Scientist
External PhD candidate

Biologische Station Westliches Ruhrgebiet
Ripshorster Str. 306
D-46117 Oberhausen
Germany

Phone: +49.208.4686092
corinne.buch@bswr.de

Biodiversity in Cemeteries of the Western Ruhr Area

Cemeteries have always been closely linked to human culture and are present in every region. Nevertheless, relatively little is known about their biological features, and only limited data exist that systematically quantify and qualify the species inventory of cemeteries, especially over a larger geographic scale.

The aim of this project is to gather data on the biodiversity of plants and vegetation in cemeteries of the western Ruhr Area, creating a comprehensive dataset. For all cemeteries in the study area, species lists and vegetation surveys are being conducted.

These data will enable the typology of cemeteries based on their plant communities and facilitate linking species traits of the flora with design, biogeographic, and anthropogenic environmental variables. Special emphasis is placed on the conservation implications of the findings. The data may also inform specific measures that cemetery administrations can implement. The project is funded by the Landschaftsverband Rheinland (LVR).