Reconciling business and nature: a forest immersion with UNamur students

This activity, initiated by professors Jean-Marie Baland, François Libois and Marine Gueben, was organized as part of several courses dealing with environmental issues, and aimed to introduce students to multifunctional forest management and the practical application of ecological and economic trade-offs.

What could be more representative than an area like the Domaine d'Haugimont, UNamur's forest area? Indeed, the estate is managed according to the principles of Pro Silva, a forestry method that combines respect for ecosystems and a sustainable economic system. This approach favours minimal, intelligent intervention in the forest, allowing biodiversity to thrive while generating income through reasoned exploitation. Pro Silva management focuses on managing forests by mixing tree species, avoiding clear-cutting and encouraging natural renewal. This model maintains a constant forest cover while optimizing wood production, thus contributing to the economic, ecological and social sustainability of forests. Learn more about Pro Silva management

The starting point for reflection was deforestation in Nepal, due to the growing demand for wood and energy, a reminder that economic choices are never neutral. Here in Wallonia, we face similar challenges, but with the good fortune to be able to anticipate them. In fact, Pietro Zidda, Professor of Economics and Dean of the EMCP Faculty, reminds us: "In any sector of the economy, it's possible to invest while respecting the environment and, what's more, making a profit". Jean-Marie Baland, professor at UNamur adds: "as Gauthier Ligo showed, the Pro Silva management of the Haugimont estate shows itself to be financially profitable over the medium term from the strict point of view of the private manager. And that's not counting, on the one hand, the increased resilience of the forest in the very long term and, on the other, all the environmental services and benefits (bio-diversity, water cycle management, soil regeneration...) it generates!".

Over the course of an afternoon, students, accompanied by teachers and experts, explored the challenges of deforestation and environmentally-friendly economic solutions.

Divided into four groups, the students tackled a variety of topics:

• Pedagogy on forests with Charles Debois, an expert who assessed the profitability of forest management on the Haugimont estate.
• Valorisation économique des forêts avec Gauthier Ligo, professeur en économie forestière à Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech et Simon Hauser, Gestionnaire forestier et éco-conseiller à l'UNamur
• Travaux ciblés et sylviculture avec Maude Vandenabeele, ingénieur forestière à Forêt.Nature
• Biodiversity with Christine Sanchez, head of continuous-canopy mixed silviculture training for the organization Forêt.Nature

Christine Sachez, forestry expert, shares, "I find it very interesting to have a group of economics students. On the one hand, to show them what forest management is, a rather distant field from their studies. Secondly, for my own experience. Indeed, the questions asked are very different from those of a group of forestry students. I'm learning a lot too. Maude Vandenabeele, completes: "I find it very interesting to show them the field. We need to make students aware of the fact that the forest is about ecology and people. This allows us to put ourselves in each other's shoes and understand each other's realities."

Romane, a student on her third bachelor's degree in economics and management, shares her experience: "As part of the Environmental Economics course, this type of activity allows us to move from theory to practice and not limit ourselves to numbers but to have a slightly more global vision of the thing".

Other Specialized Master's students in sustainable development management and economics add: "The forest visit was an enriching educational experience that gave me a better understanding of the complex dynamics of population, environmental sustainability and governance. It inspired me to become a stronger advocate for sustainable practices and policies that protect our natural heritage for future generations. In addition, the visit provided me with a tangible context for coursework, bridging the gap between theory and real-world application." Or, "It was important for me to find out how the forest is managed in a European country. This outing reminded me of many things about the environment, and I learned a lot of new things. It was also interesting to see in practice how to reconcile environmental sustainability with economics."

Through this immersion, the students understood that economics and nature are not incompatible. Following the example of Haugimont, they learned that investing in sustainable forest management can not only preserve ecosystems, but also generate long-term benefits.

By integrating approaches like Pro Silva's now, these future economists will help chart a path where profitability no longer comes at the expense of nature, but in harmony with it.