Biological Station CitiesRegion Aachen | Nature Conservation & Events

The Biological Station CitiesRegion Aachen e.V. is one of the most important points of contact for practical nature conservation, expert advice, and nature-related public relations in Stolberg. Since October 1998, the team has been working on the Berzelius site to strengthen nature conservation efforts in the CitiesRegion. The station sees itself as a non-profit association supported by nature conservation organizations, the district farmers' association, the forest farmers' association, and the CitiesRegion Aachen. This combination of volunteer work, agriculture, and administration gives it a unique character: it is not just about pure theory, but about concrete measures on the ground, the management of protected areas, contractual nature conservation, orchards, and projects that make biodiversity practically visible. Those looking for information about the Biological Station CitiesRegion Aachen, events, opening hours, or advice related to nature and landscape will find here an institution that combines regional responsibility with extensive expertise. The current offerings and events also show that nature experiences and nature conservation belong together here. ([bs-aachen.de](https://www.bs-aachen.de/de/die-station/))

The Station, its History and its Mission

The history of the Biological Station officially began in October 1998. Since then, it has pursued the goal of strengthening nature conservation work in the CitiesRegion Aachen and making the nature conservation work on-site closer, faster, and more practical. The station's location on the Berzelius site in Stolberg is not just an address, but also a sign that nature conservation is anchored in this region amidst everyday life. The station is not an isolated institution but a networking point between experts, land users, engaged associations, and public authorities. Because the members are so diverse, the Biological Station can build a bridge: between nature-friendly management and protection interests, between administration and practice, between environmental education and concrete action on the ground. This profile is very clearly recognizable on the website and forms the basis for many of the tasks, projects, and events described there. ([bs-aachen.de](https://www.bs-aachen.de/de/die-station/))

The self-description on the website also makes clear what the station stands for: nature and species conservation, management of protected areas, advice on contractual nature conservation, and the implementation of practical measures. This is a broad field of tasks, ranging from collecting ecological data to carrying out maintenance operations. The station therefore works not only in planning but also in execution. It accompanies areas, analyzes developments, and supports partners in maintaining or improving habitats in the long term. Another aspect that is particularly visible to many people is that the station invites to events on-site and connects expert content with concrete nature experiences. This creates a location where protection, knowledge, and communication come together closely. Those who know the Biological Station CitiesRegion Aachen quickly realize that a regional competence center for nature and landscape conservation has emerged here, which has been working reliably for many years and consistently thinks about its topics from the perspective of preserving biological diversity. ([bs-aachen.de](https://www.bs-aachen.de/?utm_source=openai))

The non-profit character is particularly important because it also explains the working method of the station. The sponsorship by various associations and the CitiesRegion ensures that different perspectives flow into the work. This is precisely where the strength with which the Biological Station approaches its tasks in the Aachen region arises. It can not only manage nature conservation but also organize it together. It can bring expert concepts into practice while also addressing people who are interested in habitats, native species, and sustainable use. This bridging between the professional world and the public is one of the reasons why the station in Stolberg is perceived not just as an address but as a regional institution. The mix of expertise, citizen engagement, and project depth makes it a special location for all those interested in nature reserves, orchards, contractual nature conservation, or environmental education. ([bs-aachen.de](https://www.bs-aachen.de/de/die-station/traegerverein/))

Managing, Monitoring, and Developing Protected Areas

A focus of the Biological Station is the professional and practical management of areas. According to the website, it manages over 20 nature reserves in the Aachen region. This number is important because it shows how broad the responsibility in the region is. It is not about a single area, but about a whole network of protected areas that must be continuously accompanied. The work includes recording the local fauna and flora, establishing maintenance and development plans, and implementing them in practice. Not only rare species are considered, but also the development of entire habitats. The station repeatedly observes the areas as part of monitoring to check whether measures bring the desired success. This form of work is long-term and thrives on the connection between knowledge and maintenance. Those looking for nature reserves, biotope management, or monitoring in the CitiesRegion Aachen will find here not a symbolic but a very concrete level of work. ([bs-aachen.de](https://www.bs-aachen.de/de/die-station/aufgaben/))

This is particularly evident in the practical measures that the station carries out together with volunteers and school classes. These include creating small water bodies or clearing grassland fallows. Such work may sound unspectacular, but it is enormously important for nature conservation because it keeps habitats open, creates small structures, and increases ecological diversity. The fact that the station collaborates with volunteer nature conservationists and school classes shows its educational and participatory approach. Nature conservation is not only explained but also done together. The station thus conveys very tangibly how maintenance, observation, and protection interact. For visitors participating in excursions, this work often becomes directly visible in the field, for example, when one can trace maintenance measures, species mapping, or the development of certain areas. The institution thus provides a lively access to regional nature conservation that goes far beyond mere information. ([bs-aachen.de](https://www.bs-aachen.de/de/die-station/aufgaben/))

