At a time when global attention is increasingly dominated by economic crises and geopolitical conflicts, the 38th German Nature Conservation Day (DNT) in Berlin (10–14 March 2026) sent a strong signal: nature conservation remains essential for our future.
The restoration of peatlands emerged as one of the concrete success stories presented at the congress. Germany’s conservation organisation NABU has already restored 10,000 hectares of peatlands, demonstrating how ecosystem restoration can simultaneously protect biodiversity and reduce climate emissions.
Around 1,600 participants and more than 150 experts from science, policy, civil society and practice gathered at Freie Universität Berlin under the motto “Nature – People – Future.” The congress highlighted the urgent need to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change together, while also strengthening cooperation between cities, research institutions and society. Urban nature conservation, biodiversity monitoring, restoration policies and new financing approaches were key themes discussed throughout more than 100 sessions and field excursions.
Moderator Eckart von Hirschhausen in conversation with Germany’s Environment Minister Carsten Schneider. In a lively exchange, Hirschhausen pressed the minister on how biodiversity protection can remain a political priority even in times dominated by economic pressures and global crises, prompting a clear commitment to strengthening nature restoration and climate-friendly land use policies.
Beyond the technical debates, the spirit of the meeting was one of community, resilience and renewed commitment. In times when environmental issues often risk being overshadowed by other crises, the DNT reminded participants that protecting nature is not a luxury but a foundation for stable societies, healthy ecosystems and democratic dialogue.
The Berlin gathering demonstrated that the conservation community remains vibrant, innovative and determined to move from discussion to action – for nature, people and the future.
