Department of Biodiversity and People (BIOP)

Our current research covers three interlinked themes.

• We assess spatio-temporal change of biodiversity, using citizen science and transdisciplinary approaches, and we also investigate how citizen science enhances benefits for people and biodiversity conservation.
• We explore the interrelationship of biodiversity and human health and wellbeing and the underlying mechanisms.
• We operationalize the ecosystem approach by assessing the impacts of policy instruments, especially in agricultural ecosystems, to develop effective strategies and tools to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services to meet national and international targets.
  

In our research, we investigate large-scale databases and employ experimental and empirical studies at local, regional and international scales.

A particular focus of our research is on building citizen science and participatory research capacities in biodiversity science. Here, we foster approaches to co-design and co-production in science. In collaboration with many colleagues from science and civil society, natural history societies, museums and conservation agencies,we have for example led the development of the Citizen Science Strategy 2030 for Germany, established the community research platform sMon to study biodiversity trends in Germany, and are building the Living Atlas Nature Germany together with the NFDI4Biodiversity community network across Germany.

Research groups / Hubs

Biodiversity Change & Citizen Science

Biodiversity & Health

Agriculture & Ecosystems