“Naturblicke auf Berlin” (“Natural Views on Berlin”) presents the multifaceted urban nature of Berlin captured in several photographs. This photo project is part of the project “Stadtnatur entdecken” (“Discovering urban nature”) by the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. Funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), new media and digital technologies are used to strengthen public awareness for urban nature and to communicate environmental education. The app “Naturblick” (“Views of nature”) was also developed in this context. This app, which is able to identify bird calls and plant species, helps people explore Berlin’s wildlife.
For the implementation of the photo project, hundreds of recyclable single-use cameras were handed out all over Berlin in the summer of 2017. The explorers used these cameras to take photographs of their direct surroundings and capture their own view of Berlin’s nature. A total of more than 4,500 pictures were received by the museum, which is now presenting a selection of the best photographs. “The Museum für Naturkunde Berlin is a place where various people can engage in exchanges on nature,” says Director General Johannes Vogel. “Our events and educational opportunities, such as the “Naturblick” app for exploring the urban nature of Berlin, impart the latest insights and inspire people to speak up for nature.”
Moreover, the “Stadtnatur entdecken” (“Discovering urban nature”) project is going to be awarded as an official project of the “The UN Decade on Biodiversity” and will get the quality label “Ausgezeichnetes UN-Dekade Projekt 2018“ (“Awarded UN Decade project 2018”). Ms Inden-Heinrich, manager of the “Deutscher Naturschutzring”, will hand over the award to the project manager Ulrike Sturm. “The exemplary, innovative project „Stadtnatur entdecken“ (“Discovering urban nature“) should incite interest in biodiversity and let people experience nature. Therefore, it is a fabulous contribution for supporting the knowledge of species. Especially in urban regions it is highly necessary to broaden this knowledge”, advises Ms Inden-Heinrich. The goal of the award is to draw attention to exemplary activities as well as to stimulate the public’s interest in biodiversity and motivate people to also get involved. The title “Ausgezeichnetes Projekt der UN-Dekade Biologische Vielfalt“ (“Awarded UN Decade on biodiversity project”) is conferred for two years and will be extended if the project is developed further. The activities for the UN Decade are important in raising awareness in society of the importance of biodiversity and encouraging its conservation and sustainable use. For this purpose, the UN Decade supports collaborations with all relevant social groups and initiatives.