Glossary

Providers are organisations or individuals who post a nature conservation or landscape management project on AgoraNatura and are paid for the provision of biodiversity and Nature services are looking for financial support. You want to implement a project on your own or leased land, either alone or together with the people farming there. You are responsible for the implementation of the offered project.
The term "biological diversity" or "biodiversity" describes the variety of life on our planet. It includes three levels: 1. the diversity of species, 2. the diversity of habitats (= Ecosystems) and 3. genetic diversity within animal and plant species. The conservation of biodiversity is essential for numerous reasons: it is indispensable for ecological processes and intact, resilient ecosystems. It is therefore also irreplaceable for humans: biodiversity is the basis for healthy food and raw materials for economic production. It is also a reservoir of genes for breeding and natural active pharmaceutical ingredients. It creates a colourful, beautiful and liveable environment and a space for recreation and inspiration. And last but not least, its very existence and irreplaceability is of inestimable value, which must also be preserved for future generations. The AgoraNatura projects make their positive effects on plant diversity, animal diversity and/or genetic diversity visible. The diversity of habitats is supported by the diversity of projects and areas on AgoraNatura.
Fallow land is land that is not currently being used for any specific purpose. Agricultural fallow land is often a very valuable habitat for numerous plant species and adapted animal species, and can thus contribute greatly to the biological diversity contribute. They can also fulfil many other important functions, such as ensuring that fewer nutrients from agricultural land enter and pollute groundwater.
In a service contract, the providers promise that the described measures will be carried out and the results documented. However, they are not legally obliged to ensure that the defined success of the measures actually occurs. The investors receive a certificate of investment.
When the previously intensive cultivation of an area is reduced in the agricultural sector, for example by applying very little fertiliser, using fewer cattle for grazing, mowing less frequently or planting less densely and thus harvesting less, this is referred to as extensification.
These include national parks, biosphere reserves and nature parks. You can find more information on the Pages of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN).
This technical term refers to the characteristic habitat of a particular animal or plant species in which it naturally occurs.
Investors are companies or private individuals who financially support an AgoraNatura project on a voluntary basis. They make its implementation possible by Nature conservation certificates buy and thus invest in the designated effects of the project.
Landscape conservation associations are voluntary associations of nature conservation representatives, farmers and local politicians in a non-profit association. Their aim is to jointly maintain or create near-natural landscape areas. As the umbrella organisation of landscape conservation associations, the German Association for Landscape Conservation (DVL) has been involved in AgoraNatura from the very beginning. As experts in the conservation of species-rich cultivated landscapes, individual landscape conservation associations, especially from Brandenburg, have developed many of the pilot projects and have been involved in the development of AgoraNatura and the Natureplus-Standard brought in.
The natureplus-The conservation standard consists of a catalogue of generally applicable criteria for nature conservation projects that are specifically biodiversity  and Nature services provide. It describes specific requirements for the development of the projects as well as methods and rules for recording the effects and for reporting. As part of the certification process, it is checked whether a submitted project description meets these criteria. If the check is successful, the project is posted on the marketplace.
By natural services we mean the contributions of nature that provide for human well-being. This is because many of nature's goods and processes, or rather Ecosystems we derive great benefits directly or indirectly - be it on a material and economic level as well as on a health and psychological level. The technical term is "ecosystem services" and was introduced in the 1980s. The aim was to focus on the value of nature for humans and to establish an additional argument for more nature conservation. Examples of nature or ecosystem services include the supply of food, water and raw materials such as wood (so-called provisioning services), the storage of greenhouse gases as a contribution to climate protection, keeping the air we breathe clean and the filtering function of the soil for clean water (so-called regulating services) and the use of nature as a space for recreation, sport and education (so-called cultural services).
A nature conservation certificate shows the positive effects of a nature conservation project on an area of 100m2 within one year. Companies and private individuals can acquire these certificates and thus invest in the implementation of the respective offer. Certification is carried out according to the Natureplus-Standard by independent third parties. A conservation certificate cannot be resold, is not transferable and has no validity for mandatory markets, such as compensation and replacement measures under the Federal Nature Conservation Act or mechanisms of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Act.
The technical term ecosystem describes a habitat together with the organisms living in it and the complex interaction between the living organisms with each other and with their inanimate environment. There are different types of ecosystems on earth; the respective size is not firmly defined. They are open systems, which means that individual ecosystems can merge seamlessly into others and interact with each other. Simple examples are lakes, bogs or forests.
For all projects presented at AgoraNatura, the anticipated effects of the project on the biodiversity and Nature services such as the pollination of crops, the provision of clean water or the storage of greenhouse gases. The amount of the corresponding effects is also recorded in the form of figures or descriptions. This makes it clear what exactly the project can achieve with the help of the invested funds.
A donation is only possible for non-profit providers. The investment must be used for the purpose of the described project measures. In addition to the investment certificate, the offering person or organisation will issue the investor with a tax-relevant donation certificate.
A meadow orchard is a traditional form of fruit growing. It is characterised by tall fruit trees - usually of different ages and of diverse species and varieties - scattered across meadows or (mowed) pastures. Orchard meadows are man-made cultivated landscapes that can only be extensive are managed and therefore have a very high biodiversity show. Currently, the existence of meadow orchards in Germany is severely endangered. Their preservation requires continuous, expert maintenance measures.
Transaction costs are all costs incurred in an exchange of services, goods or capital between different actors. They can be divided into three categories depending on the phase of the transaction: (I) search and information costs, (II) negotiation and decision-making costs, and (III) contract enforcement, control and adjustment costs. In the case of AgoraNatura, transaction costs arise primarily on the part of the suppliers. They include, for example, the time and costs for the inventory of the project area, the preparation of the offer description or the documentation of the implementation of the measures.
In a contract for work and services, the providers promise that the described success will occur and be verifiable. They are therefore remunerated for the result defined in advance and must provide evidence of this. Reports on the implementation of the necessary measures are not mandatory. The investors receive a certificate of investment.
At AgoraNatura, only nature conservation projects can be offered and financially supported that comply with the Natureplus-Standard are certified. An independent certification body checks whether the project descriptions submitted meet the criteria of the standard, whether they are plausible and technically correct. Among other things, it checks whether the measures described are comprehensible and whether the methods for measuring and verifying the Nature services are scientifically recognised. This certification is the prerequisite for the release of a project on AgoraNatura and the issuance of Nature conservation certificates. Here you can find more details about the Certification.

