Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

Germany’s National Strategy on Biological Diversity encompasses a broad dialogue process with key stakeholders from the public sector, industry, science and civil society [ ] 111 Targeted conversations for communities The core events of the NBS dialogue process are the national forums which bring all target groups and topic-specific dialogues together once a year and give stakeholders the opportunity to network and discuss new instruments, measures and focal points for implementing the national strategy. Around 250 people partici- pate in each event, from federal and Länder (federal state) level and also from associations, science, industry and many other areas of society. The forums serve to promote closer cooperation and better understand- ing within and between different stakeholder groups. For example, in 2013, Enterprise Biological Diversity 2020, a platform for action and dia- logue between business, government and nature conservation, pursued the objective of incorporating biological diversity into business management, taking account of the impacts of eco- nomic activity on biological diversity across the supply chain. A dialogue with municipali- ties, launched in 2010 with a joint declaration on municipal nature conservation by a number of cities, municipalities and districts, led to the Municipalities for Biological Di- versity alliance in 2012. The initial 60 signatories have now grown to 140, all of which have come together to take action for biodiversity conserva- tion at municipal level. Religious communities joined the conversation in 2015 with the Inter-religious Action Alliance for Biological Diversity, which focus- es on ensuring and protecting the integrity of nature with a platform for inter-religious exchange and cooper- ation between religious communities, nature conservation associations and scientific community. Youth Congresses on Biodiversity take place every three years and give young people the opportunity to deepen their knowledge on biologi- cal diversity though workshops and excursions. Participants engage in projects for biological diversity with professional supervision after the congress. Activities in Germany for the UN Decade on Biodiversity 2011–2020 are closely linked to the implemen- tation of the NBS. Activities improve awareness of biological diversity throughout society by means of pro- ject competitions, media and public relations work. In addition, a weekly competition recognises projects that have worked in an exemplary manner for the conservation, sustainable use or awareness of biological diversity. Young people at the Youth Congress on Biodiversity 2017 Germany G ermany’s National Strategy on Biological Diversity (NBS), adopted in 2007, aims to halt the further loss of biological diversity through the realisation of around 330 targets and 430 measures. Based on the principles of the Convention on Biological Diversity, it includes the guiding principle of sustainability, taking account of ecological, economic and social aspects. It encompasses a broad dialogue process with key stakeholders from the public sector, industry, science and civil society. Regular information, discussion and working events support the establishment of long-term networks and cooperation. Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt