Biodiversity
What is biological diversity?
Biological diversity, or biodiversity, means the diversity of life on Earth – the variability among living organisms and the ecological complexes of which they are part. Three levels of biodiversity are distinguished: first, the diversity of ecosystems, ecological communities, habitats and landscapes, second, the diversity among species, and third, the genetic variety within species.
Facts about biodiversity BfN-publications on the topic
Event tip!
European Conference on Climate Change and Nature Conservation
The conference "Climate Change and Nature Conservation in Europe - an ecological, policy and economic perspective" will be held from June 25-27, 2013 in Bonn/Germany. Every second year, the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) convenes symposia on "Biodiversity and Climate Change". This year's focus will be on adaptation to climate change in nature conservation. The interdisciplinary conference will bring together experts from science, agencies, media and practice. Well-known keynote speakers will be complemented by interactive parallel sessions and a poster exhibition. Applications for short oral presentations or posters are highly welcome.
Further information about the conference, registration procedure and abstract submission can be found here.
Conventions and strategies for the conservation of biodiversity
The main international agreement on biodiversity conservation is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The CBD is implemented in Germany through the National Biodiversity Strategy, which was adopted by cabinet resolution of 7 November 2007.
Apart from the CBD, several further international and regional conventions regarding nature conservation exist.
More money for biodiversity - Outcomes of CBD COP 11
The world's governments have agreed to increase funding in support of actions to halt the rate of loss of biodiversity at the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
BfN is involved into international process developing IPBES, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services
IPBES is an interface between the scientific community and policy makers that aims to build capacity for and strengthen the use of science regarding biodiversity in policy making. It is comparable to the IPCC. The IPBES-Secretariat will be located in Bonn/Germany. The first plenary meeting (IPBES-1) will take place from january 21st to 26th 2013 in Bonn.
Objectives of BfN regarding biodiversity conservation
Two of the main objectives of the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) are the conservation and the promotion of biodiversity. This ranks equally with the objectives of promoting sustainable use of biodiversity and promoting nature conservation as an overall responsibility of society.
