Peer Cyriacks
Meet Peer
NGO Leader
Berlin, Germany
Peer is a dedicated biodiversity conservationist and environmental policy expert, currently serving as Head of International Nature Conservation & Land Use at Deutsche Umwelthilfe. With over two decades of experience in ecology, wildlife conservation, and sustainable land management, he has been a strong advocate for nature-based solutions, ecosystem protection, and biodiversity restoration. Passionate about translating scientific research into actionable policies, Peer works to strengthen international efforts against deforestation, habitat destruction, and unsustainable land use, ensuring a resilient future for both people and nature.
Areas of activity:
Biodiversity
About:
Peer Cyriacks is a leading expert in biodiversity conservation, sustainable land use, and environmental policy, with a strong background in ecological research, wildlife protection, and climate action. As Head of International Nature Conservation & Land Use at Deutsche Umwelthilfe, he spearheads initiatives to safeguard ecosystems, combat deforestation, and promote nature-positive policies at national and international levels.
With a career spanning over 20 years, Peer has worked across scientific research, applied conservation, and policy advocacy, including his tenure at the Deutsche Wildtier Stiftung and as a freelance biologist specializing in river ecology and environmental impact assessments. His expertise lies in developing strategies to balance economic activities with ecological preservation, focusing on forest conservation, wetland restoration, and deforestation-free supply chains.
Peer has been an outspoken advocate for strengthening biodiversity governance, pushing for the strict implementation of the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) and fighting for the restoration of degraded landscapes, particularly in tropical ecosystems like the Brazilian Cerrado. He actively collaborates with NGOs, policymakers, and scientific institutions to advance climate-resilient landscapes and regenerative land management strategies.
With a diploma in environmental biology from Hochschule Bremen and further studies in ecology and natural resource management at the University of Edinburgh, Peer combines scientific expertise with pragmatic policy solutions. His mission is to ensure that biodiversity remains at the heart of environmental decision-making, advocating for a future where thriving ecosystems support climate resilience, food security, and sustainable livelihoods worldwide.
Involvement:
Deutsche Umwelthilfe
Als gemeinnütziger und politisch unabhängiger Verein machen wir uns bereits seit 50 Jahren für Natur-, Umwelt- und Verbraucherrechte stark. Wir mobilisieren die Öffentlichkeit und sprechen auch unangenehme Wahrheiten an. Denn Umwelt, Klima und Menschen brauchen eine starke Stimme. Dafür sind wir da!
Wir realisieren Veränderungen: Von der Einführung des Dosenpfands, über unsere historische Klimaklage bis zum Kampf gegen Greenwashing-Kampagnen! Wir wollen, dass Mensch und Natur in Einklang miteinander leben. Saubere Luft, gesunde Ökosysteme und nachhaltige Ressourcennutzung sind für uns keine Träume, sondern die Grundlage einer lebenswerten Zukunft.