Ecology meets economy - LIB magazine

Back

Our resource-intensive lifestyle is destroying the basis of our existence. Nature-based solutions offer an effective lever to counteract the biodiversity and climate crises at the same time. The LIB contributes to concepts for sustainable biodiversity management, linking talking points from business, politics, and society with scientific expertise.

Ein illustrierter Hai, an einer Seite ist er fotografiert und nicht illustriert — The populations of 18 shark and ray species in the high seas have shrunk by 71 percent worldwide in the last 50 years.

Around three quarters of our natural terrestrial ecosystems and two thirds of all marine ecosystems have been damaged to the point of being unable to function properly anymore. More and more animal and plant species are disappearing. Current studies suggest that about two million species worldwide must be considered endangered. Global wildlife populations have reduced by nearly 70 percent in the course of the past 50 years. Two Analyses show that wild animals and plants play a crucial role not only in ecological cycles, but also in controlling the carbon cycle3, which means that we need to look more closely at the overlap of climate and biodiversity crises.

Ein illustrierter Aal, an einer Seite ist er fotografiert und nicht illustriert — Stocks of migratory fish species such as sturgeon, eel, and salmon declined by an average of 76 percent worldwide between 1970 and 2016.

About 40 percent of all known insect species are threatened by extinction now. The biomass of flying insects in German protected areas is down to one quarter of what it was 27 years ago. Insects play a vital role in ecosystems as pollinators, waste exterminators, and pest controllers. Scientists estimate that the work done by pollinators such as wild bees, hoverflies, and butterflies equals a worth of to 3.8 Bn euros in Germany alone.

The LIB is involved in national and global strategies for the protection and restoration of diverse habitats in Germany and the world’s biodiversity hotspots, i.e., regions with a large number of different endemic plant and animal species. The LIB has allied with scientific and non-governmental organisations is its appeal to politicians in the Berlin and Frankfurt Declaration, demanding an end to economic activity that harms nature. It was also able to celebrate the decision reached at the World Summit on Nature in Montreal (COP 15) in 2023 as a major success to effectively protect 30 percent of the world’s land and sea areas by 2030.

While protected areas benefit biodiversity enormously, they must not be viewed in isolation. Since adjacent areas that are managed by us humans are crucial for the preservation of biodiversity as well, our scientists have been looking at approaches that benefit ecology and economy alike. They develop concepts and models in cooperation with agriculture, industry, politics, and society to make environmentally friendly and efficient economic activity the standard, changing the common approach together to shape a sustainable future in cooperation.

Lachse, Nahaufnahme im Wasser — Migrating salmon suffer from the straightening and damming of rivers.

Simply put:

Nature-based solutions

The term of nature-based solutions refers to measures for the protection, sustainable management, and restoration of natural or modified ecosystems that also benefit human well-being and biodiversity.

Science in the field

When the aphid spreads, the predator should be at the start. Together with farmers, our researchers are investigating how pest control can work without pesticides and herbicides. It is an exchange of experiences, perspectives and knowledge.

Read article

Species paradise in the quarry

Our demand for raw materials is constantly increasing. The extraction of gravel, sand, clay and gypsum has complex and often irreparable consequences for local ecosystems. But what is the solution? Stop building? In the GiBBS* project, we think economy and ecology together.

Read article

What does nature cost?

Nature provides us with food and raw materials. It regulates the climate and keeps the material cycle running smoothly, including waste utilisation. It provides us with recreational space and entertainment - all seemingly for free. But the bottom line is that our value creation means overuse and destruction of nature.

Read article