The Ecological Society of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria (GfÖ) was founded in 1970 as the “Working Group for Ecology” in Giessen by 18 ecologists. In 1973, the working group was entered in the register of associations as the Society for Ecology.
The first president, Lore Steubing, invited participants to the first conference at the University of Giessen in 1972. Since then, there has generally been an annual conference, which now also brings together ecologists from all over the world.
Gießen has been the official headquarters of the GfÖ since its foundation.
