BioAdapt – Digital Planning Tool for the Design and Evaluation of Nature-Based Climate Adaptation and Biodiversity Conservation Measures

The BioAdapt project aims to develop a digital planning tool that combines climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation measures in a holistic, evidence-based manner. The goal is to support end users, such as municipalities and planners, in developing integrated adaptation strategies, as well as in clearly quantifying and visualizing planning scenarios.

The tool is being developed in a co-creation process together with partners from practical application contexts and will be tested in three pilot cases. The regional focus is the Ruhr area, a region characterized by its unique urban and industrial landscape, where distinctive habitats are increasingly disappearing, leading to a loss of biodiversity. In addition, dense urban structures in many areas result in pronounced urban climate effects and significant heat stress. The BioAdapt planning tool is specifically designed to provide instruments for the analysis, development, and planning of targeted solutions for climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation.

The BioAdapt project was launched in May 2025. During the first project year, the focus is on developing a methodology for the combined assessment of climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation measures. Using the city of Haltern am See as a case study, prototype analyses of microclimate and biodiversity are being conducted, along with the development of a joint analysis workflow.

As part of this effort, the LoRaWAN sensor network of the Recklinghausen district is being expanded, and an AI model for detecting relevant objects for the planning tool is being optimized. Through a co-creation process, the practice partners are actively involved in the development activities.

During the first public workshop of the BioAdapt funding project, held by the Regionalverband Ruhr (RVR) in Essen on June 23, 2026, the project team will present and discuss the findings from the first project year.

	Fraunhofer IBP Project coordination; development of the BioAdapt methodology and planning tool; user training
	District of Recklinghausen Pilot application in the city of Datteln; expansion of the LoRaWAN sensor network; integration into biodiversity initiatives and sustainability strategies
	Regionalverband Ruhr (RVR) Pilot application in a commercial area; public relations and long-term implementation; multiplier role
	Westphalian University of Applied Sciences Development and integration of an AI model for automated land-use mapping

Associated project partners include the cities of Haltern am See and Datteln (both in the district of Recklinghausen), where initial pilot applications are being implemented. Additional support is provided by the Biological Station of the Recklinghausen District, the Nature Conservation Academy, the North Rhine-Westphalia State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection (LANUV), and Greentech.Ruhr, all of which contribute advisory expertise, particularly in the context of public relations efforts for environmental education