Located just 24km from the border of Austria, Lake Königssee sits next to Berchtesgaden. Berchtesgaden is a tiny, beautiful alpine village located in the Bavaria region of Germany, and is only a 45 minute car ride to Salzburg. The mountainous paradise surrounding Lake Königssee is called Berchtesgaden National Park; a protected UNESCO biosphere reserve. Once the hunting grounds of Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria, the national park was a sanctuary of quietness and tranquillity. This rule still remains in place generations later. The lake is considered the cleanest lake in Germany – the water is even drinkable – due to the measures taken by Germany’s government and the people of Berchtesgaden. Electric barges are used for transportation across the lake, taking tourists to and from the national park. Coupled with this, motorboats are not allowed in the area thanks to the decree of Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria: no noise on Lake Königssee.

This natural landscape has great significance, as it serves as educational example of combining, tourism, tradition, and the conservation and preservation of natural lands. The lake, national park, and town of Berchtesgaden have shown that community collaboration can create a healthy environment that connects tourists and inhabitants alike with the culture and sustainable ideas of the Bavarian region.

There are only 738 biosphere reserves across 134 countries; they all serve to promote solutions to sustainable using natural lands with a focus on the conservation of biodiversity. It is extremely important to protect biodiversity because we can reverse the issues that come along with a loss of biodiversity. As well it would lead to a great decrease in the ecosystem services that are provided to humans such as carbon sequestration, food, and clean water. Berchtesgaden National Park, when compared to other UNESCO biosphere reserves, serves as an educational center for understanding sustainable development across a variety of ecological, social, and economic contexts affecting the lives of everyone living in our home, Earth.

I find that the cultural significance coupled with Germany’s passion for preservation allowed this paradise to be created. Though the United States are not known for a traditional, collective philosophy of protecting our planet and resources, I believe that creating a similar educational example in the United States is possible. A community culture combined with a passion for sustainable development could sprout a natural area formed by community involvement and education. I think that the most suitable type of site would be a smaller national park, more accustomed to soft-tourism. I am confident that the United States can also have exemplary sites that promote sustainable development across a variety of contexts.