The Environment Chronicle

Soil of the year 2017 is the hortisol.

Vegetable of the Year 2017 / 2018 is the rutabaga, swede or neep (Brassica napus ssp. napobrassica L.).

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.

Every two years since 1989, Naturefriends International (NFI) has proclaimed a transboundary and ecologically valuable European region as Landscape of the Year. With the decision to implement the first African Landscape of the Year in Senegal and Gambia, the Annual Conference took an important first step. The newly developing network of Naturfriends organisations in Africa has turned into a vital part of our movement and makes values such as solidarity and global justice visible through partnership-based projects.  According to the motto „Hand in Hand with Africa“, the first African Landscape of the Year shall initiate important local activities which will be accompanied by activities in Europe to show solidarity.

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).

Avenue of the Year 2016 is a maple avenue between Pölitz and Warnkenhagen in the district of Rostock in the north of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.

The environmental foundation Global Nature Fund (GNF) nominates the Lake Tonle Sap in Cambodia as the "Threatened Lake of the Year 2016". On the occasion of World Day of Wetlands on 2nd February, the GNF refers here to the changes that lie ahead for the lake because of climate change and human impact. Together with the local Living Lakes partner organisation Fisheries Action Coalition Team (FACT), GNF calls for sustainable measures to preserve this important habitat.

On 22 March 2016, the Global Nature Fund announced, the choice of the Lake Constance in in Germany, Switzerland and Austria as Living Lake of the Year 2016.

Soil of the Year 2016 are the Gleysols.

Insect of the Year 2016 is the Allacma fusca.

Animal of the Year 2016 is the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus), also known as the Eurasian hamster, black-bellied hamster or common hamster.

Fluvial Topography of the Year 2014 / 2015 is the Trave river. The Trave is a river in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is approximately 124 kilometres long, running from its source near the village of Gießelrade in Ostholstein to Travemünde where it flows into the Baltic Sea.

Trichomonas vaginalis is the Protozoan of the Year 2016.

Domestic Animal of the Year 2016 is the Chicken.

Phycologists of the Phycology Section of the German Botanical Society have selected Melosira arctica as alga of the year 2016.

Laboratory Animal of the Year 2016 is the fish. Each year, millions of feeling, intelligent fish are confined, abused, and killed in cruel experiments in laboratories around the world.

Very large gravel-dominated rivers have been named "Water body type of the Year 2016“.

Mollusc of the Year 2016 is the Pisidium amnicum.

Fish of the Year 2016 ist the Northern pike ( Esox lucius).

Microbe of the Year 2016 is the Streptomyces bacteria.

Medicinal Plant of the Year 2016 is the Caraway (Carum carvi)

The Cubeb (Piper cubeba) has been chosen for the Medicinal Herb of the Year 2016 by the NHV Theophrastus.

Bird of the Year 2016 is the the European goldfinch or goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis).

Cave Animal of the Year 2016 is the Amilenus aurantiacus.

Poisonous plant of the year 2016 is the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica).

Water Plant of the Year 2016 is the River water-crowfoot (Ranunculus fluitans).

Wild bee of the Year 2016 is the Shrill carder bee (Bombus sylvarum).

Tree of the Year 2016 is the Small Leaved Lime or Littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata).

Coast Forest Usedom in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was chosen as Forest of the Year 2016.

Spider of the Year 2016 is the Cyclosa conica.

The Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra) was nominated to the Amphibian of the Year 2016 by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde e.V. (DGHT).

Butterfly of the Year 2016 is the Magpie Moth (Abraxas grossulariata).

Perennial Herb of the Year 2016 is the Iris. The genus Iris has about 200 species. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, which is also the name for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris.

Orchid of the Year 2016 is the Summer lady's-tresses (Spiranthes aestivalis).