how ambivalent the position of lovers of Sylt's nature was and still is today:  With his effusive writings in the magazine "Kunstwart," which he published and which was read by the entire German bohemian scene, he himself contributed to the fact that the Visitor flows from the major cities at the beginning of the 20th century poured ever more vehemently across the island. He simultaneously denounced their influence on the island's development.. Another ContradictionAlthough he considered Frisian building culture to be “worthy of protection”, he himself built a stylistically inauthentic and very tall holiday home, which was intended to give him the widest possible view of the heath.

Avenarius bequeathed his to the municipality of Kampen "Uhlenkamp" and the site of today Avenarius ParksAfter failed attempts to turn the building into a museum or an artists' meeting place, the house was sold to a private individual who demolished it. Ferdinand Avenarius is an honorary citizen of Kampen and died in 1923 - shortly before his efforts to protect the sensitive natural environment became a reality.

Knud Ahlborn was close friends with Ferdinand Avenarius. Both were dedicated Pioneers of the "Free German Youth Movement" and also pooled their resources Commitment to nature conservation on Sylt. With the intention of gaining an overview of the Ahlborn family's properties in Kampen, The Hamburg-born doctor travelled to the island in 1919., discovered six barracks of the Imperial Navy between Kampen and List and immediately developed a plan for them VisionHere, in the middle of the dune landscape, he wanted a place for his reformist youth movement let arise. 

With the help of his father, Ahlborn acquired the Klappholttal barracks from the owners of the listed land, they transformed it into a youth camp and expanded upon it. The aforementioned can also be found at Ahlborn. Ambivalence: He wanted to preserve nature while simultaneously ensuring the expanded use of a particularly sensitive natural site through new buildings. 
Ahlborn made a name for himself in Kampen as Spa doctor He was independent and committed to advancing the debate on the establishment of nature reserves, a debate initiated by Avenarius before the war. As "Herr Doktor" in Kampen, he maintained close contacts with the people of Sylt, who supported his cause.

As early as 1923, at the same time as the state placed North Sylt and the Morsum Cliff under protection, it was decided Knud Ahlborn, Ferdinand Avenarius and Ferdinand Göbel, who is also active in youth and nature conservation, founded the association “Naturschutz Sylt” to establish. An important concern of the then Officially registered association from 1924 onwardsTo preserve the beauty of nature and to place the Kampen bird decoy under protection. The ecological aspect was initially secondary. Knud Ahlborn was active until two years before his death. Chairman of the association.

The actress had in 1956 in Braderup She acquired a plot of land on which she built two buildings. Her guesthouse was a place for summer retreats. for many illustrious figures in the cultural scene. Clara Enss, politically interested but initially not yet active, set out Increasing concerns in the 60s about the consequences of Sylt's tourism during the economic miracle. 

Learn more about the absurdly oversized plans for the "Atlantis" construction project on the Westerland promenade When these events came to light, her political activism began: she joined the Citizens' initiative to prevent this construction colossus and brought together political and environmental activism. As early as the 70s, the state government commissioned a structural assessment of the gigantic "Atlantis" construction project on the promenade. At that time, the The island's natural environment and infrastructure have a capacity limit of approximately 100.000 people. Daily figures are fixed during peak season. Today, conservative estimates put the number of people arriving daily during peak season at around 150.000, to name just one factor that, besides structural changes in the towns and housing shortages, significantly impacts the situation. Impacts on the island structure hat.

She took over In 1975 he became chairman of the association "Naturschutz Sylt" by Knud Ahlborn. The citizens' initiative against the "Atlantis" construction project and the association merged in 1977 to form the Sylt Nature Conservation Association. Clara Enns was and is in her indomitable way a great role model - far beyond the island's borders. She fought against nuclear power plants in the Wadden Sea, unnecessary large-scale dike construction, for North Sea protection, and was a founding member of BUND Schleswig-Holstein. She led the club, who to this day manages the Morsum Cliff and Braderup Heath nature reserves and brings an important part of environmental education on the island to life, until 1994.

Dr. Roland Klockenhoff has been the third chairman of the island's first nature conservation association since its founding.Roland Klockenhoff performed his civilian service at the Wadden Sea Conservation Station in Hörnum. He studied medicine in Kiel and, starting in 1985, completed part of his medical training at the North Sea Clinic. When Dr. Herbert Sieg gave up his practice in Keitum five years later, he took it over and became self-employed. At the end of 2020, he closed his Keitum practice and has since been in [location missing]. Restless retirement. Since 1994, Roland Klockenhoff has been one of the key volunteers in Sylt's nature conservation efforts. 

As a doctor, as a conservationist and local politician, he is characterized by a constant holistic and imaginative approach He is a man who, despite his perseverance, is always willing to seek and follow new paths off the beaten track. He has long advocated that especially children from Sylt through the sensory experience of nature, they should develop an awareness of the sensitivity of their habitat. "Because only what you experience with all your senses can you truly protect."This is one of Roland Klockenhoff's convictions. The Sylt Nature Conservation Association has been offering children's and youth groups for 20 years., who experience and learn about nature together on a weekly basis and are actively involved in nature conservation. 

The “Hamburger Abendblatt” interview with Dr. Roland Klockenhoff on the occasion of the club's 100th anniversary can be found here: