Nature needs cities: bird excursions promote awareness of biodiversity!

Nature needs cities: bird excursions promote awareness of biodiversity!

On June 4, 2025, a bird excursion will take place on the campus of the Lübeck University of Technology to increase awareness of biodiversity in urban environments. The event, organized by the Lübeck University of Technology and the University of Lübeck, has the motto “What’s flying there?” and starts at 6:30 p.m. in front of building 21 at Bessemerstrasse 5, 23562 Lübeck. Interested Lübeck residents and students from all disciplines are cordially invited to take part in the free event, for which no registration is required.

The tour will be led by Dorian Haeger, a student studying environmental engineering and management. During the excursion, various bird species such as carrion crows, black redstarts and blackcaps are observed. The tour leads through various stations, including allotments and natural green spaces, and addresses the differences in habitats and the influence of urban structures on bird life.

Urban wilderness and its meaning

The bird excursion is just one part of a broader effort to promote urban biodiversity. A recent panel with Christian Hierneis, MdL, and Prof. Dr. Monika Egerer from the Technical University of Munich highlighted the importance of urban wilderness. This not only protects biodiversity, but also contributes to the health and well-being of city residents. The survey on connecting with nature during the coronavirus pandemic showed that almost 90% of respondents valued it.

To halt the loss of biodiversity, proposals to create urban gardens, forests and even tiny forests have been discussed. These small mini-forests provide habitat for a variety of plants and animals, while projects such as converting parking lots into parklets can create new green oases in the city.

Urban development in the field of tension

The current discussion about urban biodiversity is faced with the increasing challenge that urban politics is playing off living space and green spaces against each other. In Frankfurt, for example, the planned concreting of wild gardens is viewed critically. Instone Real Estate plans to build 1,500 high-priced apartments there, which many consider to be ecologically devastating. Critics argue that this does not solve the housing issue and rather reflects the financial pressures of the real estate market.

The event on critical of capitalism and ecological perspectives in Frankfurt will offer planned discussions and workshops to illuminate the contradictions between social and ecological aspects in urban spaces. These topics may also have greater relevance to the upcoming bird excursion as they highlight the need for greater consideration of nature in urban planning processes.

The upcoming bird excursion not only offers an opportunity to observe birds, but also to reflect on the influence of urban structures on nature and on the responsibility of city residents towards their environment.

For more information about the bird excursion visit the University of Lübeck or find out more about the discussions on urban biodiversity Ursula Sowa and the Frankfurt info.