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At around 380 kilometres, the Spree is not one of Germany’s longest rivers, but it is one of its most famous. As the capital’s river, it is representative of water bodies in Germany and around the world that are under increasing pressure. While private and commercial interests in its water resources continue to grow, it is also clear that there will be significantly less water available in the future. What needs to be done to counteract this is the subject of controversial debate.

Although lots of rain has reached the ground, the groundwater has not yet returned to the state it was in before the dry year of 2018. Moreover, in 2023, a year with high precipitation, a particularly large amount of water evaporated due to high temperatures. So, no reason to sound the all-clear?

The IGB has provided research-based feedback on a draft legislation to regulate the reuse of municipal wastewater for agricultural irrigation.

Songjun Wu, a former doctoral student in Prof. Dörthe Tetzlaff's research group, has been awarded the 2024 Dissertation Prize of the German Hydrological Society. 

From as yet undiscovered biodiversity and resilient forests to the impact of food consumption on nature: 64 experts, including many IGB researchers, have published the "10 Must Knows from Biodiversity Science" for 2024. With the new report, the Leibniz Research Network Biodiversity provides policymakers and society with concrete ways to effectively conserve and sustainably use biodiversity at the local, national, and European levels and thereby also mitigate climate change.

The Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) has once again been awarded the IHK Certificate for Outstanding Training Quality by the Berlin Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

In an EU consultation, IGB researchers emphasise that the practical implementation of the Nitrates Directive has so far been inadequate.

Aquatic microorganisms in China's Yangtze River are particularly resistant to many antibiotics, posing a high health risk. This is the result of a study by a Chinese research team in which IGB scientist Professor Hans-Peter Grossart was involved.