Diploma Programme Landscape Ecology: 75 p. (first reviewer)

The investigated area is located at the NamibRand Nature Reserve, which is a private and probably the largest nature reserve in Southern Namibia, extending over an area of 172,000 ha. NamibRand is located 300 km south of the Windhoek at the eastern edge of the semi-arid Namib Desert.

This thesis researched the Losberg mountain, which is an isolated inselberg of 1978 m standing proud on its own and rising almost 1000 m above the surrounding plains. The Losberg consists of different types of slopes, which are formed many years ago by erosion and under special climate conditions. The main soil type at the Losberg is the Leptosol, which can be found on rocks that are resistant to weathering, or where erosion has kept pace with soil formation or has removed the top of the soil profile. Erosion is the greatest threat to Leptosol areas such as the main parts of the Losberg mountain. Other soil types, mainly at the base of the Losberg, are Cambisols and Calcisols with a beginning horizon differentiation.

The study researched the plants at the Losberg and yet, some plants appear to thrive on these very thin soil layers. There are 134 species of plants on the Losberg - 46 species of trees and shrubs, 46 species of herbs, 14 grasses, 14 succulent species, 3 bulb species and one fern. Some plants develop life strategies adapted to the arid climate such as water-retaining succulents, plant defences in form of spines, waxy and hairy covering and less obvious protection through toxins.

Further the study developed a nature trail for tourists at the Losberg with an Interpretation book about plants, which grow on the way to the sample, This book consists of Information about plants (leaves, flowers etc.), geology and the Reserve. One aim of the Reserve is to conserve and protect the sensitive and fragile environment and its rich biodiversity. That is one reason, why the study installed a one-day walking trail over a lower mountain north of the Losberg, called the Loskoppie. A deep valley between the Losberg and the Loskoppie ensures that the tourists use the market walking trail and limit the environmental impact of such utilisation. The visitors can find the way to the sample by recognising the trail markers bullt of little stones. The trail has a length of two kilometres and start near the campsite. After a while the tourists get to the sample, which is the destination of the nature trail.

Bachelor's programme in Environmental Sciences: 31 pp. (first reviewer)

As the inventory of the existing information on offer at the Jade Bay showed, there are numerous information boards, nature trails and also organised cycle tours. The quality of the boards varies greatly and ranges from new boards with an appealing, colourful design to very faded boards with barely legible lettering. The content covers a wide range of topics, but the change between the topics is confusing if you cycle around the entire Jade Bay and read the panels one after the other. They are not intended as an educational trail that builds on one another.

An educational trail that spans the entire Jade Bay with a red path does not yet exist in this form. However, due to the already large number of information boards, new boards for a further trail should not be erected.

The idea of this project was to develop a trail that would accompany the visitor in the form of a brochure and refer to the existing boards and trails. The adventure trail is structured in the form of a journey through time from around 9000 BC to the present day and the day after tomorrow. It begins, after the ferry crossing from Wilhelmshaven, in Eckwarderhöme shortly after the last ice age. From there, it leads along the dyke line back to Wilhelmshaven. In the course of this cycle tour and journey through time, visitors are introduced to the development of the Jade Bay in terms of human and natural processes.

In addition to the brochure, there will also be a website for the nature trail, on which further texts, also in other languages, will be available for download. The entire concept is easy to realise and offers many possibilities for expansion. In addition, its completely new approach complements the existing offer very well and provides the visitor with a large amount of information in a simple, well-structured and interesting way.

Bachelor's programme in Environmental Sciences: 66 p. (first reviewer)

An up-to-date, intelligent and publicly present presentation concept of nature conservation in a protected area is important to guide visitors with regard to their behaviour and thus minimise potential direct and indirect influences. Innovative environmental education and awareness-raising work can raise understanding and acceptance of nature conservation measures, such as conservation zoning, giving such measures a greater chance of success; public information helps to sensitise people to nature and develop a sense of responsibility. If the value of a natural landscape is recognised and respected, this can have a positive effect on the conflict of use and interests between the interests of nature conservation and tourism.

The topic presented was illustrated and discussed in this paper using the nature conservation presentation concept of the East Frisian island of Langeoog in the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park. Due to its location, the island is part of the national park according to the NWattNPG, which is why the nature conservation concept is determined by the objectives and interests of the national park. The current presentation concept of the national park on Langeoog was explained and analysed with regard to its strengths and weaknesses.

The lack of a national park centre turned out to be the main deficit. This has resulted in a lack of information availability and a low level of public awareness of the national park on the island. In order to raise public awareness of the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park among island visitors and residents, an alternative to the existing, current presentation of the national park was developed. The concept developed envisages offering three national park cycling tours with different themes, which provide information about the national park, the respective natural area and the local conditions at numbered stations along the route via a free accompanying booklet. Providing information "in nature about nature" intensifies the thematic dialogue,

The tours utilise the island's existing, developed network of paths and incorporate the existing facilities of the national park, such as nature trails and information boards, as stations in the concept, which means that they can be linked together and better associated with the national park. Although the concept developed cannot fully fulfil the requirement of compensating for the lack of information work in a national park house, it can help to strengthen the public presence of the "Lower Saxony Wadden Sea" National Park on Langeoog and arouse interest in the natural landscape of the national park.