Insects in focus: Lecture evening on biodiversity at Cottbus Zoo!

Insects in focus: Lecture evening on biodiversity at Cottbus Zoo!

On May 21, 2025, a special event will take place in the “Schlodder” zoo restaurant in Cottbus that will deal with the important topic of insect protection. The lecture series, which runs under the title “Open BTU”, offers two exciting lectures this evening that deal with the importance of insects for our ecosystem and food security. Generating interest in this topic is crucial because the biodiversity crisis not only concerns the loss of natural biodiversity, but also has profound implications for agriculture and food production. How on b-tu.de reported, the lecture begins at 5:30 p.m., admission is free and registration is not required.

The first speaker, Prof. Dr. Klaus Birkhofer from the BTU will inform those listening about why insect protection concerns us all. Insects act as “service providers” in food webs and their role is crucial for biodiversity and quality of life. The second lecture by Sven Hoffmann, member of the Cottbus Beekeeping Association, deals with the importance of honey bees and wild bees. Hoffmann will explain the challenges these important insects face and provide practical tips on how each individual can help.

Biodiversity as the key to sustainable food production

The role of insects in our ecosystems is massive. According to information from the BML The preservation of biological diversity is crucial for sustainable food production. Insects like bees are essential not only for pollinating plants, but also for securing our crops. Unfortunately, insect populations have declined for a variety of reasons, including sealing, pollutant input, climate crisis and habitat loss due to changes in the agricultural landscape.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food in Germany has set itself the goal of protecting biodiversity in the agricultural and forest sectors. Important projects, such as the insect protection action program, are intended to improve the living conditions for insects. Around three million euros are invested in agriculture every year to promote biological diversity. Organic farming, which avoids the use of synthetic chemical pesticides, is an important initiative to increase biodiversity.

Public lecture series as a platform for knowledge transfer

The “Open BTU” lecture series, which will take place from April 9th ​​to July 2nd, 2025, aims not only to share knowledge, but also to promote exchange between science and the public. Topics such as biodiversity, food security and democracy in times of crisis are covered. An important goal of this series is to support lifelong learning in the region and to create awareness of the important ecological connections. During these events, participants have the opportunity to ask questions and exchange ideas.

The series is rounded off by other interesting lectures, such as on May 28, 2025 with the topic “Why I don't give up hope”, where two renowned professors will appear as speakers.