Botanical Garden Launches Advisory Service to Enhance Biodiversity

The Botanical Garden in Berlin has initiated a new advisory service aimed at promoting biological diversity within the city. This complimentary service is available to both residents and local districts, addressing critical questions such as how to create nature-friendly green spaces in Berlin and the significance of using regional seeds and native plants.

Thomas Borsch, the director of the Botanical Garden, emphasized the necessity of collaborative efforts to improve knowledge about botanical conservation among the broader Berlin community. He remarked on the importance of moving away from generic flowering plants commonly found in commercial stores.

Philine Zieschang, who heads the newly established advisory center, highlighted that not all wildflower seeds, despite their appealing labels, should be indiscriminately scattered. She warned that well-meaning individuals might inadvertently cause harm to local ecosystems.

Despite Berlin's reputation as one of Europe's greenest capitals, the Botanical Garden reported concerning statistics: approximately one-sixth of the over 1,500 native fern and flowering plant species are considered extinct or missing, while about one-third of the remaining species are currently at risk.

The advisory service, titled "Urban Biodiversity, Urban Ecology, and Botanical Conservation," operates from Tuesday to Thursday, between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM. In addition to this initiative, the Nature Conservation Foundation also runs a consulting service dedicated to preserving biological diversity in the capital.