Germany - Overview

Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services

Germany has a land area of 357,138 km2 and its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the North Sea and Baltic Sea totals 32,991 km2. According to current information, some 48,000 animal species, 10,300 plant species and 14,400 species of fungi occur in Germany. The largest group of animals is insects, with 33,305 species. To date, only 53 endemic animal species and 85 endemic families of ferns and flowering plants are known... More »

Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)

The main causes of species diversity loss are, to regionally varying degrees, intensive farming and forestry, landscape dissection and urban sprawl, soil sealing and pollutants (e.g. acidifying chemicals and nutrients). In human settlements, negative impacts are brought about by the loss of near-natural habitats and village structures due to building and soil sealing... More »

Implementation of the NBSAP

The German Government adopted the National Strategy on Biological Diversity in 2007. The Strategy formulates visions and establishes objectives and targets for conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in Germany, as well as in regard to Germany’s contribution to conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity worldwide... More »

Actions taken to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets

In 2005, the initiative for the preservation of the “National Natural Heritage” was started. In order to protect this heritage, the Federal Government has consigned 125,000 ha of nationally significant lands to the Länder, the German Environment Foundation and environmental protection groups since then.

In 2007, the German Government launched the “Business and Biodiversity” initiative... More »

Support mechanisms for national implementation (legislation, funding, capacity-building, coordination, mainstreaming, etc.)

As a result of a constitutional reform in Germany in 2006, legislative competence for nature conservation was reorganised. The general provisions of the new Federal Nature Protection Act (Federal Nature Conservation Act – BNatSchG - from July 29th, 2009; entry into force March 1st, 2010) make the objectives of nature conservation and landscape maintenance clearer than in the past, and subdivide them as follows: 1) conserving biological diversity, 2) safeguarding the sustainable usability of natural assets, and 3) safeguarding the diversity, characteristic features, beauty and recreational value of nature and landscape... More »

Mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing implementation

In 2007, a first official report on the state of conservation of the 91 German Habitats Directive habitat types and 230 Habitats Directive species was submitted to the European Commission. Since 2008, federal and land authorities have been providing financial assistance for coordination of the honorary nationwide registration of breeding birds in normal countryside and protected areas, and of water birds... More »