Gregory Fuchs

MSc (Marine Environmental Management)

Co-Coordinator Coastal and Marine
Researcher

Team
Topics

Gregory Fuchs is a marine scientist specialised in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem-based governance. His work concentrates on managing human impacts on marine and coastal environments, with an emphasis on nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration to boost social-ecological resilience and ensure lasting sustainability. He works in English and German.

In his role at the Ecologic Institute, Gregory is involved in various projects where he operates at critical intersections that balance environmental health and solutions to societal challenges. In the Marine SABRES project, Gregory Fuchs is pivotal in applying social-ecological systems thinking and ecosystem-based management to devise targeted solutions for reversing marine biodiversity decline, fostering societal change on sustainability issues, and refining governance measures and targets. Gregory Fuchs is also actively involved in the EU Mission for the Restoration of Oceans, Seas, and Waters, a strategic initiative aiming to conserve and restore marine and aquatic ecosystems across the EU. He is a key member of the Mission Ocean Implementation Support Platform instrumental in supporting the effective implementation of the EU Blue Parks Community, driving knowledge exchange and fostering networking on EU marine protection. He is also deeply involved in a project that investigates cross-sectoral support for sustainable climate adaptation and resilient ecosystems in the North- and Baltic Sea (MEER:STARK). Additionally, he regularly delivers lectures on marine and coastal ecosystem restoration and Nature-based Solutions at the Dresden University of Applied Sciences through their Centre for International Postgraduate Studies of Environmental Management (CIPSEM).

His previous contributions to the field include his role as a key member of the project team tasked with implementing the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. He also played an important role in developing indicators for an Integrated German Marine Policy. He undertook a comprehensive scoping study designed to greening the blue bioeconomy and transition to more sustainable fisheries and aquaculture within the EU, which incorporates aspects of circular economy principles and leverages economic policy instruments. He also contributes to a project that investigated sustainable aquaculture in a German context. He also provided Strategic Support for the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration. 

Prior to joining Ecologic Institute, Gregory Fuchs worked for the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on a marine conservation project, giving policy advice to the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). There he supported the facilitation of research partnerships with African countries via the MeerWissen initiative, as well as monitoring of policy processes (e.g. CBD Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework) and developed a portfolio analysis of GIZ projects using the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions.

Gregory Fuchs studied Marine Environmental Management at the University of York (United Kingdom), focusing particularly on marine biodiversity conservation, coastal and fisheries management and marine protected areas. After having collected field data in the US Pacific Northwest, he wrote his diploma thesis on how a dam breach scenario would affect an endangered orca population's salmon food supply.

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Selected projects by Gregory Fuchs
ProjectStrategic Support for the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration
 

Mangrove seedlings growing in Tanjung Puting National Park, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

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Photo by Daniel Murdiyarso/CIFOR, 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly and officially launched on World Environment Day in June 2021. The aim is to more effectively address the urgent need to restore important ecosystems and habitats.... Read more

Strategic Support for the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectAnalytical and Technical Support During the Negotiations Process for the Nature Restoration Law
 

Image by Skaistė Vancevičiūtė from Pixabay

In the frame of the European Green Deal, a new and ambitious EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (BDS 2030) was adopted in 2020. Building on previous strategies and long-standing EU nature legislation, the new strategy places a strong emphasis on more effectively... Read more

Analytical and Technical Support During the Negotiations Process for the Nature Restoration Law

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectGreening the Blue Bioeconomy and Transition to Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture
 

Musselfarming in Italy

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Image by Jacek Kijewski from Pixabay

Unsustainable use of the oceans and their resources leads to severe problems, like depletion of fish stocks, biodiversity loss, habitat degradation and increased pollution, among other negative impacts. With a scoping study, awarded by the European Environment Agency ... Read more

Greening the Blue Bioeconomy and Transition to Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectIndicators of an Integrated German Marine Policy
 

Image by Erich Westendarp from Pixabay

The "Development Plan for the Sea – Strategy for an Integrated German Maritime Policy" was published back in 2011 and has so far set the framework for all sea-related policies in Germany. An integrated maritime policy encompasses all facets of sea-based activities... Read more

Indicators of an Integrated German Marine Policy

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectCross-sectoral Support for Sustainable Climate Adaptation and Resilient Ecosystems in the North- and Baltic Sea (MEER:STARK)
 
project logo with the project acronym Meerstark.

© Gregory Fuchs 2023

Climate change is a stressor for oceans and seas, affecting the North Sea and Baltic Sea in many ways. The surface waters of the Baltic Sea have warmed on average more than those of the world's oceans and will continue to warm. In the North Sea, the temperature increase... Read more

Cross-sectoral Support for Sustainable Climate Adaptation and Resilient Ecosystems in the North- and Baltic Sea (MEER:STARK)

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectHorizon EuropeMarine Systems Approaches for Biodiversity Resilience and Ecosystem Sustainability (HEU Marine SABRES)
 
project logog

© MarineSABRES project

Marine Biodiversity loss is continuing to decline despite current conservation efforts. Reversing the decline in biodiversity requires the rapid roll-out of effective conservation measures that can also enable a sustainable and resilient blue economy. Social-ecological... Read more

Marine Systems Approaches for Biodiversity Resilience and Ecosystem Sustainability (HEU Marine SABRES)

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectNature's Integration in Cities' Hydrologies, Ecologies and Societies (NICHES)
 
NICHES project logo: Project name in capital letters. in the letters you can see a skyline, above it green and blue horizon

© NICHES

Heavy rainfall events increasingly overload combined sewage systems, resulting in an overflow of contaminated water into the nearby environment and threats to aquatic biodiversity. There is thus an urgent need to identify new, more sustainable solutions which are... Read more

Nature's Integration in Cities' Hydrologies, Ecologies and Societies (NICHES)

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectImplementation of Lighthouses of Mission 'Restore our oceans and waters by 2030'
 

Foto von Alesia Kozik von Pexels

Missions are a novel instrument in Horizon Europe, which aim to tackle societal challenges with systemic solutions. The implementation of five mission areas (Restore our ocean and waters by 2030; Adaptation to Climate Change; Cancer; Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities;... Read more

Implementation of Lighthouses of Mission 'Restore our oceans and waters by 2030'

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectSpecies Protection Rules under the Birds and Habitats Directives
 

Photo by Ryan Stone on Unsplash

The EU-funded project "Species protection rules under the Birds and Habitats Directives: how effectively are they integrated into sectoral policies" supported the European Commission (DG Environment) in identifying existing gaps and uptake of the species protection... Read more

Species Protection Rules under the Birds and Habitats Directives

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectEuropean Topic Centre on Biodiversity (ETC/BD) 2019-2022
 

© Seaq68 | Pixabay.com

The goal of the European Environment Agency's European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity (ETC/BD) is to collect and monitor data on biodiversity, as well as issues and ecological pressures related to biodiversity. This data is used to establish the state of Europe's... Read more

European Topic Centre on Biodiversity (ETC/BD) 2019-2022

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectImplementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MEER project)
 
Ostseeküste | © Ecologic Institut
The aim of the project is to provide technical support and assistance for the tasks of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) in implementing the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the necessary cooperation on a regional, national and EU level. As a... Read more

Implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MEER project)

Duration
-
Funding
Selected publications by Gregory Fuchs
PublicationArticleSitting in Our Own Soup? Combined sewers, climate change and nature-based solutions for urban water management in Berlin
 
screenshot article sitting in our own soup

© Elsevier

Urban water management is facing new challenges due to climate change. Intensified precipitation is putting additional stress on stormwater systems, leading to increased flood risks, more frequent combined sewer overflows (CSOs), and resultant risks to public health and... Read more

Wild, Tom; Gregory Fuchs & McKenna Davis (2024) 'Sitting in our own soup? Combined sewers, climate change and nature-based solutions for urban water management in Berlin' Nature-Based Solutions 5 (2024), p. 10113. doi:10.1016/j.nbsj.2024.100113.

PublicationPolicy BriefDie Rolle nachhaltiger Produktionsmethoden und Investitionen sowie naturpositiver Lieferketten für die Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen
 
cover page of Policy Paper No. 9 by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection. The title reads 'Die Rolle nachhaltiger Produktionsmethoden und Investitionen sowie naturpositiver Lieferketten für die Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen', translating to 'The Role of Sustainable Production Methods and Investments as well as Nature-Positive Supply Chains for the Restoration of Ecosystems'.

© BMUV 2023

In an era where climate change and biodiversity loss rank among the most pressing global challenges, the need for a profound transformation of our economic and production systems comes into focus. But how can companies and societies effectively design this shift towards... Read more

Fuchs, Gregory et al. 2023: Die Rolle nachhaltiger Produktionsmethoden und Investitionen sowie naturpositiver Lieferketten für die Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen. Policy Paper Nr. 9 der Policy Paper Reihe zur UN-Dekade zur Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen (2021-2030). Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, Berlin.