A good example of regional anchoring is the nature reserve Schlangenberg. The CitiesRegion describes there that in 2011, with the support of the CitiesRegion Aachen, the Biological Station coordinated a large-scale forestry measure in which thousands of trees were felled to secure the open land character and the special site conditions. Such interventions are only sensible if they are well-founded and placed in a long-term context. This is precisely where the strength of the Biological Station lies: it accompanies habitats not only superficially but also implements difficult but necessary measures with regional partners. For search queries like nature reserves Aachen, Schlangenberg, or species protection in Stolberg, this is a strong signal because it shows that the station is closely connected with specific protected areas and their special requirements. ([staedteregion-aachen.de](https://www.staedteregion-aachen.de/de/navigation/aemter/umweltamt-a-70/natur-und-landschaft/schutzgebiete/verborgene-navileiste/naturschutzgebiet-schlangenberg?utm_source=openai))

Contractual Nature Conservation and Advice for Land Users

Another core area of the Biological Station is contractual nature conservation. The CitiesRegion's website explains that in the CitiesRegion Aachen, contractual nature conservation has been organized through the cultural landscape program KULAP for many years, and the Biological Station works closely on this. The idea is clear: agreements are made with farmers or other land users for the management of individual areas, which usually last for five years. Such agreements may include the renunciation of pesticides or fertilization. This keeps areas valuable for nature conservation or allows them to develop into valuable areas. For many businesses, this is a practical way to farm in a nature-friendly manner while also receiving financial support for the additional effort or lower yield. The Biological Station provides advice on this and prepares the contracts professionally. Those looking for contractual nature conservation, advice, and applications in the CitiesRegion Aachen will find here a central regional point of contact. ([staedteregion-aachen.de](https://www.staedteregion-aachen.de/de/navigation/aemter/umweltamt-a-70/landwirtschaft/verborgene-navileiste-2/landwirtschaft-und-vertragsnaturschutz))

The relevance of this field of work is underscored by concrete numbers. The CitiesRegion cites around 790 hectares of agricultural land currently managed under the KULAP program, as well as more than 120 participating farmers and land users. Although this number is from 2015, it shows the scale of the instrument. This is not about fringe topics, but about a considerable area where nature conservation and agriculture are thought together. The content of the offer includes extensive grassland use, measures on arable land, orchard care, and the use of special biotopes. This mix is interesting because it shows that contractual nature conservation in the CitiesRegion Aachen is not a niche solution but a broad state and regional political instrument that is very concretely connected with the work of the Biological Station. The station works with the EU, the state of NRW, and the CitiesRegion. This multiple funding illustrates that there is a viable public interest behind the measures. ([staedteregion-aachen.de](https://www.staedteregion-aachen.de/de/navigation/aemter/umweltamt-a-70/landwirtschaft/verborgene-navileiste-2/landwirtschaft-und-vertragsnaturschutz))

For practical work on-site, it is also important that the station not only explains programs but also provides very specific advice. The tasks page describes that farmers who manage individual areas in a nature-friendly manner can receive support, and the advice as well as contract preparation in the Aachen region is the responsibility of the Biological Station. In addition, it develops grazing concepts for fallow, nutrient-poor meadows and organized, for example, the management of species-rich dry grasslands through a migratory shepherd in Stolberg's nature reserves. This is a good example of how expert advice is translated into concrete measures. For all those looking for nature conservation advice, contractual nature conservation, or land management in Stolberg, this combination of support, expertise, and local implementation is particularly relevant. It shows that the Biological Station in the CitiesRegion not only protects but also finds ways to secure areas permanently in their ecological quality. ([bs-aachen.de](https://www.bs-aachen.de/de/die-station/aufgaben/))

Orchards, Fruit Care, and Regional Products

Hardly any topic shapes the profile of the Biological Station as strongly as orchard protection. The website describes that the station has mapped 1,150 orchards with more than 14,000 high-stem fruit trees in the Aachen region. This number is impressive because it makes the scope of the work visible. It is about an old cultural landscape that is endangered in many areas due to lack of care. The station describes the situation as very alarming and emphasizes that replanting and proper care with regular pruning are vital to ensure that this valuable habitat does not disappear. That is why the institution bundles various measures: mapping, care, replanting, training, and marketing. Those looking for orchards, fruit tree care, or regional fruit products in the CitiesRegion Aachen will find here a very rich field of topics that brings together ecological and cultural aspects. ([bs-aachen.de](https://www.bs-aachen.de/de/obstwiesenschutz/aktivitaeten%20station/))

