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The Institute

The Institute for Agro-ecology and Biodiversity works on a regional, national and European level in research, development, implementation and policy advice in the agro-environmental sector. We cooperate with partners from academic, governmental and non-governmental institutions.
Our focus: Our work is orientated to associate agriculture with conservation and development of natural resources. Our intention is to support agricultural activities aiming to realise a sustainable management of all resources. The emphasis is situated on biodiversity, i.e. in the promotion of diversity of habitats, species and of the genetic diversity in agricultural landscapes.
Team and leadership: We work in an interdisciplinary team with engineers (in agriculture and landscape conservation), biologists and other natural scientists. The leadership of the institute is in the hands of Dr. Rainer Oppermann. He studied in Weihenstephan (TU Munich) and Freiburg i.Br. From 1995 to 2004 he was director of the Institute for Landscape ecology and Nature conservation (ILN) Singen. In 2004 he was consigned to establish the ifab.
Sponsorship: The responsible body of ifab is IfÖN e.V. (Institute for Ecology and nature conservation e.V.), - a subsidiary association of the NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland - BirdLife Germany). In this association the NABU-national association and all NABU-federal associations are affiliated. The finanes are assured by third-party funds.

Our main axes:

Research and development projects:
  • Ecological studies (vegetation and fauna)
  • Investigations in agricultural practice (e.g. mowing techniques)
  • Agro-economical and agro-political questions
Implementation projects:
  • Valorisation measures
  • Interactive citizen work
  • Agro-ecological planning
Evaluation, Consulting, Public relation:
  • Evaluation of agro-envrionment schemes
  • Consulting and perspectives for further development
  • Public relation
Other tasks:
Teachings, instruction and transfer of knowledge Bild 02

Don't hesitate to contact us:

Institut für Agrarökologie
und Biodiversität (IFAB)

Böcklinstr. 27
D-68163 Mannheim

Tel. 0049-(0)621-32 88 790
Fax 0049-(0)621-32 88 799
mail@ifab-mannheim.de