Digitize the Planet
Board
The four-member board is composed of representatives from nature conservation, tourism, outdoor sports, and tour portals. This gives the association a broad range of expertise, a deep understanding of stakeholders’ needs, and strong networking capabilities.
During the 4nd General Assembly in June 2024, the board, which has been active since the founding of the association, was re-elected.
Registered Office Mailing Address
Digitize the Planet e.V.
Kreuzbergstraße 20
10965 Berlin
Mail: mail@digitizetheplanet.org
Tel: +49 151 1542 0423
Hartmut Wimmer
Chairperson
Effective visitor management is only possible on a digital basis. Once the guest is on-site, it’s too late. Through digital platforms, every guest can access information about which areas are open and which are closed. They can also get an overview of local regulations, laws, and restrictions.
After graduating in engineering from the University of Munich, Hartmut Wimmer founded his own engineering firm in 1994 before shifting his focus to tourism infrastructure. Confronted with challenges in tour planning, he decided to find a solution for the standardized collection of valuable information. This idea led to the founding of Outdooractive in 2008. Since then, Hartmut’s goal has been to create the world’s largest outdoor platform using pioneering technology. A passionate outdoor enthusiast himself, Hartmut aims to create a virtual home for like-minded individuals to share their nature experiences.
Since the founding of Digitize the Planet, he has been actively involved as the Chairperson. Through his pioneering work in digitalization, he understands exactly what is needed for our new association to succeed.
Dr. Neele Larondelle
2. Chairperson
The digital management of visitors is an increasingly challenging task for the administrative bodies of National Natural Landscapes. Rising visitor numbers and the wide variety of (often unchecked) digital offerings make it difficult for visitors to adequately inform themselves about the rules and regulations in place. The goal must be to protect sensitive areas within Germany’s most valuable landscapes while still enabling remarkable nature experiences. Achieving this is only possible through effective information and communication. Building a comprehensive data foundation from a single source is an essential step—and I am glad to have been part of shaping this process with Digitize the Planet from the very beginning.
Neele Larondelle studied Regional Sciences at the University of Potsdam and Natural Resource Management at TU Dresden. After various stays abroad, she completed her Ph.D. at the Chair of Landscape Ecology at Humboldt University in Berlin. In collaboration with The New School in New York City, she researched socio-ecological relationships in urban areas and developed assessment and modeling methods for ecosystem services.
Until 2016, she worked at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, where she studied conflict potential and communication strategies in urban forests as recreational spaces. Since 2016, she has been with Nationale Naturlandschaften e.V., where she leads the Protected Area Management and Conservation department. In January 2020, she was appointed Deputy Managing Director.
Since the founding of Digitize the Planet, she has been actively involved as the Vice Chairperson, giving a voice to the National Natural Landscapes within the organization.
Mathias Behrens-Egge
3. Chairperson
Nature sports and outdoor activities are increasingly guided by digital information: digital mapping services, offerings from travel destinations and organizers, tour portals, recommendations, or community input. To avoid complete confusion, it is urgently necessary to structure this data in a customer-oriented way. To prevent conflicts, valid regulations (e.g., access rights, detours, seasonal offerings) should naturally be taken into account. For this, information about these regulations must be readily available. I see a need for action here and am pleased that the association is tackling this issue in a structured and consistent manner.
Mathias Behrens-Egge studied Landscape and Open Space Planning with a focus on Tourism Economics and Regional Development at the University of Hanover (Dipl. Ing.). He is the founder and Managing Partner of BTE since 1989 and has also been a guest lecturer on “Tourism Economics for Planners” at Leibniz University Hanover since 2009. At BTE, he leads the company’s departments for Active and Nature Tourism and Regional Development. His work also focuses on destination development and facilitation.
Since the founding of Digitize the Planet, he has been actively involved as the 3rd Chairperson. He contributes primarily his experience in tourism and destination development, as well as in active tourism.
Tilman Sobek
Cashier
Tilman Sobek is one of the founders and managing directors of absolutGPS, a company that emerged from the University of Leipzig. absolutGPS is a developer of numerous active tourism concepts, ranging from hiking and touring cycling to mountain biking.
He is also the initiator and founder of the Mountainbike Tourism Forum Germany e.V., which serves as an industry association dedicated to the professionalization of mountain bike tourism in Germany.