PublicationPolicy BriefDie Ergebnisse der CBD COP15 und ihre Bedeutung für die UN-Dekade zur Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen
 
Cover of Policy Paper No. 7 from the series for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), entitled 'The Results of the CBD COP15 and their Importance for the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.' It displays the emblem of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection. Below, an image of a mist-laden rainforest is visible. Authors Gregory Fuchs and Rebecca Noebel from the Ecologic Institute, and Mathias Bertram from GIZ.

© BMUV 2023

This policy brief offers a nuanced analysis of the outcomes from CBD COP15. It particularly focuses on the adoption of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and its ramifications for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. It meticulously examines the GBF’s strategic... Read more

Fuchs, Gregory et al. 2023: Die Ergebnisse der CBD COP15 und ihre Bedeutung für die UN-Dekade zur Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen. Papier Nr. 7 der Policy Paper Reihe zur UN-Dekade für die Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen (2021-2030). Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, Berlin.

PublicationPolicy BriefDie Wiederherstellung von Meeres- und Küstenökosystemen
 
Cover page for a policy paper entitled 'Die Wiederherstellung von Meeres- und Küstenökosystemen', or 'The Restoration of Marine and Coastal Ecosystems', as part of a series on the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), Policy Paper No. 6. The page displays the German Federal Ministry for the Environment's logo and features an underwater photograph of a sea turtle, symbolizing marine life and ecosystem restoration. The authors listed are Gregory Fuchs and Rebecca Noebel from the Ecologic Institute.

© BMUV 2023

Marine and coastal ecosystems are invaluable as they provide important resources and services to humanity. In particular, the storage of CO2 in intact coastal and marine ecosystems play an important role as they contribute to climate change mitigation and provide major... Read more

Fuchs, Gregory and Rebecca Noebel 2023: Die Wiederherstellung von Meeres- und Küstenökosystemen. Papier Nr. 6 der Policy Paper Reihe zur UN-Dekade für die Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen (2021-2030). Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, Berlin.

PublicationPolicy BriefDie Rolle der Konvention zur Bekämpfung von Wüstenbildung (UNCCD) in der UN-Dekade zur Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen
 
Cover page of a policy paper titled 'Die Rolle der Konvention zur Bekämpfung von Wüstenbildung (UNCCD) in der UN-Dekade zur Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen' which translates to 'The Role of the Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration'. It features the logo of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection at the top. The cover includes a scenic image of a misty tropical forest.

© BMUV 2023

This paper analyses the role of the UNCCD in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, linking the UNCCD's key objective of achieving land degradation neutrality (LDN) with the concerns and objectives of the UN Decade. The document underscores the challenges and... Read more

Noebel, Rebecca; Fuchs, Gregory (2023): Die Rolle der Konvention zur Bekämpfung von Wüstenbildung (UNCCD) in der UN-Dekade zur Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen. Papier Nr. 3 der Policy Paper Reihe zur UN-Dekade für die Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen (2021-2030). Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, Berlin.

PublicationPolicy BriefDie Wiederherstellung von Süßwasserökosystemen
 
Cover page of Policy Paper No. 8 from the series on the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), titled 'The Restoration of Freshwater Ecosystems.' The page features the logo of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection at the top. Below is an image of a misty rainforest. The authors listed are Gregory Fuchs, Sandra Naumann, and Rebecca Noebel from the Ecologic Institute, with a reference to the GIZ project.

© BMUV 2023

This policy paper addresses the restoration of freshwater ecosystems. It delves into a policy milieu where the UN Decades of Ecosystem Restoration and the Water Decade emerge as pivotal, particularly bolstering SDGs 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and 14 (Life Below... Read more

Fuchs, Gregory et al. 2023: Die Wiederherstellung von Süßwasserökosystemen. Papier Nr. 8 der Policy Paper Reihe zur UN-Dekade für die Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen (2021-2030). Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, Berlin.

PublicationPolicy BriefDie Rolle von Indigenen Völkern und lokalen Gemeinschaften, Frauen und Jugendlichen für die Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen
 
Cover page of Policy Paper No. 5 from a series on the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), titled 'The Role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, Women and Youth in Ecosystem Restoration.' It features the logo of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection at the top. Below, there’s an image of a misty rainforest. The authors listed are Rebecca Noebel and Gregory Fuchs from the Ecologic Institute.

© BMUV 2023

In an increasingly interlinked and globalized world, indigenous peoples and local communities are essential for the preservation of their rights, cultures and access to land and resources. What role do they play in the dialog around environmental protection and social... Read more

Noebel, Rebecca; Fuchs; Gregory (2023): Die Rolle von Indigenen Völkern und lokalen Gemeinschaften, Frauen und Jugendlichen für die Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen. Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, Berlin.

