HomepageFind out moreThe foundation Statutes Wilderness International Germany
Ecologically intact natural landscapes, the most pristine of them known as "wilderness," give our foundation its purpose and name.
We are committed to preserving wilderness areas worldwide for future generations. This is based on our understanding that in a world with increasing complexity, growing population and urban sprawl, there will be a need for quiet spots in untouched nature in the future, i.e. wilderness areas. In the area of conflict between the preservation of natural areas and industrial development, we are looking for feasible solutions in order to do justice to both sides in the sense of future generations.
We are convinced that we humans do not exist separately from nature, on the contrary: as part of nature, we must learn (again) to live in harmony with it. Only by directly experiencing nature can we learn to understand it and our interconnectedness. The misunderstanding that we humans are not part of nature is the reason why many people see land and nature as a possession and not as a living organism to which we owe our existence. In our understanding, however, we are all born with the obligation to preserve pristine nature in our interest and the interest of our children and our children's children.
We promote dialogue, cultural and knowledge exchange with people and institutions that have knowledge of wilderness areas and those that preserve and protect these natural spaces. In our opinion, indigenous peoples in particular are the ones who have a great knowledge of these pristine, 'wild' natural areas, as they have lived in harmony and in a sustainable way with nature for centuries. For this reason, we will particularly promote exchanges with these preservers of wilderness areas.
In order to pursue our goals, we try to inspire as many people as possible for the untouched nature and at the same time to sensitize them for the threat of these natural areas. To achieve this, we rely on the one hand on a direct experience of nature and the experience of traditions, and on the other hand on innovative, modern methods of communication. For example, we will conduct nature excursions and develop computer animations on ecological relationships to bring people closer to the endangered areas.
We enable people in our home country and in other countries to gain personal experience in wilderness areas, and we especially encourage young people to do so.
We promote respectful, sustainable use of natural areas such as low-impact outdoor tourism as an alternative to large-scale industrialization.
( 1 ) The name of the foundation is "Wilderness International Foundation".
( 2 ) The Foundation shall have its seat in Dresden.
(3) The Foundation shall be a foundation under civil law with legal capacity.
( 4 ) Fiscal year is the calendar year.
( 1 ) The Foundation has the following purposes:
It promotes:
( 2 ) The purpose of the Foundation is realized in particular by:
(3) Within the framework of the provisions of § 58 No. 1 AO, the Foundation may make financial or material resources available to other, likewise tax-privileged corporations or foundations or to a suitable public authority in order to achieve its purpose, if these bodies use the funds to promote the measures pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2).
( 4 ) The Foundation is not obliged to realize all purposes simultaneously and to the same extent.
( 1 ) The "Wilderness International Foundation" operates selflessly and does not primarily pursue its own economic purposes. It may not favor any legal or natural person by expenses that are alien to the purpose of the foundation or by disproportionately high support, donations or compensation.
( 2 ) Founders and their heirs as well as committee members may not receive any benefits from the Foundation's funds in their capacity as founders and committee members.
( 1 ) The Foundation shall exclusively and directly pursue charitable tax-privileged purposes within the meaning of the section "Tax-privileged purposes" of the German Tax Code (AO).
( 2 ) The funds of the Foundation may be used exclusively for the purposes of the Foundation in accordance with its Articles of Association.
(3) The Foundation shall perform its tasks itself or through an auxiliary person within the meaning of Section 57 (1) sentence 2 of the German Fiscal Code (AO), unless it acts by way of fundraising pursuant to Section 58 No. 1 of the German Fiscal Code (AO). The Foundation may maintain special-purpose enterprises in order to realize the purpose of the Foundation.
( 1 ) The basic assets of the foundation, which at the time of the establishment of the foundation consist of a cash capital in the amount of EURO 50,000 (in words fifty thousand EURO), shall be maintained permanently and undiminished in its value and earning power.
(2) Temporary recourse to the foundation assets shall be permissible with the prior approval of the foundation authority if the founder's intention cannot be realized otherwise and the existence of the foundation is not endangered.
