Division Forest, Nature & Landscape

Research division at @KU_Leuven, studying 🌳🛰️🌍🗺️
PIs: @K_VanMeerbeek @BartMuys @k_oron @StefLhermitte #BenSomers #JosVanOrshoven

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

Curious for more? Visit their website here: https://t.co/uIUrxtgzc2

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

💡 Project spotlight 💡

In this new series we shine a spotlight on a research project in which FNL takes part each month! 🔍 Today, we present the @intercede_eu project: InceNtivising future forest eCosystem sErvices anD incomes in Europe.

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

His main take-away is that policies must be revisited as new evidence comes to light to ensure that they remain effective in the face of evolving climate challenges.
Congratulations Dr. Fernando Francisco Troya Andrade! We wish you all the best in your new endeavors!

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

This week Fernando Francisco Troya Andrade successfully defended his PhD and earned the title of Doctor in Bio-science Engineering! 🎓👏 Fernando presented his research on how climatic anomalies like the El Niño affect tropical ecosystems in Ecuador. 🍃🌀🌳

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

His work provides new insights that encourage indigenous land management practices as there are limitations for the one-size-fits-all universal approach to forest conservation.

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

By connecting these aspects, the goal is to better understand the full impact of thinning on the ecosystem and offer balanced forest management advice.

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

Each month, we shine a spotlight on one colleague in our FNL division 🌳 and share their interesting research topics! 🔍 Today, we present the topic of @VerdonckSanne: Optimizing climate-smart forest management to alleviate drought stress in temperate forest systems.💧

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

This in turn affects the animals and insects living there. Sanne's PhD looks at thinning not just from the tree’s perspective, but also from the viewpoint of the forest microclimate and ground-dwelling macroarthropods like woodlice and ground beetles.

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

Kelly's PhD unlocks the climate change mitigation and adaptation potential of domestic gardens by combining remote sensing, spatial analysis, sensor networks, and citizen science to better understand garden characteristics, model their climate impact, and inform policymakers.

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

Each month, we shine a spotlight on one or multiple colleagues in our FNL division 🌳 and share their interesting research topics! 🔍 Today, we present the topic of @KellyWittemans: Unlocking the climate change mitigation and adaptation potential of domestic gardens🌻🌼🌷

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

From estimating local households’ fuelwood and charcoal use to understanding how the surrounding forests responded over time. 🌳🔥Congratulations, Dr. Boogers! Thank you for being such a great colleague at FNL. Wishing you all the best in your next adventure! 👏

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

At the end of June, Stef Boogers successfully defended his PhD! He presented his fascinating research on the environmental impact of human activities in the #Sagalassos territory in #Turkey.

#PhD #ForestResearch

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

She investigates the main drivers behind garden management decisions. Janne also examines the influence of garden use, explores barriers to change, and assesses if citizen science can support the uptake of more climate-resilient practices.

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

Each month, we shine a spotlight on one colleague in our FNL division 🌳 and share their interesting research topics! 🔍 Today, we present the topic of Janne Teerlinck: The Climate Change Adaptation Potential of Garden Management, from a Socio-Ecological Perspective🌻🌼🌷

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

Janne’s research focuses on what people do in their gardens and why, and how we can improve garden management to better support climate change adaptation. More specifically, she looks at which nature-based solutions (NBS) can be applied in these private outdoor spaces.

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

Yesterday, the #sGlobe team enjoyed a teambuilding day at the beautiful Hoge Venen Nature Park, organized by @K_VanMeerbeek . A 16-kilometer hike sparked team connection, fresh research ideas, and a fun game—an ideal way to keep the team spirit thriving! 👏

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

De 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐤𝐝𝐚𝐠 𝐓𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 biedt een mix van lezingen, workshops, wandelingen, een fietstocht en een interactieve infomarkt.

📅 Maandag 20 oktober 2025

📍 VAC Leuven

ℹ️ Meer info & inschrijven:

https://t.co/KAJQ8r7UDw

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

He explores this from multiple perspectives, including future changes in species composition, future changes in functional traits composition, and functional drivers of temporal stability.
#FNL #KUL #Researchinthespotlight #Researcherofthemonth #PhD #KULeuven

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

Each month, we shine a spotlight on one colleague in our FNL division 🌳 and share their interesting research topics! 🔍 Today, we present the topic of @changliu_lukas : Exploring the effects of climate and land-use change on ecosystem functioning of European grasslands 🌱

[Division Forest, Nature & Landscape @dForNatLan]

Chang’s project harnesses the big data revolution in ecology to examine how climate and land cover change may affect the ecosystem functioning of European grasslands.