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Topics of this issue | May 2024

Natural climate protection: New water along historical rivercoursesExtreme events: What causes extreme flooding?Plastic waste: Large accumulations of plastics in the oceanChemical exposure: Chemical footprints in streamsEnergy transition: How nature-compatible is the energy transition?RECOMMENDED READING: Sufficiency as a “strategy of enough”PODCASTS: Butterfly Monitoring GermanySolidarity agriculture • ARD join-in campaign: Check our streams! PERSONNEL MATTERS • EVENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Natural climate protection

New water along historical rivercourses

Leipzig's alluvial forest ©Mathias Scholz

Floodplains are among the most species-rich habitats in Central Europe. They also improve water quality and make an important contribution to flood and climate protection. However, humans have altered many river landscapes to such an extent that they can provide these important benefits only to a limited extent – if at all. But the story doesn’t have to end there. A project in the Leipzig area shows how floodplain landscapes can be restored effectively in the urban environment. 

Extreme events

What causes extreme flooding?

Saale flood 2013 ©André Künzelmann UFZ

If rivers breach their banks, the consequences can be devastating. In order to limit flood damage and optimise flood risk assessment, it is important to better understand what factors can lead to extreme forms of flooding and to what extent. Using methods of explainable machine learning, researchers at UFZ have shown in the journal Science Advances that floods are more extreme when several factors are involved in their development. 

Plastic waste

Large accumulations of plastics in the ocean

plastic particles with considerable animal by-catch ©Annika Jahnke

Large accumulations of plastic can disrupt the biological balance of marine ecosystems. But which areas are particularly affected? A research team from UFZ has found large quantities of plastic waste and microplastics in a marine protected area in the Pacific Ocean. The quantities were similar to those found in one of the world’s largest known “garbage patches”. The researchers highlight in Environmental Science & Technology that plastics are distributed much more widely than expected. 

Chemical exposure

Chemical footprints in streams

Danube Survey 4 ©André Künzelmann UFZ

If chemicals enter water bodies via sewage treatment plants, agriculture and industry, this can endanger freshwater ecosystems. In order to find out more about the pollution of European rivers, a research team from UFZ analysed around 450 samples from 22 European watercourses and found more than 500 harmful chemicals, some of them in high concentrations. According to an article published recently in Environment International, these pose a high risk for invertebrates in particular. 

Joint Danube Survey ©André Künzelmann UFZ

Energy transition

How nature-compatible is the energy transition?

wind energy ©abby-anaday-unsplash

The German government wants to implement the energy transition. However, related discussions are not dying down because, among other things, the expansion of renewable energies can have a negative impact on nature. UFZ’s EE Monitor uses 41 indicators to describe the status of the expansion of renewable energies. The core message is that a nature-compatible energy transition can succeed if plants are technologically more efficient and the land provided for them is better utilised.

RECOMMENDED READING

Sufficiency as a “strategy of enough”

How can we become more ecological and fairer at the same time? Sufficiency aims to reduce the consumption of goods and services with a particularly harmful impact on the environment. It is often only discussed as an individual lifestyle issue. However, it is a structural task that requires an appropriate political and economic framework. The German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU), in which Prof. Wolfgang Köck and Prof. Josef Settele from the UFZ are involved, invites you to join the discussion.

PODCAST

Butterfly Monitoring Germany

What’s that fluttering in the meadow?

Butterfly Monitoring Germany ©Ulrike Schäfer

Since the spring of 2005, volunteers from the Butterfly Monitoring Germany programme have been recording which diurnal butterflies are out and about on defined transects every week. The data is important because it documents the development of butterfly species and reveals trends. UFZ biologist Elisabeth Kühn coordinates the project and explains in a podcast how butterfly populations are developing and why they are important indicators of the state of ecosystems. 

Solidarity agriculture 

Working together for a sustainable diet

solidarity agriculture ©Netzwerk Solidarische Landwirtschaft

Numerous private individuals jointly bear the costs of a farm and receive its harvests in return. This is the model of “solidarity agriculture” (Solawi). A transdisciplinary research team with UFZ involvement is analysing how farms in structurally weak regions can switch to this model. UFZ agroecologist Dr Lukas Egli reports in a podcast on the conditions under which this can succeed. 

ARD join-in campaign

Check our streams!

join-in-campaign #unsere flüsse ©ARD

On 12 May, ARD presenter Jessy Wellmer launched a join-in campaign in which people across Germany are called upon to examine small streams in their area and document their observations. The UFZ team led by Prof. Aletta Bonn and Julia von Gönner will provide expert support for the campaign. It will run until the end of September - so get out into nature and take part!

PERSONNEL MATTERS

Thorsten Wiegand ©Sebastian Wiedling UFZ

Dr Thorsten Wiegand

Ecosystem modeller Thorsten Wiegand from UFZ has received around 2.5 million euros from the European Research Council (ERC) for research in the field of theoretical ecology. Over the next five years, he and his UFZ colleague Prof. Andreas Huth will develop a theory to understand the spatial dynamics and stability of species-rich forests. This is the second ERC Advanced Grant for the scientists.

Wolfgang Köck, Josef Settele ©André Künzelmann UFZ

Prof. Wolfgang Köck & Prof. Josef Settele

German Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke has appointed 16 renowned scientists to the Scientific Advisory Board for Natural Climate Protection (WBNK). Among them are environmental lawyer Wolfgang Köck and agricultural biologist Josef Settele from UFZ. The WBNK will provide independent advice to the German Federal Government on natural climate protection issues and provide scientific support for the implementation of the Natural Climate Protection Action Programme. 

Matthias Liess ©Sebastian Wiedling UFZ

Prof. Matthias Liess 

UFZ environmental toxicologist Matthias Liess was appointed by the German Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir together with 11 other experts to the Scientific Advisory Board of the National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products (NAP) and will take over its chairmanship. The NAP contains quantitative targets, measures and timetables for reducing the risks and effects of plant protection products on human and animal health and on the ecosystem. 

Doris Vetterlein ©Susan Walter-Pantzer

Prof. Doris Vetterlein 

Scientific policy advice on the transformation of agricultural and food systems is the aim of the new Permanent Senate Commission of the German Research Foundation (DFG). It takes the entire value chain into account: natural conditions, cultivation and production systems for plants and animals, food processing methods and consumer eating habits. The 18-member committee will be chaired by UFZ agricultural biologist Doris Vetterlein. 

EVENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Environment Week – together for climate neutrality

4/5 June 2024 I Exhibition and specialist programme I Berlin

The German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) open the park around Bellevue Palace for Environment Week. Around 190 exhibitors organise an attractive programme on current environmental topics. UFZ is taking part in the expert forum “Sustainable agriculture”. In addition, scientists will provide insights into current citizen science projects in the field of species and habitat conservation. 

Urban resilience: new impulses for practice

6 June 2024 I Conference I UFZ Leipzig

All German cities and municipalities are called upon to understand urban resilience as a central component of sustainable urban development in the future and to consider it as a cross-cutting issue. But how can this be implemented? This is the topic of the conference, which will bring together stakeholders from administration, politics, civil society, business and science. 

Tomorrow Labs – Science Festival

8 June 2024 I experiments and discussions I Magdeburg

On 8 June, the state capital Magdeburg, the scientific institutions and numerous other partners invite you to the Tomorrow Labs – Festival at the Wissenschaftshafen Magdeburg. Science and future issues meet music and culture. UFZ will be there with experiments and presentations on the topics of water safety and water quality. 

REWILDING – a perspective for more nature and regional development

26/27 June 2024 I Conference I UFZ Leipzig

The conference aims to raise awareness of rewilding as a nature conservation approach and discuss its possibilities and limitations. Representatives of the Global Rewilding Alliance, Rewilding Europe and the German rewilding model area “Oder Delta” will report on rewilding practice. In addition to scientists, practitioners in nature conservation, municipalities and associations are also welcome guests. 

SOCIAL MEDIA

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Text / image editing: Susanne Hufe • Benjamin Haerdle • Doris Wolst I presse@ufz.de
Photo credits: Mathias Scholz I UFZ • André Künzelmann I UFZ • Annika Jahnke I UFZ • abby-anaday-unsplash • SRU • Ulrike Schäfer • Netzwerk Solidarische Landwirtschaft • Sebastian Wiedling I UFZ • Susan Walter-Pantzer I UFZ • ARD

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