The second German Communities of Practice (CoP) was held between 18-19 September 2025 at the Leibniz University Hannover (LUH), Germany, and it was focused on the “Knowledge transfer from ecosystem services, natural capital and biodiversity research”.

Around 25 participants comprised representatives from a wide range of institutions, including research organisations such as IÖR Dresden, ZALF Müncheberg, IZT Berlin, UFZ Leipzig and LUH; public authorities such as the Federal Nature Conservation Agency (BfN), the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), the Hamburg Environmental Authority, Hamburg Port Authority, Alfred Toepfer Academy for Nature Conservation, and DESTATIS; as well as NGOs like the Rewilding Europe Initiative and TransparenTree Hannover.

Building on the foundations laid during the first meeting, where attendees discussed strategies for better coordination and set the groundwork for establishing the SELINA Community of Practice in this domain in Germany, this second gathering further strengthened the network’s development, providing a platform for shared learning, strategic dialogue, and cross-sector collaboration. 

Inge Liekens (VITO) contributed by sharing insights into comparable developments in national Communities of Practice across other European countries, fostering valuable exchange and inspiration.

The next meeting is planned for 2026 and will focus on decision-making in the private sector.