In January 1954 the Hamburg tradesman, Alfred Toepfer (1894–1993) became president of the association. He had been a member since 1927. Thanks to Toepfer's good connections in politics, the economy and foreign conservation organisations important steps could be taken. In order to honour its founding father, Alfred Toepfer, the former North German Conservation Academy (Norddeutsche Naturschutzakademie) was renamed the Alfred Toepfer Academy of Conservation in 1995.
