Panneau 9 Nature Conservation Becomes a New Focus

Panneau 9

Nature Conservation Becomes a New Focus

Starting in 1970, a new era began: The Council of Europe and UNESCO called for nature conservation through international conventions. In 1991, the first European Garden Day was declared. Concerns about climate change began to take center stage.

While the association had spent decades promoting pest control, it now campaigned against toxic pesticides and herbicides, demanding environmental protection measures from the government. Terms like „weed“ and „fertilization“ were redefined. The organic garden, seen as the garden of the future, gained prominence; composting and mulching became common practices. A major concern was the contamination of gardens in industrial areas, which needed to be addressed. Biodiversity and bird protection also gained importance.

This environmentally focused reorientation of the CTF League received widespread support: by 1987, the organization had 37,087 members! This gave it significant social and political influence. In 1994, the CTF League was recognized as a national environmental protection organization. Dr. Martine Mergen, a woman, was appointed chairperson of the board.

The 75th anniversary of the CTF League (2003) was celebrated with a model garden and a flower show at Rue de la Reine, along with exhibitions in supermarkets. Participation in Mother’s Day celebrations also remains a current activity. In 2015, a new framework for subsidy requests from the sections was established.

The association’s statutes, revised in 2021, emphasize „the promotion of nature-friendly gardening and fruit growing.“