Article

Germany's federal programme for biological diversity - A successful tool for implementing the National Biodiversity Strategy

January 2016

DOI: 10.17433/6.2016.50153398.280-287

Project: Germany's federal programme for biological diversity

Authors:

Michael Pütsch

Bundesamt für Naturschutz

Barbara Petersen

Bundesamt für Naturschutz

Since 2011 a new funding programme with an annual budget of € 15 million for projects helping to achieve the aims of the National Biodiversity Strategy has been in place in Germany. The article describes the general funding opportunities and the thematic range of projects funded up to now by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), which disburses the funds provided under the programme by the Environment Ministry (BMUB).

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Research

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MoorFutures® Integration of additional ecosystem services (including biodiversity) into carbon credi...

February 2016

This report presents the findings garnered during the ‘F+E’ (Research and Development) Project ‘Integrated Peatland Offset Standard: Certifying the ecological co-benefits of CO2 offsets from peatland rewetting’ (2011-2013), funded by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation with the support of the Federal Ministry for the Environment. In this project MoorFutures generated by the rewetting of ... [Show full abstract] the Kieve Polder (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) were further developed, quantifying additional ESS, thus following the rationale behind the TEEB initiative. These additional ESS can now be mapped for the MoorFutures project area of the Kieve Polder. The rewetting of this polder is the first peatland rewetting that was financed through MoorFutures.

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ECOLOGICAL VALORISATION OF THE NATURE PARK BIOKOVO / EKOLOŠKO VREDNOVANJE PARKA PRIRODE BIOKOVO

May 2018

Sustainable management of the Biokovo Nature Park is needed because of the long-term nature conservation and accompanying ecosystem services. One of the most effective tools for sustainable management of the protected area is the ecological evaluation of the protected area. The paper addresses the need for an ecological evaluation of the protected area, which aims to provide the criteria and ... [Show full abstract] information that can be used as a decision-making aid in nature conservation. Spatial analysis of the Biokovo Nature Park was made on the basis of the existing Spatial Plan of the Park. The effect of carrying out economic activities on biological and landscape diversity was analysed in the results. Given the limited possibilities of using the protected area, the use of the protected area is only possible in a strictly controlled and moderate manner. Considering the significant ecological, biological, landscape and historical significance of Biokovo Nature Park, it definitely deserves one overall interdisciplinary approach to evaluation, such as ecological evaluation.

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Chapter 3: Status, trends and future dynamics of biodiversity and ecosystems underpinning nature’s c...

September 2018

Sandra Brucet

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Pasture landscapes and nature conservation. New strategies for preservation of open landscapes in Eu...

January 2002

Low-intensity pastoral systems have long provided substitute habitats for many species adapted to open landscapes in Europe. Modern developments in land cultivation techniques have caused a dramatic decline of valuable habitats, thereby threatening the biodiversity of open landscapes. However, for many years grazing was basically considered a problem by most individuals and organizations working ... [Show full abstract] for nature conservation. It is only recently that the adaptation of traditional pastoral systems to changing socio-economic conditions and the establishment of new forms of pasture landscapes have come into focus as a nature conservation strategy. A number of remaining traditional pastoral systems in Europe and the objectives of concepts for establishing new forms of pasture landscapes were the topics of the 1st International Workshop on Pasture Landscapes and Nature Conservation held in Lüneburg, Germany. The principal requirements for their successful implementation are discussed in this paper.

Chapter

Green Economy und Ökosystemleistungen: Zur ökonomischen Bedeutung von Biodiversität

December 2015

Natural capital, i.e. biodiversity and its manifold services, forms the basis for human well-being and economic prosperity. However, while physical and human capital is largely considered in our day-to-day decisions, natural capital is rarely taken into account through price signals in markets, or in decisions by business and citizens, nor reflected adequately in the accounts of society. As a ... [Show full abstract] consequence, biodiversity is lost at an unprecedented rate that puts the sustained provision of ecosystem services at risk. If the transition towards a Green Economy should be accomplished, we argue that the value of nature and its services for society have to be better understood and recognized in decision-making. By adopting an economic perspective, “Natural Capital Germany – TEEB DE” aims to make nature’s services more visible and help designing institutions to capture its manifold values. The project is the German contribution to the international TEEB initiative (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity). Natural Capital Germany is up to deliver four thematic reports on the economic significance of nature and its services to augment other arguments for nature conservation. The contribution at hand draws on evidence compiled by Naturkapital Deutschland and takes an economic viewpoint on the reasons for the ongoing loss of biodiversity and highlights options to capture the value of nature and its services in decision-making in order to safeguard natural capital and sustain ecosystem service provision.

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CONTRIBUTION TO THE FAUNISTIC RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION OF THE HERPETOFAUNA OF NORTHERN KRESNA GORGE...

August 2016

Due to its species richness, Kresna Gorge is relatively well investigated in herpetological aspect. However, almost all of the researchers concentrate their efforts in the well-known biodiversity hot spots situated in the middle and the southern parts of the area, thus leaving the northern parts almost unexplored. Most of the locations of the researched species presented in this work are newly ... [Show full abstract] identified, since the areas of investigation remained out of the scope of the majority of scientists. In addition the research presents some of the conservation measures in the area, taken by the non-governmental organization Fund for Wild Flora and Fauna (FWFF), which directly affected the prosperity of the researched species populations. The identified nature conservation benefits and possible fails of these measures were evaluated.

