Nature and cultural heritage protector Franz Weber has died

For over 50 years, Basel-born Franz Weber championed the protection of wildlife and nature as a true pioneer.

Through his wide-ranging actions, campaigns and initiatives — including campaigns against the seal hunt in Canada and for the protection of elephants, for the preservation of the Lavaux vineyards, the Danube wetlands in Austria, and for the rescue of the Grand Hotel Giessbach — he became internationally renowned. On Tuesday, 2 April 2019, the founder and honorary president of the Fondation Franz Weber passed away at the age of 91.

With deep sorrow, yet filled with profound gratitude, his family, staff, friends and fellow campaigners of the Fondation Franz Weber bid farewell to Franz Weber, who passed away in the evening hours of 2 April 2019 in Bern at the age of 91.

I am losing my beloved father and my guide in the fight for a world worth living in.

Franz Weber's daughter Vera Weber

The current president of the Fondation Franz Weber took over from her father at the helm of the internationally renowned organisation for the protection of animals, nature, landscapes and cultural heritage nearly five years ago.

Through his campaigns, Franz Weber made history — both nationally and internationally. Franz Weber's “awakening moment” came in 1965 in Surlej near Silvaplana. The idyllic hamlet of 30 souls in the Engadin was to be transformed into a town of 25,000 inhabitants. His outrage at the project turned the then Paris-based, renowned journalist into Switzerland's first environmentalist. Franz Weber organised an intensive media campaign and raised the funds necessary to acquire parcels of land indispensable to the construction project and place a building ban on them. The rescue of Surlej, which brought Franz Weber international recognition, marks the beginning of a total of 150 campaigns to save animals, landscapes and cultural monuments.

Franz Weber began receiving calls for help from all over. Through his campaigns, actions, and initiatives, he saved the gardens of Lausanne-Ouchy from a poorly planned motorway access road, the Lavaux wine region from being blighted by construction projects, and the Danube wetlands from a gigantic hydroelectric power plant. His historic milestones include his fight against seal hunting alongside fellow campaigner Brigitte Bardot, his efforts against the ivory trade, the rescue of Delphi in Greece from massive industrialization projects, and what was arguably the world's first crowdfunding campaign — under the slogan «Giessbach dem Schweizervolk» — which saved the historic grand hotel above Lake Brienz from demolition.

The fire of Franz Weber, his complete dedication to the protection of nature, animals, and homeland, burns on in us, in me. Carried by his unique life's work, by the many unparalleled campaigns and years of experience, the Fondation Franz Weber is and remains a successful institution in the fight for a world worth living in.»

Vera Weber

A public memorial ceremony will be held at the beginning of summer at the Grandhotel Giessbach. Further information about this event will follow in due course.

What Franz Weber achieved through his uncompromising commitment to environmental protection is unique in Switzerland.

Brief Biography

Franz Weber (27.07.1927 – 02.04.2019), born and raised in Basel, founded the «Fondation Franz Weber» in 1975. Through his successful campaigns and initiatives, Franz Weber is regarded as Switzerland's first and best-known advocate for nature, animals, landscapes, and cultural heritage.