Agora is a historical term from the Greek, meaning "assembly" or "market place". At this so important cultural and event location, community living together was discussed and negotiated. In this sense, AgoraNatura sees itself not only as a "marketplace" for certified nature conservation projects, but as a place where everyone can get involved in the discussion about the relationship between nature and society.

Agri-environmental programmes are an important instrument of European agri-environmental policy, introduced in 1992. Their aim is to financially promote sustainable and environmentally friendly land management. To this end, management practices that go beyond "good agricultural practice" are rewarded. Participation is voluntary and is usually fixed for at least 5 years. If a farmer participates in an agri-environmental measure (AUM), he agrees to limit his agricultural use on certain areas, e.g. by applying less fertiliser, keeping diverse crop rotations or reducing the number of animals.

Tenderers are organisations or individuals who submit a nature conservation or landscape management project to AgoraNatura as an Offer hire and for the provision of biodiversity and Nature services are looking for financial support. You want to implement a project on your own or leased land, either alone or together with the people farming there. You are responsible for the implementation of the offered project.

An offer on AgoraNatura includes the description of a concrete project with which the offering organisation or person more biodiversity and / or Nature services and for which it is looking for investment partners. In addition to the background of the project and the organisations or persons involved, the main thing that is presented is what they can achieve through the project. A direct contact option is given in each case.

