Founded in 2025, ECONICS INSTITUTE e.V. is a think tank for ecosystems. It emerged from the Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development and brings together applied scientific and practical expertise on dealing with ecosystems in the climate crisis.
The ECONICS INSTITUTE e.V. stands for the “econic” approach, i.e., learning from nature’s economy for sustainable human economic activity. Our conceptual foundation is a holistic view of the landscape as a complex socio-ecological system. We want to contribute to the functioning of specific ecosystems.
The headquarters of the non-profit association is located in Chorin in the UNESCO Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve.
It is not only Germany’s major cities that are heat hotspots; there are also extensive heat landscapes. Land use is responsible for almost a fifth of the temperature differences, and where it is greener and cooler, there is even more precipitation. The Green-Wet-Cool Index (GMCI) shows the future potential and performance of Germany’s ecosystems.
We humans, today and in the future, need the forest for a good life. The social ecological approach does not rule out the management of forests; on the contrary, it makes it indispensable–treating all ecosystem services as potentially scarcening resources. In doing so, the triad applies that forest management should be ecosystem-based, ethically reflected, and must contribute to the short- and long-term well-being of people.
The Schöneberg Wild Forest is a forest area covering around 400 hectares in northeastern Brandenburg (Uckermark district). Forests planted decades ago have been dying for several years as a result of extremely hot and dry summers. But the forest is already growing again. With the support of the Umweltstiftung Michael Otto, we are investigating spontaneous regeneration in order to gain insights for sustainable forest management in times of climate crisis.
On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment and in collaboration with the transdisciplinary company agrathaer, we are evaluating the monitoring data for the UNESCO World Natural Heritage beech forests in Germany. Grumsin, Hainich, Jasmund, Kellerwald, and Serrahn are part of a European World Heritage Site. What can we learn from them?
The first conference of the Forest-Alliance (Wald-Allianz) brought together over 150 people from forestry practice, science, politics, and civil society in Meiningen, Thuringia. The focus was on exchanging experiences and learning from one another. Just as in the nested forest ecosystem, positive feedback loops emerge in this inspiring network for social-ecological forest management!
On February 20, 2026, more than 40 representatives from municipalities, Berlin districts and rural counties, organizations and institutions, public administrations, and businesses gathered in the Bürgersaal in Bernau. The occasion was a workshop to discuss the feasibility study for a possible “Berlin-Barnim Biosphere Region.” In presentations, a plenary discussion, and two moderated group sessions, the participants compiled the strengths, challenges, visions, and expectations of the process for the establishment of a possible biosphere region.
The forms and paths of growth of the “green” are sometimes inexplicable, sometimes downright improbable, but always inspiring. Nature never follows straight lines. Detours and setbacks can even lead to strengthening.
At a time when we may doubt ourselves and despair, it is worth taking a look at the power of ecosystems. ECONICS is the logical approach to understanding this power a little better, learning from it, and thinking about and shaping human actions and economic activity in a truly ecosystemic way. Even more than our environment, we should probably pronature ourselves.
We are deeply saddened that Jane Goodall has left this earth. In gratitude for her perseverance in fighting for the habitat we all share, we will always remember our encounter with her.
The ECONICS INSTITUTE will now take over the role of the Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management as a participating institution in the Forest Alliance coordination group.
The ECONICS Institute presents its first “Green-Wet-Cool Index,” which illustrates that land cover has a significant influence on surface temperature and precipitation. The mutually influential triangular relationship reflects the performance of landscapes and their sustainability in the face of climate change.