Biodiversity in Berlin: Open lecture hall series starts in October!

Biodiversity in Berlin: Open lecture hall series starts in October!

In the winter semester of 2025/26, the Free University of Berlin will again organize the “Open Lecture Hall”. This was announced on October 9, 2025. The period of the event extends from October 2025 to February 2026. Two free public lecture series will be offered that deal with current and relevant topics.

The first lecture series entitled “Biodiversity in Berlin” begins on October 14, 2025 at 6:15 p.m. Berlin has around 20,000 documented species and is one of the most species-rich cities in Europe. Nevertheless, biodiversity in the capital faces major threats, such as land sealing, heat stress and pollutants. The lecture will cover various topics including soil biodiversity, invasive species, plant genetic diversity, as well as environmental education and citizen science projects. The active nature conservation carried out by the Botanical Garden and the “Blooming Campus” is also highlighted. Furthermore, the role of cities as habitats for people and wild animals as well as the political dimension of nature conservation in Berlin are discussed. Researchers from the Free University, representatives of the Berlin Nature Conservation Foundation, the German Wildlife Foundation and political representatives will be present in this lecture series. Selected events in this series will be livestreamed to reach a wider audience. The Free University of Berlin reports on it.

Topics of the second lecture series

The second lecture series “The Arab World – History, Culture, Society and Politics” starts on October 20, 2025 at 4:15 p.m. It offers a nuanced examination of the Arab world from various perspectives, including history, philosophy, religion, language, politics and society. The main topics include democratization and authoritarianism in Tunisia as well as the protest movements in Egypt. The political transition in Syria after the end of the Assad regime and the role of Islam as the state religion are discussed, as are the situation of Christians and Jewish philosophizing in an interreligious context. Renowned scientists will give the lectures. No prior registration is required.

An important aspect is the protection of biological diversity, which is also important in a global context. The Berlin Senate Administration points out that the Flora-Fauna-Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive are key instruments for protecting biodiversity in Europe. These guidelines form the legal basis for the Natura 2000 network, which aims to protect endangered species and habitats. An important goal is the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, which was adopted in 2020 as part of the European Green Deal. This strategy calls for an expansion of protected areas to 30% and the planting of three billion trees by 2030. It also calls for the restoration of 25,000 km of rivers.

Urban biodiversity and nature plans

The strategy emphasizes the role of cities like Berlin and calls for ambitious greening plans to improve quality of life and combat climate change. Public spaces, infrastructure and buildings should be used as reserves for greenery. The Ecologic Institute highlights that cities are encouraged to develop “Urban Nature Plans”. These plans aim to protect biological diversity and improve the quality of life in urban areas. The central elements are the cooperation between administration, politics and civil society as well as the continuous monitoring and evaluation of the measures.

The need to restore urban ecosystems is supported by the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, which requires Member States to take measures to restore forests, wetlands and agricultural land. From 2030 onwards, a positive trend in urban green spaces and tree canopy is required. These strategic approaches are intended to improve the quality of life of city residents and increase cities' resilience to the effects of climate change.