According to Peter Berthold, our bird world has lost eighty percent of its characteristic individual density since 1800 - initially a gradual 15 percent until 1960, then a torrential 65 percent until today. Insects have even seen their populations dwindle by 80 percent in the last 30 years. Similar to birds and insects, the entire diversity of wild animals and plants in our country is currently shrinking.

At the latest since the "bee deaths", it has become generally clear: With the disappearance of the pollinators of many of our crops, the biodiversity disease is also becoming life-threatening for us - we are losing our survival insurance due to it.

Recovery is not yet impossible. A re-ecologization of our agricultural land would be ideal - but that will take time. The creation of new habitats for animals and plants through the renaturation of low-quality land in all municipalities is a suitable immediate measure. The "Every community has its own biotope" project would allow a nationwide biotope network to be set up in a short space of time, which would be economically viable, affordable and extremely effective.

Peter Berthold is one of the most internationally renowned ornithologists. His research on bird migration is outstanding. He was Professor of Biology at the University of Constance and headed the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Radolfzell. Since 2005, he has been committed to the realization of the Lake Constance biotope network. He sees the networking of biotopes and renaturation as the only way to stop the rapid extinction of species and birds.