There are up to 20 working parties specialised such as in law, water, waste, health, forest, energy, and gene technology; everyone can participate.

The working parties often include renowned scientist and participate in official parliament hearings, comment on new laws and develop ecologic concepts.

The BUND's co-founders were wildlife filmmaker Horst Stern, Frankfurt Zoological Society leader Bernhard Grzimek, politician Herbert Gruhl (CDU, ödp), conductor Enoch zu Guttenberg, forest conservationist Hubert Weinzierl and 16 others including Bodo Manstein and Gerhard Thielcke.

The original name „Bund für Natur- und Umweltschutz Deutschland (BNUD)“ was changed in 1977 for better readability.

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