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factual / nature conservation

Biological diversity or biodiversity describes the variety of life on our planet. It includes three levels: 1. the diversity of species, 2. the diversity of habitats (=Ecosystems) and 3. genetic diversity within animal and plant species. Offers at AgoraNatura can show their positive effects on the diversity of plants, the diversity of animals and / or genetic diversity. Through the diversity of its projects, AgoraNatura ultimately supports habitat diversity.

Fallow land is land that is not currently being used for any specific purpose. Agricultural fallow land is often a very valuable habitat for numerous plant species and adapted animal species, and can thus contribute greatly to the biological diversity contribute. In addition, they can fulfil numerous other important functions, including reducing nutrient discharges into groundwater.

A service contract obliges the person or organisation providing the service to implement all the measures described for the project. This includes documentation and monitoring of the intended results. However, there is - purely legally - no obligation to achieve the intended results. The service contract is interesting for providers who do not have non-profit status in the sense of the tax office.

Comparison with GTC

A development project supports the development of specific Nature services on a clearly defined area. This area does not yet have a large biodiversity (e.g. diverse native plant species) and / or does not provide nature services to date or only to a limited extent. Through the implementation of the proposed project, biodiversity on the site is increased or conditions are created through which certain natural services can be (increasingly) provided. In other words, biodiversity and/or nature services are developed or improved. It should be noted that some effects of the project occur quickly and may already be visible in the first year, while others only emerge in the course of the implementation phase or even at the end of the project period.

A conservation project supports the preservation of already existing Nature services and/or existing biodiversity on a clearly defined area. The area already has a high biological diversity (e.g. endangered animal or plant species are found here) and/or already provides one or more natural services. The implementation of the project ensures that the area will continue to "produce" this high value, i.e. that it will be preserved.

When the previously intensive cultivation of an area is reduced in the agricultural sector, e.g. by applying very little fertiliser, using fewer cattle for grazing, mowing less frequently or planting less densely and thus harvesting less, this is referred to as extensification. 

The technical term "grassland" stands for agricultural areas that are used as meadows or pastures. But they are more than just the fodder base for livestock and thus for many foods. They are often also habitats for typical plant and animal species, such as meadow breeders and insects, fulfil important buffer and filter functions, e.g. for adjacent water bodies, offer protection against soil erosion through their closed sward and contribute to climate protection by storing CO2. And last but not least, they have a high aesthetic and identity-forming value for many people: just think of the colourful, fragrant and humming meadows of your childhood!

Large protected areas include: National parks, biosphere reserves and nature parks.

This technical term refers to the characteristic habitat of a particular animal or plant species in which it naturally occurs, i.e. in short, its habitat.

Investors are companies or private individuals who, on a voluntary basis, financially support an existing offer on AgoraNatura through a donation or through remuneration within the framework of a service exchange contract.

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factual / nature conservation

Landscape conservation associations are voluntary associations of nature conservation representatives, farmers and local politicians in a non-profit association. Their aim is to jointly maintain or create near-natural landscape areas. The German Association for Landscape Conservation, DVL, as the umbrella organisation of landscape conservation associations, has been involved in AgoraNatura from the very beginning. As experts in the conservation of species-rich cultural landscapes, individual landscape conservation associations, especially from Brandenburg, have developed many of the types of services and functionalities.

The natureplus-The standard consists of a catalogue of generally applicable criteria for effective nature conservation projects, which are specifically biodiversity and Nature services provide. It describes specific requirements for the development of the projects as well as methods and rules for recording the nature services and biodiversity provided, reporting and Verification. Within the framework of the Certification it is checked whether a presented Offer meets these criteria. If the examination is successful, the Offer set in the marketplace.

