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        Find out where and how NABU is active in Africa

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        NABU implements nature conservation projects in Southeast Asia and Central Asia

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        This project restores and manages peatlands in five European countries more →

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  1. Topics
  2. Ecosystems
  • Ecosystems
  • Havel
  • Hutan Harapan
  • LIFE Multi Peat
  • Iko Esai
  • Mangrove Conservation Sulawesi
  • ForestConnect
  • Wetlands - Underestimated super ecosystems
  • Mangroves
  • Oceans and coasts - Fascinating biodiversity
  • Grain de sel: Mangrove conservation in Côte d'Ivoire
  • LIFE Peat Restore
  • Chorne Bagno: Protecting peatlands in the Ukraine
  • Climate and forest protection in Gorontalo
  • Mountains - Vulnerable giants
  • Forests - The heart of biodiversity
  • Steppes and deserts - Extreme habitats
  • Gas pipeline Nord Stream 2
  • Living Rivers
  • Empty oceans
Read

Ecosystems


An ecosystem is a complex of living organisms, their physical environment and all their interrelationships in a specific environment.

Intact ecosystems are essential for human life. They provide a variety of ecosystem services, such as climate regulation, carbon storage or drinking water and food. However, due to anthropogenic impacts there are only few ecosystems left intact. The greater part is damaged, degraded or destroyed.

NABU focuses on restoring ecosystems to their original state and the most important regulatory functions such as carbon sequestration. Restoration is ideally done by creating conditions in which the ecosystem can recover on its own. NABU carries out ecosystem restoration projects nationally, for example, restoration of the Lower Havel. Internationally, NABU engages in tropical rainforests like Sumatra and Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Find more of our global ecosystem restoration efforts below.


our projects

An aerial shot of the peatlands in the Slowinski National Park, Poland - photo: Volker Gehrmann

LIFE Multi Peat

This project restores and manages peatlands in five European countries

What Europe needs? Wet peatlands! NABU is part of the international project LIFE Multi Peat that aims to rewet and manage degraded peatlands covering an area of 689 hectare. The project is being implemented in Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland and Germany. more →

Hornbills in Indonesia. - photo: feathercollector/ stock.adobe.com

Hutan Harapan

Protecting and restoring forests for future needs

Hutan Harapan, the "forest of hope", is a tropical lowland forest in Sumatra, Indonesia, and one of our most precious conservation and restoration programmes. The forest is one of the last refuges for endangered species and provides countless ecosystem services. more →

A bird’s eye-view of the Havel project area - photo: NABU/IFA

The Lower Havel River

Europe's largest river restoration project

The Lower Havel is the largest and most important non-coastal wetlands area in Central Europe. The area suffered serious ecological degradation, especially in the 20th century. Now nature is thriving again, thanks to Europe’s largest river restoration project. more →

Mantelaffen im Blätterdach - Foto: ondrejprosicky - stock.adobe.com

ForestConnect

Forest landscapes for securing climate and ecosystem resilience

Fragmentation and degradation are threatening Ethiopia's diverse forest landscapes and thus the country's biodiversity and food security. In Southwest Ethiopia, NABU and its partners are therefore implementing action plans to restore the precious forests. more →

Aerial view of mangroves in Indonesia (Sulawesi) - Photo: Burung Indonesia/ Made Chandra

Mangrove conservation in Indonesia

Southeast Asia’s natural coast guards need our help

Mangroves and their ecosystem services are indispensable for Indonesia's coastal communities. However, the country experiences alarming rates of mangrove loss. In Sulawesi, we support mangrove conservation and identify areas suitable for restoration. more →

Endangered beauty: the Banggai cardinalfish is endemic to the Banggai Archipelago and threatened by overfishing and habitat loss. - photo: mirecca/ adobe.stock.com

Sustainable fisheries management

Livelihoods and marine biodiversity in the Coral Triangle

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 →

Latvia Sudas Zviedru purvs - photo: Mara Pakalne

LIFE Peat Carbon

This project, which is running until 2027, aims to reduce CO₂ emissions in project sites by the equivalent of 37.117 tons of CO₂ per year in Latvia and 3.500 tons of CO₂ equivalent per year in Finland. NABU is supporting the project with its expertise in peatland restoration and communications. more →

Drill monkey in the Nigerian rain forest - photo: Fabian/ stock.adobe.com

Forest protection in Nigeria

Conservation of the biodiverse community forest Iko Esai

Iko Esai in Nigeria, Africa, is home to precious tropical rainforest and extraordinary biodiversity, including gorillas, chimpanzees and forest elephants. In collaboration with local communities and partners, NABU protects the forest and secures livelihoods. more →

Marsh marigolds in a wet meadow near the Lower Havel - photo: NABU / Klemens Karkow

Good grounds for nature conservation

Project: Tax incentives for voluntary nature conservation

What are the sources of money for conservation on private land? In Germany, mainly public funding. Other models exist in the USA and South Africa. The project “Good grounds for nature conservation” asks how to implement tax relief for voluntary conservation. more →