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Smart decisions for the environment

June 2018 · Pacific Conservation Biology

Kerrie Wilson

People that are involved in managing natural environments face the challenge of achieving conservation goals with limited funds, and also of balancing needs for nature conservation with competing demands from society. This context has been a motivation for much of my research over the past 12 years, and I will share my career story with you as part of this paper. I will also describe progress we ... [Show full abstract] have made developing methods for prioritising where, when, and how to invest funds for protecting biodiversity. Progress in the field of ecosystem services, combined with progress in prioritisation, has been a key driver of the shift in opinion that conservation investments should be influenced by biodiversity values alone. I will outline examples of the development and application of applied techniques to systematically evaluate the impact of environmental actions, a field that has lagged significantly. The overall impact of my body of research has been to reveal that through smarter investment, significant public and private funds could be saved and far greater benefits for biodiversity and society could be achieved. I finish with some insights into how we can improve the future for women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

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Handbuch Biotopverbund Deutschland (Manual on ecological corridors and green infrastructure for Germ...

August 2018

Magnus J. K. Wessel

A network of ecological corridors as part of the EU green infrastructure is needed. The Manual comprises the essential scientific and general information on what ecological corridors are, how Green Infrastructure works, how suitable corridors are identified and how successful projects can be put into place, influding funding, projectmanagement, communication as well as volunteering issues. The ... [Show full abstract] Manual is PDF only so that over 1000 links to scientific data, maps, projectreports and additional Information are directly accessible via the file. The Manual was fundet by the federal agency on nature conservation in Germany (BfN), via funding of the Ministry of Environment (BMU).

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Natural Capital Germany - TEEB DE: The Value of Nature for Economy and Society - A Synthesis

October 2018

The project »Natural Capital Germany – TEEB DE«, which has been running since 2012, is the German follow-on study to the international TEEB study (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity), which explored the links between the ecosystem services of nature, economic activity and human well-being. By adopting an economic perspective, »Natural Capital Germany – TEEB DE« aims to make the ... [Show full abstract] potentials and services of nature visible and more measurable. The economic assessment of ecosystem services is an important tool to mainstream the economic and social significance of nature in private and public decision-making processes. »Natural Capital Germany« demonstrates that conserving biodiversity and promoting the variety of ecosystem services has significant positive societal effects that underpin the transformation towards sustainable development. Thereby the project also fosters implementation of sustainability, environmental and nature conservation objectives and strategies, especially Germany’s National Biodiversity Strategy. This Synthesis Report brings together important findings of »Natural Capital Germany – TEEB DE« and forms the conclusion of the project.

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Towards a National Ecosystem Assessment in Germany: A Plea for a Comprehensive Approach

January 2017 · GAIA - Ecological Perspectives on Science and Society

We present options for a National Ecosystem Assessment in Germany (NEA-DE) that could inform decision-makers on the state and trends of ecosystems and ecosystem services. Characterizing a NEA-DE, we argue that its cross-sectoral, integrative approach would have the advantages of increased scientific understanding, addressing specific policy questions and creating science-policy dialogues. ... [Show full abstract] Challenges include objections against a utilitarian perspective, reservations concerning power relations, and responsibilities concerning the funding.

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Landscape indicators from ecological area sampling in Germany

September 2003 · Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment

Up to now there is a great lack of statistically reliable information on biodiversity and its changes in the landscape of Germany on a national level. Research was required to develop appropriate methods for monitoring biodiversity. The ecological area sampling (EAS) is such a new statistical approach to provide indicators on the state and the development of landscapes, ecosystems and species. ... [Show full abstract] EAS does not focus on protected areas, biotopes of high value or rare species but on “normal landscape”. It was designed in a way similar to the British Countyside Survey by the German Federal Statistical Office and the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation with support of private companies. Data collection in sample units is done by field survey after a previous interpretation of satellite images and aerial photographs. Detailed analysis of these primary data as well as the computation of main biodiversity indicators which are representative for the whole of Germany fill a great gap from a national point of view. The results are broken down by land classes; the accuracy is quantified by the standard error. EAS was tested successfully in a pilot study in 1995/1996 in a restricted test area.

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Mapping and assessing ecosystem services - Initial steps towards employing the concept of ecosystem...

January 2014

The R&D project titled 'TEEB Deutschland Übersichtsstudie' (TEEB Germany - Overview study) of the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation is exploring options to assess ecosystem services at national level in Germany. The approach comprises the definition of ecosystem services and their attribution to a classification system. Some 17 ecosystem services are derived and prioritized as ... [Show full abstract] relevant for Germany. Indicators and data for these ecosystem services are researched and documented, and pilot maps are elaborated. Many statements about ecosystem services in Germany can be made based on existing data. Thus substantial foundations for implementation of target 2 action 5 of the EU biodiversity strategy have been laid.