Germany - Artensterben

European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) among dandelions: species of everyday landscapes are often right in front of us, yet not all of them are consciously noticed or named. Image: Depositphotos (Cooperation)

30. June 2026 Doreen Fräßdorf

Nature on the doorstep: Why we hardly know many species anymore

Dandelions, daisies, stinging nettles or sparrows—many people can still name these species. But what about the plants and birds that are typical of meadows, pastures, field edges and arable fields? A new study by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) on species knowledge shows that many characteristic species

Rotbindiger Samtfalter (Arethusana arethusa)

The false grayling (Arethusana arethusa) occurs in dry, warm open habitats in southern and south-eastern Europe. According to the respective Red Lists, it is now regionally extinct in Germany and Switzerland; the last records date from 1977 and 1974 respectively. Image: Gilles San Martin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

23. June 2026 Doreen Fräßdorf

Europe’s butterflies: What Red Lists reveal about their decline

Many people are now reporting something similar: where numerous butterflies still flew over meadows, gardens, roadside verges or embankments in summer a few years ago, today there are often only a few—or none at all—to be seen. Such observations are initially personal and local; they depend on the weather, the

The dwarf bulrush (Typha minima) represents a habitat that has been heavily altered in Germany: dynamic river floodplains with open sandy, silty, and gravelly banks. Both subspecies listed in the Red List are considered extinct or no longer found in Germany. Image: Typha minima Funck Observed in France by Flavien Saboureau, CC BY 4.0, via GBIF

15. June 2026 Doreen Fräßdorf

Extinct or lost: Plants that no longer occur in Germany

The current nationwide Red List of Germany’s ferns and flowering plants, published in 2018, shows how profoundly the country’s flora has already changed: more than a quarter of the assessed species and subspecies are threatened. In Germany, 65 taxa are even considered extinct or no longer found—equivalent to 1.8% of

Moorfrosch (Rana arvalis) - Moore als Lebensraum

The moor frog (Rana arvalis) is probably one of the most famous moor dwellers. It not only inhabits moors, but also other wet habitats such as swamp forests, wet meadows, swampy grassland and floodplains. Image: Depositphotos (Cooperation)

11. June 2026 Doreen Fräßdorf

More than just carbon sinks: Peatlands as habitats for endangered species

Peatlands have long been seen as mysterious, hard-to-reach landscapes. In stories and films, they often appear as dangerous places with unstable ground, dark water and fog—places where someone might sink or disappear without a trace. Ecologically, however, they are far more than this old image: they are among the most

Meeres-Hundertfüßer (Strigamia maritima)

Strigamia maritima: This coastal species was only recently confirmed again in Germany. In the new Red List, it is considered critically endangered—making it a striking example of the endangered diversity among myriapods. Image: Roberts RG (2014), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

15. May 2026 Doreen Fräßdorf

Red List 2026: Germany’s centipedes and millipedes are under pressure

A barely noticed animal world lives beneath our feet. Centipedes and millipedes move through their habitats among leaves, deadwood, roots, stones and crevices in the soil. In the process, they perform important tasks: centipedes hunt small soil animals, while millipedes break down dead plant material and thus contribute to the

Bodensee-Kilch (Coregonus gutturosus) und ein Tiefseesaibling (Salvelinus profundus)

Historic depiction of the Lake Constance whitefish with the Lake Constance deepwater char (bottom left), which was rediscovered in 2016. Both lived in the deep areas of Lake Constance — a habitat that was severely affected by eutrophication in the 20th century. (© Walter, Emil, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

15. April 2026 Doreen Fräßdorf

Lake Constance Whitefish: An example of species loss in alpine lakes

Species or just a form? The Lake Constance whitefish or kilch belongs to the genus Coregonus—a group of salmonids found in cool, oxygen-rich waters across the Northern Hemisphere. In Europe, they are known as Felchen, Maränen, Reinanken or Renken (whitefish). Hardly any other fish group is considered as taxonomically difficult: many forms have arisen only

Red List of breeding birds in Rhineland-Palatinate 2025: Barn Owl

The barn owl (Tyto alba) is among the losers on the new Red List in Rhineland-Palatinate: While it was still on the preliminary warning list in 2014, it is now considered critically endangered. The same trend is evident in the spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes).

7. February 2026 Doreen Fräßdorf

Red List of breeding birds in Rhineland-Palatinate: 55% of species at risk

Birds shape our landscapes, accompany our everyday lives, and are also sensitive indicators of the state of nature. When their populations shrink, it is almost always a warning sign of profound ecological problems. The new Red List of breeding birds in Rhineland-Palatinate clearly shows: The loss of biodiversity continues to

Tobias caddisfly – museum specimen from the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich

A museum specimen of the extinct Tobias caddisfly, collected in 1914, in ETH Zurich’s entomological collection. (© Hydropsyche tobiasi – Foto von E. Schmitt, Entomologische Sammlung ETH Zürich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via GBIF)

23. January 2026 Doreen Fräßdorf

Tobias’ caddisfly: Germany’s only endemic species to have gone extinct

Inconspicuous, highly specialised insects Caddisflies are among those insects that hardly anyone notices. They are inconspicuous, quiet and do not impose themselves on people. In 2002, the Austrian entomologist Hans Malicky described them aptly as animals that “cause neither harm nor any particular benefit”, that “do not sting and do

Wind power – a threat to birds, bats, and insects?

A bird in an agricultural landscape in front of wind turbines: Local risks are weighed against global climate and biodiversity effects. ( © Canva Pro)

22. January 2026 Doreen Fräßdorf

Between wildlife conservation and climate protection: Does wind power harm birds, bats and insects?

Wind turbines are a key pillar of the energy transition. They generate electricity without burning fossil fuels and therefore help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and curb climate change. During operation they produce neither CO₂ emissions nor air pollutants, require little water, and today rank among the most cost-effective forms of electricity

Species-rich meadows are increasingly disappearing from the landscape. As insect species are lost, not only biodiversity declines, but also biomass – with consequences for entire ecosystems.

7. January 2026 Doreen Fräßdorf

New study shows: insect biomass decline is primarily driven by species loss

For years, there has been talk of insect decline. People describe silent summer nights, clean windshields, and meadows where hardly anything is buzzing anymore. What was initially dismissed as a subjective impression has now been confirmed: several long-term studies show that insect biomass in Central Europe has declined sharply. The