Biodiversity is defined as the variety of life on earth, comprising all organisms, species and populations, their genetic diversity and the diversity of communities and ecosystems. Biodiversity thus encompasses three levels that must be considered in relation to one another: Genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity.
The world’s biodiversity richest areas are described as hotspots of biodiversity, currently 36. Although they only cover 2.4% of the Earth’s terrestrial surface, they support more than half of the world’s plant species and more than 40% of terrestrial vertebrate species as endemics. The loss of these species is therefore irreversible.
NABU is not only active in biodiversity hotspots, as ecosystem functioning needs to be seen as a global task. Despite NABU as part of the global BirdLife network has a long tradition in bird conservation, it’s efforts are directed to the whole biodiversity.
NABU is part of the LIFE Peat Restore project that aims to rewet degraded peatlands covering an area of 5,300 hectares in Germany, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia to restore their function as carbon sinks. more →
Hutan Harapan (Indonesian: forest of hope) is a tropical secondary lowland forest in Sumatra, Indonesia, and one of our most precious conservation and restoration programs. The forest represents about one fifth of all remaining lowland forest on Sumatra. more →
The marine biodiversity of the Coral Triangle is threatened by overfishing and habitat degradation. We support coastal communities of the Banggai Islands to secure their livelihoods through sustainable fishing practices in line with the Marine Protected Area. more →
NABU and its Indonesian partner in the BirdLife network, Burung Indonesia, completed a project to protect tropical forests on the Indonesian island Sulawesi. The project was part of BirdLife’s “Forest of Hope Program” and located in the province of Gorontalo. more →
NABU and BirdLife International have joined to implement the AfriBiRds project that will support African biosphere reserves in establishing an effective long-term monitoring and raise the awareness on birds’ conservation. more →
In 2015, NABU launched the project “Sustainable Forest and Wetland Management at Mahavavy-Kinkony” to save the protected area in Western Madagascar, together with its BirdLife partner ASITY Madagascar. more →
Ethiopia is a globally significant biodiversity hotspot and is considered to be one of the world's most species-rich countries. The last remaining highland forests have been identified as particularly valuable key ecosystems. However, they have declined dramatically in size. more →
