The Species Conservation team conducts research on the conservation and ecology of threatened and policy-relevant species in Flanders. With the help of volunteers and professionals, many of these species are monitored through an extensive monitoring network. We have a broad taxonomic scope, with a particular focus on insects (including butterflies, hoverflies, and other pollinators), mammals (such as bats, dormice, and predators), vascular plants, and mosses. Our research supports nature policy and management, including within the framework of the Habitats Directive and through the compilation of Red Lists.
We combine field research and monitoring with innovative techniques, such as camera traps and passive acoustic monitoring, with data analysis (such as species distribution models). The team is responsible for managing and making accessible various databases that are essential for species monitoring and for policy reporting at the regional, national, and European levels.