The orchard work is not only focused on maintaining stocks but also on renewal and knowledge transfer. The Biological Station establishes new high-stem orchards on leased areas, expands incomplete stocks, and catches up on the often decades-long missing pruning of older trees. It explicitly also concerns regional varieties and the long-term preservation of this typical cultural habitat. The areas under the trees are mowed or grazed to maintain biodiversity. Additionally, depending on the area, further measures are implemented, such as barn owl tubes, hedges, or pollard willows. This is technically sensible because orchards not only provide fruit but also habitat for many species. In this way, a traditional utilization system becomes a modern nature conservation task. The station thus conveys a very coherent picture: orchards are not a romantic backdrop but a living part of biodiversity in the CitiesRegion Aachen. ([bs-aachen.de](https://www.bs-aachen.de/de/obstwiesenschutz/aktivitaeten%20station/))

Marketing regional products is also part of this. The station organizes collections of untreated apples every autumn, and in productive years also pears, pursuing several goals at once: economic incentives for the preservation of orchards, regional products, and advertising for the orchard habitat. The tasks page also explains that the station has been active in marketing orchard products since 1999 and buys untreated apples and pears from the Aachen region, which are processed into cloudy juice in a cider mill and then sold back in the region. Additionally, there is a mobile fruit press available for smaller quantities of juice from one's own fruit at certain times and is also used at festivals. Here, the station connects nature conservation with very everyday experiences: people bring fruit, experience processing, and simultaneously support the care of valuable landscapes. ([bs-aachen.de](https://www.bs-aachen.de/de/obstwiesenschutz/aktivitaeten%20station/))

Events, Excursions, and Environmental Education

The events page of the Biological Station shows very well how strongly the institution focuses on environmental education. For events, prior registration is usually required, and registration can be done online or by phone. The offers are mostly free, although the station appreciates donations for biotope and species conservation. At the same time, there are practical tips for participants: weather-appropriate clothing, rain jackets, sturdy footwear, and often rubber boots for many excursions are recommended. This may sound unremarkable, but it is very important for actual participation. The station does not organize purely formal information evenings but excursions and actions where one can be outdoors and experience protected areas, orchards, or species in the field. For search terms like events Aachen, excursions Stolberg, or program Biological Station, this is a clear advantage because the website directly explains how to participate in the offers and what to consider on-site. ([bs-aachen.de](https://www.bs-aachen.de/de/veranstaltungen/))

The current program also provides concrete points of connection. In May 2026, the events page mentions the action New Orchards and Hedges Needed! with funding opportunities for orchards and hedges, as well as a butterfly hike titled The Blue Shimmering Fire Butterfly and Other Butterflies. These examples show very well how thematically broad the offer is: from the practical establishment and promotion of habitats to species observation and nature experiences. This mix is typical for the Biological Station. It appeals to people who want to learn about their region from a natural history perspective, but also to those who want to do something concrete for orchards, hedges, or species protection. The fact that the current offers on the website are always verifiable is also important because events can be changed or canceled at short notice. The station therefore explicitly asks to check the website again before an appointment. This is a professional, transparent approach to public event work. ([bs-aachen.de](https://www.bs-aachen.de/de/veranstaltungen/))

Contact, Opening Hours, and Visit in Stolberg

The contact information for visiting on-site is very clearly provided. The Biological Station CitiesRegion Aachen e.V. is located at Zweifaller Straße 162, 52224 Stolberg / Rheinland, Germany. The station can be reached by phone at 02402 12617-0, by fax at 02402 12617-29. The contact page also lists the opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Those with questions, comments, or suggestions can contact via the contact form, by phone, fax, or email. This is helpful for visitors as well as for those interested in advice, events, or projects. Especially for search queries regarding opening hours, contact, address, or directions, this clear structure is very useful because the most important information is directly visible and does not have to be searched for long. ([bs-aachen.de](https://www.bs-aachen.de/de/kontakt/))

Those visiting the Biological Station in Stolberg will encounter an institution that is not designed as a classic tourist excursion destination but as a professional and community-oriented nature conservation office. Nevertheless, the location is interesting for many target groups: for farmers seeking advice on contractual nature conservation; for nature enthusiasts wanting to participate in excursions; for people wanting to learn about orchard products; and for associations, schools, or volunteers supporting practical nature conservation work. The website makes clear that the station is open to participation and welcomes involvement. This is where its regional value lies: it is not an abstract authority but a place where expertise, commitment, and nature conservation practice come together. So, for anyone looking for a Biological Station in the CitiesRegion Aachen, they will find a very good combination of regional anchoring, practical work, and understandable contacts. ([bs-aachen.de](https://www.bs-aachen.de/?utm_source=openai))

Sources:

• Biological Station CitiesRegion Aachen e.V. - Homepage
• Biological Station CitiesRegion Aachen e.V. - The Station
• Biological Station CitiesRegion Aachen e.V. - Tasks
• Biological Station CitiesRegion Aachen e.V. - Contact
• Biological Station CitiesRegion Aachen e.V. - Events
• Biological Station CitiesRegion Aachen e.V. - Activities of the Station
• CitiesRegion Aachen - Agriculture and Contractual Nature Conservation