By nature services we mean the direct and indirect contributions of nature and its Ecosystems to human well-being, i.e. services and goods that bring direct or indirect economic, material, health or psychological benefits to people. The technical term is Ecosystem services or "ecosystem service" and was introduced in the 1980s to establish the value of nature for humans in social discourse as an additional argument for more nature conservation. Nature services or ecosystem services are often differentiated into supply services (e.g. food, water, raw materials), regulatory services (e.g. CO2 storage as a contribution to climate protection, the filter function of the soil for clean water) and cultural services (e.g. recreation, landscape image and aesthetics).

A nature conservation certificate indicates the additional positive effects of a Offer on an area of 100m2 within one year. Companies and private individuals can acquire these certificates and thus invest in the implementation of the respective offer. Certification is carried out according to the Natureplus-Standard by independent third parties. A conservation certificate cannot be resold, is not transferable and is not valid for mandatory markets, such as mechanisms of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Act or compensation and replacement measures.

The technical term ecosystem describes a habitat together with the organisms living in it and the dynamic, complex interaction between the living organisms themselves and with their inanimate environment. There are different types of ecosystems on earth; the respective size is not firmly defined. They are open systems, i.e. individual ecosystems can merge seamlessly into others and interact with each other. Simple examples are lakes, bogs or forests.

See Nature services

An online marketplace is a digital platform that enables the exchange of services or products. It provides the institutional framework for transaction processes between providers and consumers. AgoraNatura is an online marketplace for more biodiversity and nature services in Germany.

If an organisation or person wishes to place an offer on AgoraNatura, it must assess the expected effects of the proposal on the biodiversity and Nature servicesThe aim is to provide transparent, plausible and verifiable evidence of the expected effects of the offer. The aim is to provide transparent, plausible and verifiable evidence of the expected effects of the offer.

In the case of a donation contract, the investment must be used for the purpose of the described project measures. However, there is - from a legal point of view - no obligation to achieve the intended results. A donation contract can only be offered if the person or organisation offering it has been certified as a non-profit organisation by the competent tax office and is pursuing non-profit purposes with the investment raised. If this is the case, investors can receive a donation receipt for this type of contract.

 

check with GTC!

A meadow orchard is a traditional form of fruit growing. It is characterised by tall fruit trees, often of different ages and usually of diverse species and varieties, scattered on meadows or (mowed) pastures. Orchard meadows are man-made cultivated landscapes that are only extensively managed (i.e. little or no use of fertilisers or pesticides) and thus have a very high environmental value. biodiversity show. Currently, the existence of meadow orchards in Germany is severely endangered. Their preservation requires continuous, expert maintenance measures.

A "top-up" project is when an environmental measure is already being carried out on an area, e.g. via Agri-environmental programmes is promoted, but due to the supply still additional biodiversity and Nature services on the site that have not been financed so far. Since the provider does not have to finance all nature services on the project area through AgoraNatura, these are often relatively inexpensive and at the same time high-quality areas.

Transaction costs are all costs that arise in an exchange of services, goods or capital and thus transactions between actors. They can be roughly divided into three categories, depending on the phase of the transaction: search and information costs, negotiation and decision-making costs, and contract enforcement, control and adjustment costs. In the case of AgoraNatura, transaction costs arise in particular on the part of the providers and include, for example, the time and costs for inventorying the project area, preparing the description of the offer or documenting the implementation of the measures.

Still to be filled

With a contract for work and services, the offering person or organisation commits to achieving a defined project success. This is not only a promise that the measures will be implemented, but that the described result will actually be achieved. If the defined result is not achieved, the investors can reclaim the amounts they have paid. Due to the strict requirements and the higher risk, it is to be expected that bidders will calculate higher costs for this form of contract.

Comparison with GTC

See Nature Conservation Certificate

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really necessary?

As part of the certification process, independent third parties check whether an offer presented meets the criteria of the Natureplus-Standards corresponds, is plausible and technically correct. It is the prerequisite for the release of an offer on AgoraNatura and the issue of Nature conservation certificates.