The aim of the project is to put the findings from the SLInBio research project on promoting insects in Frankfurt’s gardens into practice. With the help of target group-specific advisory services, the aim is to reach out to gardeners in Frankfurt, including allotment gardens, in order to implement biodiversity friendly measures. In addition to information on insect-friendly garden design, the advisory services also include offers for urban decision-makers. Practical knowledge is imparted that shows how local authorities can raise awareness of the importance of insects among the project’s target groups. For example, workshops on nesting aids, environmentally friendly mosquito control, and recommendations for targeting gardeners are offered.
Research approach
The project aims to provide urban decision-makers, allotment garden associations, and other gardening initiatives in Frankfurt with scientific findings on biodiversity-friendly garden design and management. These findings are based on the SLInBio research project, which was carried out in Frankfurt between 2020 and 2025. The central task of the current project is to develop advisory services for different target groups that contribute to increasing insect diversity in the city. The advisory services are being designed and implemented in collaboration with the Frankfurt association GemüseheldInnen. The aim is to reach and motivate as many citizens as possible to actively contribute to the conservation and promotion of biodiversity in urban areas.
The following advisory services are planned:
Target group: Private and allotment gardeners in Frankfurt
- Joint construction of nesting aids for insects, combined with practical tips on garden design
- Information event on invasive mosquitoes and environmentally friendly ways to combat them
Target group: Boards and associations of allotment gardens in the city of Frankfurt
- Information event on target group specific communication with gardeners and environmentally friendly management of invasive mosquitoes
Target group: Urban decision-makers
- Lecture on the results and biotope mapping of the SLInBio research project
Background
Cities offer significant potential as refuges for insects, as they are hardly affected by the use of agricultural pesticides and fertilizers. The everyday practices of city dwellers – for example, in the areas of recreation, gardening, or mobility – and the associated lifestyles can both promote and impair insect diversity in cities.
Previous approaches assumed that education and communication measures would be sufficient to raise awareness of insect diversity among the urban population and thereby promote insect-friendly behavior. However, new studies show that people’s experience of nature is declining: direct encounters with insects are becoming increasingly rare. This has a significant impact on people's willingness to protect insects. Taken together, these findings make it clear that a target group-specific approach that addresses attitudes and barriers is necessary.
The research project SLInBio – Urban Lifestyles and the Valorization of Biodiversity: Dragonflies, Grasshoppers, Bumblebees, and Co. investigated how awareness of insect diversity can be increased and insect-friendly behavior promoted in Frankfurt am Main. Building on these findings, the current follow-up project is developing target group-specific formats designed to support the practical implementation of insect-friendly measures in Frankfurt gardens.
Project partners
GemüseheldInnen e.V.
Funding
Funded by the City of Frankfurt am Main
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