Written by: Ann-Catrin Fender

On Saturday 13th of July 2024, students, professionals and people interested in nature conservation were invited to test their species knowledge on plants at the botanical garden of the University of Hohenheim. 18 participants took the exam for the BANU Silver certification (knowledge of 400 species), and 15 tested for the Gold one (600 species). The certificates awarded by the Nationwide Working Group of State-Supported Environmental Education Centres (Bundesweite Arbeitskreis der staatlich getragenen Umweltbildungsstätten – BANU) are based on uniform examination regulations across Germany and ensure the high quality of species knowledge certification for different plant and animal groups. Given the increasing mobility in the labour market, this is particularly important for both skilled workers and employers. The certification system has a standardised nationwide structure and is divided into bronze, silver and gold levels. Examinees were tested by KomBioTa and Hohenheim Gardens, together with the Academy for Environment and Nature Conservation Baden-Württemberg. The academy is a TVET institution specialising on courses for Environment and Nature conservation.

Before the examination, KomBioTa presented ᴇNᴀBʟs and invited all participants to take our survey on the awareness and expectations of biodiversity and NBS, distributing eNaBlS brochures with the QR code to the survey. All participants conveyed their appreciation at being asked to express their own experiences and thoughts on biodiversity and were curious about the significance and contribution of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) in terms of halting biodiversity loss and what they could do themselves to promote sustainability.