Sanne Van Den Berge

Teaching Assistant

Belgian Ecosystems & Society (BEES) Newsletter - July 2018. Access the full newsletter here.

 

What are the challenges you face in your research?

As a researcher, you want to answer relevant questions, and therefore you need the time to really get involved in your subject. When I started as a teaching assistant (Forest and Nature management, Bio-science engineers UGent) almost 4 years ago, my research questions were not clear yet, except that they would build on my thesis research (influencing factors of floral diversity in hedgerows). I formulated my research questions gradually during my research, and therefore (I think!) I could ask the right ones. I focus both on diversity of hedgerows and their ecosystem services biomass production and carbon sequestration (above & below ground) in the countryside.

 What about Ecosystem Services in the future? 

The concept of ecosystem services is very strong, as it helps us to outline how certain ecosystems contribute to our society. In other words, the description of these services can be used when conservation measures for the ecosystems are being discussed. In Flanders, space is valuable, and such discussions happen all the time. My study areas are situated in the province of Antwerp, where hedgerows are disappearing gradually from the landscape, making way for agriculture or urbanization. By mapping some of the many services hedgerows deliver, I hope to contribute in guaranteeing their survival.

What has BEES brought to you?

The first time I got in touch with the BEES network, was during the Young Scientist Day 2016. The first thing I noticed about this symposium was the recognition of the gap between research (finding out and collecting the information) and policy (using the information). The research itself was not the main point of attention, but rather the way you, as a researcher, do efforts in communicating about it. I really liked this point of attention. Too often results of scientific research are not broadly used. As a researcher, you can help overcome this gap not only by discussing your results at scientific conferences and in scientific journals, but also by communicating with local and national policy makers, NGO’s, non-profit associations, pressure groups and by networking. BEES fulfills a refreshing and unique role in the latter.