The Botanical Garden at Ulm University is taking part in the nationwide BioBlitz project organised by the Association of Botanical Gardens - and all interested citizens can join in. During the "Botanical Garden Week" from 14 to 22 June, anyone can collect wild species via app until your smartphone runs hot! Every observation counts. In addition to workshops on how the app works, the Botanical Garden is also offering a bird tour and excursions into the natural habitats of the forest, meadow and pond.
A peacock butterfly flies across the meadow, a toad swims in the pond and a lichen has settled on a tree in the fern valley: The 28 hectare Botanical Garden at Ulm University is possibly one of the most species-rich gardens in the German-speaking world. As part of BioBlitz 2025, a time-limited participatory campaign to record species, nature-loving garden visitors now have the opportunity to get active themselves and report wild plants, fungi and animals from 14 to 22 June.
These observations can be documented, identified and uploaded via the free non-profit app iNaturalist: simply register, take a photo or make a sound recording, enter the place and time of discovery - done! The app provides support with identification suggestions that are checked by the community, creating transparent and easily analysable data sets on species diversity. "Our goal is clear: we want to be one of the top ten gardens in the German-speaking world, and with 28 hectares of natural woodland, species-rich meadows and wetland biotopes, that's definitely possible!" says biologist Stefan Brändel, scientific and pedagogical employee at the Botanical Garden at Ulm University.
Thanks to the BioBlitz two years ago, Ulm currently ranks second in Europe in terms of the number of observations, with Frankfurt's Botanical Gardens in first place. During the campaign week, all gardens will start again from zero observations. Since 2020, citizens have already documented more than 1100 wild species of animals, wild plants and fungi that they have found in the Botanical Garden in Ulm on iNaturalist. The participants who observe the most species, take the most beautiful photos and make the most spectacular observations will be honoured by the Association of Botanical Gardens.
During the campaign week, the Botanical Garden offers many free BioBlitz events. On Sunday, 15 June, there will be a bird tour for early risers at 6:00 am. On the same day at 5:30 pm, Stefan Brändel will be giving a workshop entitled: "250 species in 2 hours? Identify and record animals and wild plants with iNaturalist". The workshop will also take place on Tuesday, 17 June at 17:30. On Sunday, 22 June, the "Final Countdown" runs from 9:00 to 18:00 with many guided tours: At 10:15 am and 4:15 pm it's off to the forest, at 12:15 pm and 6:15 pm to the meadow and at 2:15 pm and 8:15 pm to the pond. Registration is not necessary for guided tours on this day. Further information and registration for the bird tour and workshops can be found on the Botanical Garden website.
Stefan Brändel will present the results at the Botanical Garden's summer fête on 29 June from 14:00 to 17:00. Brändel's appeal: "Let's show together what is hidden in 28 hectares of wild diversity - every observation counts!"
About the BioBlitz
The BioBlitz can provide valuable impulses for the scientific work of the Botanical Gardens. The data collected on wild species from over 30 Botanical Gardens in Germany, Austria and Switzerland complements existing research activities and reinforces the Gardens' contribution to documenting urban biodiversity. As extracurricular places of learning and places of dialogue between science and society, Botanical Gardens play an important role in the current debate on the conservation and safeguarding of biodiversity in the urban environment. The patron of "BioBlitz Botanical Gardens 2025" is the prestigious forensic biologist Dr Mark Benecke. With his combination of scientific expertise, public commitment and personal conviction, he is supporting the campaign.
Botanical Garden of the University of Ulm on iNaturalist
Further information:
Stefan Brändel, Botanical Garden of Ulm University, Mail: stefan.braendel(at)uni-ulm.de.
Text and media contact: Christine Liebhardt