PublicationPolicy BriefDie Wiederherstellung waldreicher Landschaften
 
Document cover for a policy paper by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection. The title 'Die Wiederherstellung waldreicher Landschaften' translates to 'The Restoration of Forest-rich Landscapes'. Below, the authors Gregory Fuchs, Sandra Naumann, and Rebecca Noebel.

© BMUV 2023

This policy brief examines the Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) approach, considering global (e.g., the Bonn Challenge) and regional (e.g., AFR100) initiatives for restoring (forest) ecosystems, among others, and assesses their contribution to the UN multilateral... Read more

Fuchs; Gregory; Naumann, Sandra; Noebel, Rebecca (2023): Die Wiederherstellung waldreicher Landschaften. Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, Berlin.

PublicationPolicy BriefWhy is Nature Restoration Critical for Marine Areas?
 
Cover of the policy brief "Why is nature restoration critical for marine areas?"

© Ecologic institute, IEEP

The EU Commission published its proposal for a new Nature Restoration Regulation in June 2022. In this context, Ecologic Institute and IEEP – as part of the Think Sustainable Europe network – published a series of thematic policy briefs to inform Members of the European... Read more

Fuchs, Gregory; Stelljes, N. 2023: Why is nature restoration critical for marine areas?. IEEP, Ecologic Institute: Brussels, Berlin.

PublicationReportBaseline Study for the Implementation of Lighthouses of the Mission 'Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030'
 
Cover of the indedendent expert report "Baseline study for the implementation of lighthouses of the Mission ‘Restore our ocean and waters by 2030’: Atlantic, Arctic, Danube and Mediterranean lighthouses"

© European Commission

The objective of the EU Mission 'Restore our ocean and waters by 2030' is to provide a systemic approach for the restoration of our oceans, seas and waters by 2030. The Mission lighthouses act as hubs and platforms for the development, demonstration and deployment of... Read more

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Alao Chanou, Z., McColgan, O., Berbel, J., et al., Baseline study for the implementation of lighthouses of the Mission 'Restore our ocean and waters by 2030': Atlantic, Arctic, Danube and Mediterranean lighthouses, Publications Office of the European Union, 2023, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/34856

PublicationReportProtected Area Management in the EU
 

© EEA | background photo: Seaq68 | Pixabay.com

The new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 sets out ambitious goals to further advance the protection of Europe's nature. One of the central elements of the strategy targets is the increase of protected area coverage on land and sea, as well as the dedicated designation... Read more

Naumann, S., Noebel, R., Fuchs, G. and Roscher, S. 2021: Protected area management in the EU – Supporting the advancement of the Trans-European Nature Network. ETC/BD report to the EEA.

Selected events by Gregory Fuchs
EventDigital EventInternational Symposium on Nature-based Solutions in Urban Water Systems
 
Social Media Card of the Event "NICHES International Symposium on Nature-based Solutions in Urban Water Systems"

© ICTA

The Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA) from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), invites you to the first International Symposium of the NICHES project. NICHES aims to promote restorative nature-based solutions in urban water systems to... Read more

Digital Event:International Symposium on Nature-based Solutions in Urban Water Systems

Date
Location
hybrid, Barcelona, Spain
EventConferenceMarine Protected Areas, Source-to-sea Concepts and Multi-use of Marine Space
 

Bild von Robert Jones auf Pixabay

Ecologic Institute organised this side event focusing on the source-to-sea approach, multi-use of marine space and marine protected areas in Europe's seas (and transitional waters) – all timely topics in marine management and conservation. In three distinct sessions, a... Read more

Conference:Marine Protected Areas, Source-to-sea Concepts and Multi-use of Marine Space

Date
Location
Lisbon, Portugal
Selected presentations by Gregory Fuchs
PresentationSpeechIntegrated Approaches to Maritime Economy in the Baltic Sea Region
 
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Webinar advertisement

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© CBSS

The Ecologic Institute and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) in Germany developed in the past months a set of suitable indicators to make the impacts of Germany’s integrated maritime policy presentable and assessable at the economic,... Read more

Speech:Integrated Approaches to Maritime Economy in the Baltic Sea Region

Date
Location
online
PresentationSpeechFreshwater Ecosystem Restoration
 
1st presentation slide by Gregory Fuchs presenting a policy paper stressing the need for freshwater ecosystem restoration.

© Ecologic Institute

At the online conference, "Moore II: Restoring Intact Ecosystems and Sustainable Use – Pathways to Success," held on 25 April 2023, Gregory Fuchs presented a policy paper stressing the need for freshwater ecosystem restoration. The event, organized to support the UN... Read more

Speech:Freshwater Ecosystem Restoration

Date
Location
online
Source URL: https://www.ecologic.eu/17828