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From urban forests and hunting to garden biodiversity, city trees, and herbs: In its first half-year, the “Waldgeflüster” lecture series has shed light on numerous facets of forests and nature. After the summer break, the series continues on August 27 with an evening dedicated to beavers.
Since January, the Jena City Forestry Office (KSJ), in collaboration with the Thuringia branch of the German Forest Protection Association (SDW), has been hosting regular “Waldgeflüster” events at the forum natura Nature Discovery Center. The monthly lecture series offers fascinating insights into current topics related to forests, nature, climate, and biodiversity, bringing together diverse perspectives from the fields of practice, science, and nature conservation.
The first events covered topics such as nature-oriented forest management in Jena’s city forest, modern hunting and wildlife management, and how private gardens can contribute to greater biodiversity. The program also included the use of native wild herbs and the specific challenges facing urban trees in the context of climate change. Speakers from the City Forestry Office, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, ThüringenForst, the Senckenberg Institute, and other institutions provided insights into their work and expertise.
The events held so far have been very well received by attendees. “We are very pleased with the launch of the series. The variety of topics has been well received, and we are particularly delighted by the many interested questions and discussions following the presentations,” says Carolina Reinhold, a staff member in the Environmental Education Department of the Jena City Forestry Office.
Even after the summer break, guests can look forward to a varied program. The next lecture on beavers will take place on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. Marcus Orlamünder, nature conservation specialist at NABU Thuringia, will take guests on a journey into the fascinating world of the European beaver. How do beavers build their lodges and dams? And what exactly is “beaver musk”? The lecture offers fascinating insights into the beaver’s distribution in Thuringia, as well as its biology and way of life.
All events take place at the forum natura Nature Discovery Center. Participation is free of charge. Please register in advance at waldgefluester@sdw-thueringen.de
Here’s an overview of the upcoming dates for 2026:
August 27: The Beaver—Return of a Landscape Architect
September 24: The Mysterious Diversity of Mushrooms—Seeing Our Forests with New Eyes
September 27 (Sunday): Jena Mushroom Exhibition – The Mysterious Diversity of Mushrooms
Oct. 29: Talking to Children About the Climate—But How?
November 26: The Bark Beetle’s Invisible Helpers – How Microbes Help the Bark Beetle
Dec. 10: Between Tradition and Sustainability – The History of the Christmas Tree
For more information on the presentations, visit https://www.natura-jenensis.de/veranstaltungen/vortragsreihe
The City Forestry Office and SDW Thuringia look forward to welcoming many interested guests to the next “Waldgeflüster” event.