The Environment Chronicle

Global Nature Fund nominates Lake Tanganyika in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Zambia as the “Threatened Lake of the Year 2017". Sedimentation, pollution and overexploitation jeopardize the second largest lake in Africa. Containing almost 17 % of the world's available fresh water Lake Tanganyika is of global importance and source of life for millions of people. On the World Day of Wetlands, the GNF draws attention to the importance of lakes and wetlands all over the world. Together with the local Living Lakes partner organization Biraturaba, the GNF calls for sustainable measures to preserve Lake Tanganyika.

Dragonfly of the year 2017 is the common clubtail (Gomphus vulgatissimus).

In 2017 the Association for the Preservation of Old and Endangered Domestic Breeds (GEH) is presenting three breeds of ducks, the German Pekin, the Orpington and the Muscovy, as the ‘Endangered Domestic Breeds of the Year’.

Domestic animal of the year 2017 is the dog.

Perennial Herb of the Year 2017 are the Begenia.

Cave Animal of the Year 2017 is the Diphyus quadripunctorius.

Medicinal Plant of the Year 2017 is the oat (Avena sativa).

Fish of the Year 2017 is the European flounder (Platichthys flesus).

Fungus of the Year 2017 is the Jew's ear (Auricularia auricula-judae).

Cactus of the year 2017 is the saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea). It is native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, the Mexican State of Sonora, and the Whipple Mountains and Imperial County areas of California. The saguaro blossom is the state wildflower of Arizona.

European Spider of the Year 2017 is the Walnut Orb-weaver Spider (Nuctenea umbratica) the Nuctenea umbratica.

Lichen of the Year 2017 is the Variospora flavescens.

Moss of the Year 2017 is the Comb-moss (Ctenidium molluscum).

Bird of the Year 2017 is the tawny owl or brown owl(Strix aluco).

The Franconian Forest in Northern Bavaria, Germany was chosen as Forest of the Year 2017.

Butterfly of the Year 2017 is the Pale Clouded Yellow (Colias hyale).

The slow worm (Anguis fragilis) is the reptile of the year 2017.

Insect of the year 2017 is the praying mantis (Mantis religiosa).

Wild bee of the year 2017 is the large scarbius bee (Andrena hattorfiana).

Diaphanoeca grandis is the Protozoan of the Year 2017.

Poisonous plant of the year 2017 is the bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis).

Animal of the Year 2017 is the hazel dormouse or common dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius).

Algal researchers nominated the Blue-Green Rock Dweller Chroococcidiopsis for the alga of the year 2017. The single celled organism lives inside rocks and lichens, survives extreme climatic conditions and makes hostile environments accessible – today and most likely thousands of millions of years ago as well. While doing so, it paved the way for plants and animals. The blue-green rock dweller, belonging to the cyanobacteria lives like all algae, from sunlight, and is of great interest to ecologists, biotechnologists, and desert- and space researchers.

Mollusc of the year 2017 ist the round-mouthed snail (Pomatias elegans).

In the past the Förderkreis Sporttauchen e.V. selected the water plant of the year. Since 2011 the national divers' associations of Germany, Austria and Switzerland resume this task. The European white water lily is the water plant of the year 2017.

Microbe of the Year 2017 is the Halobacterium salinarum. Halobacterium salinarum is a model organism for the halophilic branch of the archaea. It is rod-shaped, motile, lives in highly saline environments, and is one of the few species known that can live in saturated salt solutions.

Laboratory animal of the year 2016 is the rat.

On 22 March 2017, the Global Nature Fund announced, the choice of the Lake Steinhude in Lower Saxony, Germany as Living Lake of the Year 2017.

Tree of the Year 2017 is the Picea abies.

Flower of the Year 2018 is the common poppy (Papaver rhoeas).

Orchid of the Year 2017 is the White Helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium).

Soil of the year 2017 is the hortisol.

Daisy (Bellis perennis) has been chosen for the Medicinal Herb of the Year 2017 by the NHV Theophrastus.