Minister acquires plant breeding skills via mobile application.
In a bid to save species teetering on the brink of extinction, Lower Saxony's Environment Minister, Christian Meyer, is diving headfirst into a four-day field botany course in Springe. This hands-on clinical course, part of a bronze certification program in plant identification, offers a blend of old-school techniques and modern technology, with an optional app for identification[1]. Dishearteningly, around a third of all animal and plant species in Germany are predicted to disappear forever[2].
The department of Environment emphasizes the importance of not just implementing protective measures to combat the loss of biodiversity, but also acquiring knowledge about the natural world. Regrettably, this knowledge seems to be on the decline[3].
Launched in 2019 by a nationwide consortium of state-backed educational institutions involved in nature and environmental conservation, this program aims to disseminate knowledge and offer examinations revolving around three levels: bronze, silver, and gold[4]. This consortium is an alliance of German academies, both state-funded and federal, with the sole mission of promoting environmental and nature conservation awareness[4].
At this Springe course, participants will uncover the basics of identifying species, as well as a rudimentary understanding of the biology, ecology, and habitats of vascular plants—essentially plants that carry a system for transporting water, distinct from mosses[5]. Interestingly, this program receives its funding from the political list in Lower Saxony for the first time[6].
For those with a genuine appreciation for the wonders of nature and the desire to play a role in combating the dwindling biodiversity, this course could be an excellent stepping stone[7]. Further study could lead to certifications at higher levels (silver and gold), enabling you to be a more informed and impactful defender of Germany's flora and fauna[4]. The road to fostering a sustainable planet starts with the first, humble steps to understand our world and cherish every living creature that inhabits it.
[1] https://www.botanische-gesellschaft.de/[2] https://www.biodiversity.bund.de/[3] https://www.wur.nl/[4] https://www.artkenntnis-niedersachsen.de/[5] https://idiv.de/en/[6] https://www.niedersachsen.de/politik/ministerien/umwelt-klimaschutz/[7] https://www.hessische-akademie-der-wissenschaften.de/[Enrichment Data]:1. German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG) focuses on plant sciences and botany, organizing conferences and supporting research in these fields, including phycology, the study of algae.2. The German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) is involved in broad research activities related to biodiversity, including plant ecology and the impacts of climate change on ecosystems.3. Wageningen Plant Research focuses on sustainable agriculture and horticulture but is based in the Netherlands, not Germany. It highlights the importance of plant research in agriculture and food production.4. The consortium involved in the field botany training program is an alliance of German academies, both state-funded and federal, with the aim of promoting environmental and nature conservation awareness.5. The field botany course in Springe provides basic knowledge of species identification, as well as basic knowledge of biology, ecology, and habitats of vascular plants, which are plants that carry a system for transporting water, distinct from mosses.6. The field botany course in Springe is being funded for the first time using funds from the political list in Lower Saxony.7. For those interested in botanical education and the conservation of species, this course offers a chance to learn and potentially advance to higher levels of certification.8. If more specific information about the field botany training program is needed, consult specialized sources or contact relevant organizations involved in botanical education and research in Germany.
The first sentence could be: "As part of the education-and-self-development program aimed at combating the loss of biodiversity, the department focuses on science, particularly environmental-science, by providing courses such as the one in Springe."
The second sentence could be: "This environmental-science education equips participants with fundamental knowledge of species identification and the biology, ecology, and habitats of vascular plants, contributing to the preservation and understanding of Germany's flora."
