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On this page, you'll find a report on all the actions and activities initiated at the University of Namur in connection with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #15: "Life on Earth".
Research
Prof Frederik De Laender. Published in "Nature".
- ERGA, a European atlas of reference genomes
Discover all publications related to the sustainable development goal "Earth Life" on the UNamur research portal.
Social impact and actions
Corporate initiatives
The Domaine d'Haugimont
Situated in the heart of the Condruzian countryside, the Haugimont Estate lies in the commune of Gesves, 18 km south-east of Namur. Since 1978, it has been an exceptional teaching and research centre for students and scientists from the University of Namur. It is also open to the public and to schools for training, discovery and leisure activities.
A number of initiatives are being carried out there:
- The Haugimont apiary.
- Collection of old varieties of wheat at Haugimont for the establishment of a bread-making wheat industry in the Cœur de Condroz area.
- Large flock of ewes (400) with the production of lambs for consumption and the valorisation of the wool in Verviers.
- Amendment of the Haugimont meadows solely by composting the ewes' bedding.
- Testing the first anti-wolf fence: UNamur is a member of the wolf network as a sheep producer.
- Vast orchards and organization of apple collections every year during "la maraude".
Recognized as Site of Great Biological Interest, the Haugimont estate is home to many remarkable animal and plant species.
New projects:
- the creation of an approved nature reserve
- the creation and maintenance of new ponds
- the extension of the resilient forests project to chalarose ash groves.
- Pro Silva silviculture project
Ecological and economic assessment - Lessons and prospects for resilient forests in Wallonia
Wallonia's forests are facing a number of challenges, including tree dieback due to prolonged drought, which is forcing the various players involved to rethink their practices in order to adapt to climate disruption.
5 projects have been selected by a jury as part of Wallonia's recovery plan. Over the next two years, the teams involved in these projects will aim to develop and share knowledge on the importance of dead wood for more resilient forests, drought (development of a climatic drought indicator, particularly in forest environments), the ecological and economic assessment of 30 years of Pro Silva silviculture, the functional diversification of forest interfaces and the optimisation of silvicultural itineraries for the creation of resilient mixed stands. Find out more...
More info on the domain of Haugimont...
Calls Campus Namur Durable (CaNDLE)
Since 2013, the Campus Namur Durable (CaNDLE) calls have been inviting the university community to propose actions aimed at making the campus and university activity more sustainable in the short, medium and long term.
The first and second CaNDLE calls contributed, in 2013 and 2015, to the realisation of eight projects likely to improve the sustainability of the campus or university activity. The 2021 call saw the launch of five new eco-responsible initiatives proposed by UNamur members and financed by the Jerome Fund for Sustainable Development.
In 2023, UNamur launches a fourth CaNDLE call funded thanks to the joint support of the Jerome Fund for Sustainable Development and the Assembly of Circles of UNamur students. A total of 7 projects are being funded in this call.
Nest boxes in Namur for swifts
As part of the CaNDLE "Apus au campus" project, several swift nests are present on buildings on the UNamur campus. A conservation project run by several URBE researchers in collaboration with SIGEC and the non-profit organization Natagora. Learn more
More info on CaNDLE projects here...
Heart of the Forest - UbiCast project
For the past two years, UbiCast, the supplier of the in-auditorium recording solution used at the University of Namur has replaced its end-of-year 'goodies' with participation in reforestation projects. This year, the University of Namur is sponsoring 22 trees located on a project plot in Bolivia.
Le Confluent des Savoirs (CDS) - Printemps des sciences
Every year, the CDS organizes the "Spring of sciences” (Printemps des Sciences)by offering exhibitions and workshops on biodiversity subjects.
Examples of topics covered in 2022:
The CDS also organized a one-day conference on global warming at Collège Godinne-Burnot.
More info on the Confluent des Savoirs (CDS) here
The Biokot
The BioKot is a student residence supported by the UNamur . The students work for the preservation of the environment.
More info on the Facebook page
A shelter for stray cats
UNamur has set up a shelter for stray cats in the heart of the university car park. More info here
UNamur at the Festival International Nature de Namur (FINN)
Collaborations and partnerships
Farm For Good
Farm For Good is an independent not-for-profit organisation in which farmers hold the decision-making power and define the main strategic directions. Its business model is based on a balance between income-generating and non-income-generating activities, to ensure its long-term financial sustainability. Initiated by the UNamur researcher Clotilde De Montpellier. Find out more
LUCID
Joint ARES research project to understand the impact of land use, particularly maize, on people in the Philippines. Find out more about this project... Learn more
Partnership with the Entre-Sambre-Et-Meuse Park
The Entre Sambre et Meuse National Park (ESEM) extends over the communes of Couvin, Viroinval, Momignies, Froidchapelle and Chimay, a place brimming with geological sites to be enhanced. With its expertise in geography, geology and biodiversity conservation, UNamur is one of its partners and will make its knowledge and experience available to promote and preserve this exceptional natural heritage. Learn more
Lichens Go! project
Lichens Go!, a training workshop that demonstrated how to apply the bioindication protocol and recognize different lichen species. Find out more
Conference: La Troisième Voie du Vivant
On Wednesday November 8 at 8pm, Les Ateliers Paysans-Artisans, La FUCID, La Librairie Point Virgule and Tchak! are joining forces to organize a conference by Olivier Hamant around his latest book: "La troisième voie du vivant". Learn more
Research institute
Institute of Life, Earth and Environment (ILEE)
Research at the Institute of Life, Earth and Environment (ILEE) is relevant to several of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For example, we study the impact of multiple stressors and/or pollutants on organisms but also on ecosystems, and solutions are sought to strengthen their resistance and resilience and/or limit harmful products.
Furthermore, by prospecting and characterising geological resources and by integrating human use over the centuries, from Antiquity to the current Anthropocene, ILEE contributes to the sustainable management of natural resources, including architecture and art. The transition to a more sustainable agriculture is investigated through the concept of ecosystem services via mapping, modelling and integrated assessment. The consequences of climate change on human migration or the interactions between the different agents responsible for the transmission of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases are also at the heart of ILEE's research.
Spin-off
e-biom
Created with the support of the FIRST Spin-off programme of the SPW Research, e-biom is a biological and environmental consultancy company associated with a multidisciplinary laboratory specialising in bio-monitoring, ecological and biological studies. Read more
Fytofend
Created with the support of the FIRST Spin-off programme of SPW Research, the company specialises in plant protection using elicitors (natural stimulants of plant defences). The objective is to become the world's number one elicitor and to meet the challenges of the future. Read more
