Öko-Institut e.V.: Diversity at risk - How to preserve biodiversity?

Editorial

[Translate to Englisch:] Jan Peter Schemmel, Sprecher der Geschäftsführung des Öko-Instituts

Not always pretty, but vital

Editorial by Jan Peter Schemmel, CEO, Oeko-Institut

It is not considered particularly pretty. And let’s not mention its reputation. But when it comes to one particular characteristic, the termite is unrivalled: it can significantly improve the quality of depleted soils. This makes it just one of countless species that are important for the well-being of nature – and in turn also for us. It is not only the beauty of different plant and animal species that captivates us when it comes to biological diversity. Genetic diversity, species…

Not always pretty, but vital

In Focus

The endangered grass snake

Conservation and restoration

The Bavarian pine vole has gone extinct. The rare purple subspecies of sea thrift is at risk of extinction. And the grass snake is endangered. The fascinating diversity of our planet – biodiversity – is diminishing more and more. According to the United Nations, one million species of flora and fauna around the globe are threatened with extinction. The primary drivers are human, degrading land use and environmental pollution. The 2021 to 2030 "UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration"…

The endangered grass snake

Know more, consume less

Consumption patterns and biodiversity

We consume more and more fish. And the oceans’ riches are under severe threat. Our creams and ointments contain palm oil; species-rich rainforests are cleared for palm oil plantations. Food production or cosmetics, mobility or tourism – what and how we consume has a profound impact on global biodiversity. Or to put it differently: our consumption and production patterns are destroying biodiversity and disrupting ecosystem services such as clean air, fresh water and fertile soils.…

Know more, consume less

“The new Biodiversity Strategy cuts across various EU policies”

Interview with Stefan Leiner (European Commission)

Biodiversity in Europe is at great risk; the protection afforded to animal and plant species and their habitats is not sufficient. The EU Biodiversity Strategy, which was developed as part of the Green Deal, seeks to significantly improve the setting for conservation action. Its objectives include the statutory protection of terrestrial and marine areas, the restoration of damaged ecosystems and the reversal of the decline in pollinators such as wild bees and butterflies. In an…

“The new Biodiversity Strategy cuts across various EU policies”