Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Federal Government Report under the Convention on Biological Diversity National Report on biological Diversity Federal Environment Ministry Imprint Published by: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety P.O. Box 12 06 29 53048 Bonn Germany E-Mail: oea-1000 @ wp.gate.bmu.de Internet: http://www.bmu.de Printed by: Neusser Druckerei und Verlag GmbH, Neuss As of: March 1998 2 Contents Summary . 7 1. Introduction: The convention on biological diversity: a new way of looking at the conservation and use of biological diversity . 8 2. Background . 10 2.1 Legal and political framework in Germany for compiling the National Report and the national strategy . 10 2.1.1 Participation of political levels, social groups and institutions in the compilation of the National Report . 10 2.1.2 Responsibilities for implementing the national strategy . 11 2.1.3 Links with European activities . 12 2.2 Brief summary of Germany's geographical, ecological and economic situation, existing biological diversity and the institutional and legal framework . 13 2.2.1 Germany's geographical and ecological situation . 13 2.2.2 Germany's economic situation . 13 2.2.3 Existing status of biological diversity in Germany . 14 2.2.4 Institutional and legal framework and current programmes . 18 3. Objectives and Models in the approach to biological diversity . 21 3.1 Models for sustainable development . 21 3.2 Principles applied in environment and nature conservation policy . 21 3.3 Conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity . 22 3.4 Specific international goals and models . 26 3.5 Achieving objectives and implementing models . 28 4. Fields of action and overall strategic concept . 30 4.1 Fields of action on conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity . 30 4.1.1 General review of threats to biological diversity in Germany . 30 4.1.2 Fields of action for Germany in international relations . 34 4.2 Recommendations on strategy in the fields of action . 34 4.2.1 General approach . 34 4.2.2 Cross-sectoral strategic framework . 35 5. Activities and programmes . 37 5.1 Recording and assessing biological diversity . 37 5.2 Spatially relevant plans and procedures . 39 5.3 Protection and conservation of habitats . 43 3 5.3.1 Protection of sites and areas under German law . 43 5.3.2 Site protection by means of government assistance programmes, contractual agreements and other funding instruments . 47 5.3.3 Areas and measures in the European Union providing legally binding protection . 49 5.3.4 Measures under international conventions . 49 5.4 Protection and conservation of species . 53 5.4.1 In-situ conservation of species . 53 5.4.2 ”Ex-situ“ conservation of species . 57 5.4.3 Legally binding measures in the European Union . 58 5.4.4 Measures in line with international conventions . 58 5.5 Conservation of genetic variety and genetic resources . 59 5.6 Conservation of biological diversity through sustainable use . 65 5.6.1 Agriculture . 65 5.6.2 Forestry . 66 5.6.3 Hunting . 70 5.6.4 Fisheries . 71 5.6.5 Water management / Flood control . 72 5.6.6 Soil protection and use . 73 5.6.7 Transport . 74 5.6.8 Urban and settlement development . 74 5.6.9 Military use . 75 5.6.10 Leisure activities and tourism . 76 5.6.11 Biotechnology / Genetic Engineering . 77 5.6.12 Model projects and exemplary cooperation for the sustainable use of biological diversity . 77 5.7. Protecting against chemical pollution and other environmental burdens . 81 5.7.1 Chemical pollution . 81 5.7.2 Other environmental burdens . 82 5.8 Education and research . 83 5.8.1 Environmental education . 83 5.8.2 Research . 86 5.9 Measures to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity through international cooperation . 90 5.9.1 Development cooperation . 90 5.9.1.1 Bilateral cooperation . 90 5.9.1.2 Multilateral cooperation . ..