(3) Endowments or other payments made to the Foundation with a view to increasing the basic assets shall also be included in the basic assets.
( 4 ) Asset reclassifications are possible.
( 5 ) Reallocation income may be used in whole or in part to fulfill the purpose of the Foundation.
( 6 ) Sub-foundations are permissible.
( 1 ) The foundation fulfills its tasks
( 2 ) All funds may only be used for the purposes set forth in the Articles of Association.
( 3 ) There is no legal entitlement to the granting of Foundation funding.
( 4 ) Reserves may be formed to the extent permitted by tax law.
(5) The income from the assets of the Foundation and any donations not accruing to it shall be used exclusively to fulfill the purpose of the Foundation.
( 6 ) As an exception, income may be allocated to the basic fund assets to compensate for losses in value.
The organs of the Foundation are the Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees.
(1) At the time of the foundation's establishment, the Executive Board shall comprise four persons named in the foundation's articles of association. The Foundation Council may resolve to reduce the number of members of the Board of Management. This resolution shall be notified to the Supervisory Board of the Foundation.
The members of the Executive Board are appointed by the Board of Trustees.
The Board of Directors administers the Foundation. It is responsible in particular for:
(2) The term of office of the Board of Management of the Foundation shall be three years from the date of its appointment. A repeated appointment to the Board of Management of the Foundation is permissible. A member of the Board of Management may resign from office at any time without giving reasons.
(3) The activities of the Board of Management shall be performed on an honorary basis. Incurred proven reasonable expenses and expenditures, if necessary also corresponding lump sums, are reimbursed, as far as the earnings situation permits this. The reimbursed amounts must in any case be reasonable within the meaning of § 55 para. 1 No. 3 AO.
( 4 ) Members of the Board of Management may be employed by the Foundation as full-time managing directors to the extent that the earnings situation permits and the business activities require this.
(5) The Executive Board shall represent the Foundation in and out of court through its members individually.
( 6 ) Disposals of real property shall require the prior consent of the Board of Trustees.
( 7 ) The Board of Management shall adopt its own rules of procedure, which shall also regulate the convening of meetings and the deadlines for invitations.
( 8 ) The Executive Board shall constitute a quorum if at least two thirds of its members are present.
( 9 ) It shall pass its resolutions by a majority of the members of the Board of Management present at the meeting.
( 10 ) The Board of Management may elect a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman from among its members.
(11) If a member of the Board of Management resigns before the expiry of his term of office, the Board of Trustees shall appoint a successor. The latter shall remain in office until the expiry of the term of office of the other members.
(1) The first Board of Trustees shall comprise eleven persons nominated by the founders in the foundation transaction. The Board of Trustees may resolve to increase or reduce the number of members of the Board of Trustees to between eight and twelve persons. This resolution must be reported to the foundation supervisory authority. A member of the foundation council may only be a person who is not at the same time a member of the foundation's executive board.
( 2 ) The Executive Board shall participate in the meetings of the Foundation Board in an advisory capacity.
(3) The Board of Trustees shall decide on the appointment or reappointment of new members by simple majority. The Board of Trustees decides on the dismissal of a member for good cause with a 2/3 majority.
( 4 ) The members of the Foundation Board shall be qualified personalities. This should include persons who have competences in relation to the fulfillment of the tasks of the foundation as well as persons with competences in financial, legal and economic matters. They must not be in a position that could lead to a conflict of interest with their duties as a member of the Foundation Council.
( 5 ) The term of office shall be three years. Reappointment is possible.
( 6 ) The Foundation Board shall elect a chairman and a deputy chairman from among its members.
(7) The activities of the Board of Trustees are honorary. Any proven expenses and costs incurred, including corresponding lump sums if applicable, shall be reimbursed insofar as the earnings situation permits. The reimbursed amounts must in any case be reasonable within the meaning of § 55 (1) No. 3 AO.
( 8 ) The Board of Trustees shall adopt its own rules of procedure.
( 9 ) A member of the Board of Trustees may resign from office at any time without giving reasons.
