Botanical Garden celebrates biodiversity: 300 species discovered during BioBlitz!

Botanical Garden celebrates biodiversity: 300 species discovered during BioBlitz!

On August 1, 2025, the “Botanical Gardens Week” successfully took place in the Botanical Garden of the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU). Over 30 people took part in the event, which was dedicated to biodiversity and was carried out as “BioBlitz”. Participants had the option to use the smartphone app iNaturalist To photograph plants and animals, which were then automatically identified and scientifically evaluated using artificial intelligence.

During the BioBlitz, an astounding 900 observations were reported during the week of June 14-22, covering over 300 different species. The identified species include 13 fungi, 55 plants, 4 molluscs, 171 insects, 28 spiders as well as 4 fish, 3 amphibians, 2 reptiles, 19 birds, 3 crustaceans and 3 other arthropods. Particularly noteworthy are the endangered species found, such as the bee orchard and the mourning rose chafer, which underline the importance of the botanical garden for preserving biodiversity.

The role of the botanical garden

The Botanical Garden at Himmelgeister Rheinbogen, which opened in 1979 and covers around 8 hectares, plays a central role in education and research. Every year around 100,000 people visit the garden, which also serves as a training center for gardeners in the field of perennial gardening. There are notable facilities such as a 1,000 m² domed greenhouse and an orangery.

In order to further invigorate the popular activities, the Botanical Garden is organizing the “Botanical Garden Week 2025” in collaboration with 35 other gardens in German-speaking countries. The aim is to explore biological diversity and bring together all observations in an umbrella project. Participants can upload their observations until July 15, 2025, which will then be subject to a quality check. Awards are also offered for the best contributions, including the best photos and most active observers.

Commitment to biodiversity

The program is led by Darian Benno Tietgen, B.Sc. Biol., coordinated. His commitment is part of a Europe-wide initiative to promote biodiversity. The event includes not only the scientific recording of the species, but also the aim of raising public awareness of the important relationship between biodiversity and human health. The project is also supported by the Friends of the Botanical Garden of the HHU e.V.

Another example of promoting biodiversity is Biodiversity Day at the University of Hohenheim, which took place on June 17, 2023. A goal of 1,000 species on the campus was set and nominated as the “most species-rich campus in Europe”. Such events show how important collaboration between science and the public is to create awareness of ecological issues.

Overall, the HHU Botanical Garden is not only a place for relaxation, but also an important location for research and training that makes an active contribution to preserving biodiversity. The garden offers a free audio guide in German and English to enrich the experience for visitors and expand knowledge about the plants and animals.