PROJECT BACKGROUND
The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) adopted the “Federal Action Plan on Nature-based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity” (ANK) in March 2023 to strengthen ecosystems in Germany. The ANK promotes synergies between climate protection and biodiversity conservation by supporting the protection and resilience of nature on land and at sea. At the same time, agriculture and forestry should be made more sustainable to provide more space for wildlife and plant life.By 2025, the federal government will publish a report on the implementation and impact of the ANK, based on measurable indicators. The program includes 10 fields of action with 69 measures, such as funding programs, model projects, and research. Key focus areas are peatlands, water bodies, seas, forests, soils, as well as urban and transport areas.
TASKS
Arepo, together with the Ecologic Institute, is preparing an assessment that evaluates the current implementation status of the ANK and the expected effects of the existing measures. This evaluation report will be incorporated into the overall ANK report that the federal government is set to publish in 2025. The focus is on monitoring implementation and assessing the impact of land-related measures. Data is provided by the BfN and supplemented by additional surveys.
The Arepo and Ecologic team analyzes, evaluates, and aggregates the effects of at least 15 pilot/model projects, 16 funding programs, two support structures, and 15 individual initiatives. The partners examine core impacts (climate protection, resilience, biodiversity) as well as synergies (e.g., health benefits). Arepo is particularly responsible for impact models, analyzing implementation barriers, and estimating the ANK’s potential contribution to the federal government’s climate targets. Additionally, Arepo provides expertise for the two fields of action: soils as carbon sinks and natural climate protection in urban and transport areas.