The Biodiversity Strategy is being drafted by an interdisciplinary team of scientists from the Institute of Biology, the Botanic Garden, the Sustainability and Energy Unit, and members of various projects, such as the Blooming Campus, UniGardening, GreenFUBibs, the NUN Coordination Office, and SUSTAIN IT! initiatives.

The strategy is intended to build upon the goals outlined in the Sustainability Mission Statement and the Climate Emergency Declaration, to which the university committed itself in 2016 and 2019, respectively. With a new Biodiversity Strategy, Freie Universität also intends to contribute to the following goals:

• Goals 14 “Life under Water” and 15 “Life on Land” of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Goals of the UN Convention on Biodiversity (1992)
• Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) (1999)
• EU Regulation on Invasive Species (2014)
• Soil Strategy of the European Union (2021)
• Berlin’s Biodiversity Strategy and its action plan (2024)
• Regular validation of Freie Universität’s environmental management in accordance with the European EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) seal of approval

The concept of the Biodiversity Strategy focuses on promoting the biodiversity of fauna, flora, and microorganisms as well as protecting the ecosystems on the university campus. This should include all university buildings and grounds as well as their maintenance.

The strategy is to be developed with the participation of the university community. Any members of the university interested in contributing to the process will have the opportunity to share their ideas and suggestions in a Think Camp on March 21, 2024.

The Biodiversity Strategy will be presented on May 22, 2024, as part of the opening of the Year of Biodiversity.

By the end of 2024, the experts in the biodiversity team will develop action papers containing concrete goals and measures. The strategy applies to all areas of action that have an impact on biodiversity on the university’s campus, from green spaces to buildings and other structures. The action papers identify measures to mitigate biodiversity loss and to promote biodiversity. These measures are to be structurally anchored in Freie Universität’s green space management.