Natural salt production within the Grain de sel project - photo: NABU

Grain de sel

Mangrove conservation and women's empowerment in Côte d'Ivoire

Salt, honey, mangrove conservation: NABU and SOS-Forêts are promoting sustainable sources of income for women in the area surrounding Azagny National Park, such as natural salt production and beekeeping. The focus is on nature conservation. more →

Armenian folk group in traditional costumes - photo: Mountainpix/ shutterstock.com

Creative Mountains

Preserving the natural and cultural treasures of the Caucasus

The mountains of Armenia belong to the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot and are unique in both natural and cultural heritage. With the project "Creative Mountains", NABU and its partners seek to promote conservation and sustainable development in local communities. more →

Mangroves in Madagascar - Photo: Adobe Stock / Punchthanun

Green coasts for Madagascar

Nature conservation and sustainable resource use

The protected area Mahavavy-Kinkony in Madagascar suffers from degradation of its coastal ecosystems. NABU and ASITY Madagascar joined forces supporting communities for restoring ecosystems, improving livelihoods and responding to the impacts of climate change. more →

Hippos! The Lake Tana Watershed has a diverse wildlife - photo: Bruno D/'Amicis

Water for Life

Ethiopia: Partnership for a joint sustainable future of Lake Tana

The largest lake in Ethiopia, Lake Tana, is a source of life for 4 million people in the region. Over the course of the last decade, however, the consequences of increased industrialisation and development have been posing a threat to this vital water supply. more →

Sunset over Madiesenu Mire in Augstroze, Latvia - photo: Mara Pakalne

LIFE Peat Restore

Restoring peatlands, sequestering carbon

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 →

Yayu Coffee Biosphere Reserve is home to Afromontane cloud forests with wild Arabica coffee - photo: NABU / Jonathan Böcker

Empowering Communities

Coffee as model for ecosystem-friendly regional development

By capacitating coffee farmers for better yields and climate resilience, supporting local communities with forest-oriented income and sustaining the biosphere reserve and its ecosystems, we aim to maintain the unique forests of Yayu Biosphe Reserve. more →

Wild coffee beans.

Coffee-novation

Green diversification of Ethiopia’s garden coffee value chain

Kafa Biosphere Reserve is challenged by the lack of sustainable employment and innovation for green development and adaptation to the impacts of climate change. The project aims at structuring the up to now non-commercialised garden coffee value chain. more →

More Articles

Around 60 percent of the original mangrove area has been destroyed - photo: Burung Indonesia
Forests under water

Like many-fingered hands, their roots reach underwater, finding a hold in muddy soils. But what happens when there’s nothing to hold onto? Mangrove forests are under massive pressure worldwide. Conservationist Patma Santi tells us how to save them. more →

Amani Nature Reserve - photo: Nature Tanzania
When the rains don't come

Knowledge building, empowerment and climate-adapted agriculture: These are the core principles of the project AfriEvolve, coordinated by NABU. Its implementation is taking place in six African countries, including Tanzania and Ivory Coast. Our partners provide insights into their daily work. more →

Pipe delivery for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in October 2016 in Mukran on the island of Rügen. Photo: Nord Stream 2 / Axel Schmidt
Pipeline passing marine protected areas?

The ecology of the Baltic Sea is in bad shape, as typical habitats are under threat or have already completely disappeared. According to the current plans, Nord Stream 2 will pass through five protected areas, despite there being no urgent need for an increased gas supply. more →

OUR WORK

NABU's International Work for Ecosystems and Biodiversity - photo: NABU
NABU's International Work for Ecosystems and Biodiversity PDF (10.5 MB)

ECOSYSTEMS IN DEPTH

Peatlands in Latvia - fragile wetlands such as these provide essential ecosystem services - photo: Mara Pakalne

Wetlands - Undervalued ecosystem

More than any other ecosystem, wetlands are experiencing rapid losses. With partners worldwide, NABU works to safeguard and restore these areas.

more
Fighting deforestation is a key component of preserving biodiversity. - photo: Davide Bonaldo/stock.adobe.com

Forests - Biodiversity frontline

Forests are on the frontline of the biodiversity crisis. NABU and its partners work to save, restore and sustainably manage forests worldwide.

more
Caucasus Mountains - photo: Sergei Trepet

Mountains - Vulnerable giants

Climate change and land use threaten fragile mountain ecoystems. NABU reports on the critical work to protect these essential regions.

more
The Ustyurt Plateau in Kazakhstan - photo: Tatiana/ stock.adobe.com

Steppes and deserts - Extreme habitats

NABU works to conserve the precious steppe and desert ecosystems of Central Asia, using community-based approaches to protect their biodiversity.

more
A grey seal rests on a beach - photo: Marc Scharping

Oceans and coasts - Rich biodiversity

Marine ecosystems are under severe anthropogenic pressure. With projects around the world, NABU works to preserve our planet's oceans and coasts.

more

Where we work

  • Europe
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Caucasus
Where we work: Europe, Africa, Asia, Caucasus
Where we work: Europe, Africa, Asia, Caucasus Where we work

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