Photo: Steph Fennessy

On 13 April 2011, the Book series of BIOTA Southern Africa has been launched by The Honourable Minister of Environment and Tourism of Namibia, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (centre), the Councellor for Development Cooperation of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Windhoek, Dr Romeo Bertolini (left), the Master of ceremony, Dr Julian Fennessy, the chair of BIOTA Southern Africa, Norbert Juergens (right) and numerous guests in the frame of a ceremony at the Goethe Centre in Windhoek, Namibia.

At the same time, also the Website "Photo Guide to Plants of Southern Africa"  has been launched officially. (2011-04-14)

Foto: BIOTA AFRICA/Minnattallah Boutros

International Congress on Biodiversity of Africa at Spier, South Africa, 29 September - 3 Oct 2008

Over 350 scientists from more than 15 African countries, Germany and Brazil, high-level representatives also from UNESCO, IUCN, DEAT, DST, GEOBON, OSS, WWF and representatives of the German and several African ministries and local stake holders opened the five days international congress on Biodiversity of Africa at Spier in South Africa. The discussions on the first reflect the urgent need to continue and further strengthen the well-established partnerships between African and German research institutions and scientists. All organisations underscore the necessity of further developing a pan-African network on biodiversity which will support the national initiatives to conserve biodiversity for the sake of sustaining human well-being. It was highlighted that this African network of observation sites should be well-linked to similar initiatives at the global level. The Brazil representative welcomed partnerships with the African network.

The Congress has been organised by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the BIOTA AFRICA Project and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). (2008-10-03)

BIOTA AFRICA at INSITE

The two paraecologists Donna Kotze and Reginald Christiaan accepting on behalf of the BIOTA AFRICA team the exhibitors award for the best stand which was given to the whole cluster of exhibitors of the German stand by the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) at the INSITE (International Science, Innovation and Technology Exhibition 2008) in Johannesburg. (2008-09-17)

Foto: BIOTA AFRICA/Tene Kwetche 

BIOTA AFRICA at COP-9 side event

During the BIOTA AFRICA side event, six African stakeholders from four African countries presented and discussed their experiences on joint research and implementation of sustainable use and conservation practices of biodiversity within the African-German BIOTA AFRICA Project. (2008-05-30)

Opening of the Global Conference on Biological Diversity, Bonn (COP-9)

The ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-9) to the Convention on Biological Diversity will be held in Bonn from 19 to 30 May 2008.
Changes in land use, coupled with the repercussions of climate change, are the greatest challenges to biodiversity. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) actively promotes the preservation of biological diversity with research programmes devoted to biodiversity. (2008-05-26)

Pressemitteilung: 
Group on Earth Observation – Biodiversity Observation Network (GEOBON)
Neues Netzwerk zur weltumspannenden Beobachtung von Ökosystemen gegründet.

Berlin/Potsdam, 10. April 2008 – Führende Wissenschaftler aus über 35 Staaten haben die Errichtung eines globalen Netzwerks zur Beobachtung der biologischen Vielfalt beschlossen. Das ist das zentrale Ergebnis einer Tagung, die vom 8. bis 10. April in Potsdam stattgefunden hat. Durch die bessere Vernetzung von Geo-Informationsdaten wollen die Wissenschaftler künftig Aussagen darüber treffen können, wo Ökosysteme am stärksten gefährdet sind und mit welchen Maßnahmen sich diese am besten schützen lassen. An dem heute gegründeten GEO Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) sind insgesamt 70 Nationen und 50 Organisationen beteiligt. (2008-04-11)

Foto: BIOTA 

From February 4 to 10, Dr Annette Schavan, Federal Minister of Education and Research, and a German delegation paid a visit to the Republic of South Africa and to the Republic of Namibia. Dr. Schavan also met with BIOTA AFRICA representatives. (2008-02-06)

During the Bali Climate Change Conference the ZDF German Television highlighted BIOTA's role as a contribution to climate change research. (2007-12-11)

Foto: BIOTA AFRICA/Dreber 

The exihibition Africa's Wealth – Exploration, Use and Conservation of Biodiversity was inaugurated at the Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, on November 21, 2007. (2007-11-23)

Foto: REGIERUNGonline/Bergmann 

During a half-day trip to the Cape of Good Hope, Chancellor Angela Merkel informed herself of the causes and effects of changes in biological diversity. Discussions with scientists and politicians in South Africa ranged from climate change aspects to the future development of the countries in Africa.  (2007-10-08)