The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and its relevance for Germany

A study by UFZ, funded by the Federal Ministry for the environment, nature conservation and nuclear safety (FKZ 46043/114)

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) is the currently largest study on status and trends of the ecosystems of the world. It was initiated by the United Nations in 2001, finished in 2005 and compiles the expertise of the over 1350 scientists from 95 countries, developed in a continuous review-process. The MA is explicitly designed as a tool for policy advice and builds on existing knowledge, rather than new analyses. It addresses the status and trends of the planet's ecosystems and their services over the last 50 years and discusses possible future developments by elaborating a range of possible scenarios running over the next 50 years. On this basis the MA develops and discusses response options for future policy design in a variety of different fields.

The UFZ-study provides a summary analysis of the concepts and results of the MA and their relevance for Germany. Part I of the study introduces the MA-concept and the Assessment's main global findings. Part II reviews the MA results for specific topics, addressing, in particular, their relevance for Germany. Reported ecosystem statuses and trends and associated policy response options outlined in the MA, are considered and discussed in the context of existing policy measures within Germany. Finally Part III discusses integrated, cross-sectoral response options and draws conclusions and recommendations informed by a German perspective.

The study was prepared by an interdisciplinary team of the following UFZ departments:

Results of the project:

The different reports of the MA and its main results as presentations can be found at the MA-website:

Contact: Dr. Carsten Neßhöver
Department of Conservation Biology