( 1 ) The Board of Trustees shall have the following duties:
( 2 ) The Board of Trustees shall determine the strategic direction of the Foundation and supervise the activities of the Executive Board in the performance of its duties.
( 3 ) It adopts the budget and approves the annual financial statements.
(1) The Board of Trustees shall pass its resolutions by a simple majority of the members present, unless otherwise provided for in these Articles of Association. In the event of a tie, the chairman shall have the casting vote.
( 2 ) It shall constitute a quorum if at least half of its members are present. Resolutions may be adopted by written circulation procedure and by circulation procedure by e-mail. The written consent of the majority of all members of the Foundation Council shall be required for resolutions passed by written circulation and by circulation by e-mail.
(3) The Board of Trustees shall be convened by the Chairperson or his or her deputy in writing and by e-mail, giving at least two weeks' notice and stating the agenda. The Foundation Board is to be convened by the Chairman as often as appears necessary for proper management, but at least once a year. The Foundation Board must also be convened if at least one third of its members or the Foundation Board requests this.
(4) Minutes shall be taken of each meeting and signed by the chairman of the meeting. They shall be brought to the attention of all members of the Foundation Council and the Board of Management.
(1) The Foundation may establish a Board of Trustees. Persons should be appointed to the Board of Trustees who are particularly committed to the purpose of the Foundation or who have rendered extraordinary services in this context.
( 2 ) The members of the Board of Trustees shall serve in an honorary capacity.
( 3 ) The members of the Board of Trustees are appointed by the Board of Trustees of the "Wilderness International Foundation" for an indefinite period of time.
( 4 ) The Board of Trustees advises the Foundation Council and the Executive Board.
( 5 ) The Board of Trustees shall be informed about the essential events of the work of the "Wilderness International Foundation" and shall be convened for a meeting at least once a year.
( 6 ) Decision-making powers over the "Wilderness International Foundation" may not be transferred to the Board of Trustees.
( 7 ) The members of the Board of Trustees and the Executive Board shall be entitled to attend the meetings of the Board of Trustees in an advisory capacity.
( 8 ) The Board of Trustees is an advisory body and not a foundation body within the meaning of the law.
( 1 ) If the circumstances change in such a way that the Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees no longer consider it expedient to fulfill the purpose of the Foundation, a new purpose of the Foundation, the merger with one or more other foundations or the dissolution of the Foundation may be decided in a joint meeting with a 3/4 majority. The purpose of the foundation must be charitable within the meaning of the German Tax Code.
(2) The Board of Trustees shall invite each member of the Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees to resolutions in accordance with paragraph (1) by registered letter, giving one month's notice.
( 3 ) Amendments to the Articles of Association that do not affect the purpose are permissible if they are appropriate and do not contradict the statutory provisions or the founder's intentions. They must be approved by the Board of Trustees and the Foundation Board with a majority of 2/3 of their members.
( 1 ) In the event of dissolution (liquidation) or discontinuation of the tax-privileged purposes of the Foundation, the remaining assets shall fall to one or more organization(s) to be named in writing by the Board of Trustees, which pursue(s) purposes in § 2 of these Articles of Association.
( 2 ) These organization(s) must use the assets exclusively and directly for these purposes and must be non-profit in the sense of the section "tax-privileged purposes" of the tax code.
Resolutions on amendments to the Articles of Association and the resolution on the abolition (dissolution) of the Foundation must be notified to the competent tax office. For amendments to the Articles of Association that affect the purpose of the Foundation, the clearance certificate of the tax office must be obtained.
(1) The Foundation shall be subject to state supervision in accordance with the applicable foundation law.
(2) Within six months of the end of the financial year, the annual financial statements, consisting of the annual financial statements, the statement of assets and liabilities and an activity report on the fulfillment of the purpose of the Foundation, shall be submitted to the Foundation Supervisory Authority without being requested to do so.
These Articles of Association shall enter into force on the day following recognition of the Foundation by the Foundation Authority.
Dresden, April 6, 2008
The founders