Biodiversity Newsflash 126
April 2023
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| 1 | Join our team as Biodiversity Expert in the Walloon Context!
We are looking for a biodiversity expert with expertise in biodiversity conservation science and/or policy, specifically in the context of the Walloon regio. The expert will be responsible for providing knowledge and skills to establish a regional framework that supports biodiversity research to aid decision making in Wallonia. The role also involves mapping scientific expertise on biodiversity, analyzing knowledge needs, and identifying corresponding workflows.
The ideal candidate would have:
- experience in data and information management and analytics, with horizon scanning/foresight activities being an asset.
- an excellent level of written and spoken French and English, as well as knowledge of Dutch.
- demonstrated experience in event planning, organization, and facilitation, along with experience in project/program development and management.
- genuine interest and enthusiasm for biodiversity research and policy
- excellent networking and communication skills, and the ability to multitask and work within a team with proficient communication and transparency are necessary.
- experience in advocacy, knowledge brokerage, or science communication is a strong advantage.
we offer:
- a stimulating position in a renowned scientific institute
- a full time (38h/week) position based at The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, with regular meetings with stakeholders in Wallonia.
- flexible working hours, possibility of teleworking and training
For more information, please contact Divija Jata, Operational Coordinator for the Belgian Biodiversity Platform |
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2 | IUCN Belgian Members day - 8th of May
The Belgian IUCN Focal Point welcomes you to the first Belgian IUCN Members Day. Join this great opportunity and get to know the Belgian IUCN members and their work for nature conservation, learn about the IUCN European work programme, and get inspired by the work of the IUCN Commissions! Join us at the Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences on 8th May 2023.
REGISTRATION
To see the full programme and event info, please follow this link.
Programme highlights include:
Role of IUCN implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global biodiversity Framework
- Sonia Peña Moreno, Director of IUCN International Policy Centre
What are the IUCN Commissions? How to get involved as an expert
- Jean-Christophe Vie, IUCN Species Survival Commission
Spotlight on IUCN tools and standards
- Thomas Brooks, IUCN chief scientist
For more information, please contact Divija Jata, Operational Coordinator for the Belgian Biodiversity Platform
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4 | BiodivScen final conference - sign up now!
Biodiversa+ is very pleased to announce the final conference of its COFUND Action BiodivScen, implemented jointly with the Belmont Forum. Join us on 16 and 17 May 2023 for the conclusion of this programme and the presentation of the major research results of the 21 projects of BiodivScen. Save the date and find out how the BiodivScen projects have helped fill knowledge gaps related to biodiversity and ecosystem services scenarios!
5 | BiodivProtect - Call brochure & kick-off recording now available
Discover the Biodiversa+ call brochure on the results of its joint call on “Supporting the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems across land and sea”, also known as BiodivProtect. The BiodivProtect call brochure provides information on the call process, from its development to the evaluation and selection of proposals. You’ll also learn about the 36 BiodivProtect projects! BiodivProtect was officially kicked off this month, find the event highlights and recording here!
6 | Rewatch the Biodiversa+ COP15 Sience-Policy Forum!
On 18 April, Biodiversa+ held a science-policy forum on “knowledge and capacity to facilitate the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework”. The event gathered high-level speakers from the CBD secretariat, the European Commission, as well as members from environmental protection agencies and researchers from Biodiversa projects. Find out more about this science-policy forum!
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7 | LifeWatch news
7.1 WoRMS philantrophy grants 2022
The Flanders Marine Institute's WoRMS Philanthropy grants aim to support editors in making WoRMS (World Register of Marine Species) more complete. Three editors received 500 Euro each to add missing information, original names, descriptions, and information related to the type specimen. The first grant was carried out by Jessica Saraiva de Oliveira, who managed to make 2,300 edits to Nematoda species. The second grant was given to Bruce Marshall, who created 1,315 new taxonomic records and edited 9,331 records for the Mollusca in WoRMS. Gustavo Heiden's ongoing grant project focuses on filling gaps in the taxonomic data of the tribe Astereae. The grant reports are available online for consultation. Read more
7.2 Cut through shell and common cockle stand firm in the Big Annual Seashell Survey
The Big Annual Seashell Survey, a citizen science initiative, had over 2,000 volunteers collecting 82,444 shells from 66 species across more than 400 kilometers of beaches in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. The Cut trough shell and Common cockle were the most common species found in all three countries. Regional differences were observed, with the Baltic tellin found mainly on the Belgian east and middle coasts and the Zeeland coast, while the French border had many recent Pullet carpet shells and Grooved razor shells. The occurrence of exotic species was highest in the Channel, and less than 1% of the checked shells had a "drill hole" caused by predatory snails. This year, the initiative aimed for inclusivity, with foreign-speaking newcomers and 5th-grade students actively participating.
Read more
7.3 The LifeWatch Community Platform is here!
LifeWatch has launched the LifeWatch Community platform, which is open to anyone interested in biodiversity and ecosystem research. The platform allows members to create and contribute to forums, add opportunities, jobs and events of interest to the community, and hold meetings and collaborative brainstorming sessions with other members. Members can also select their skills from a preset list to facilitate linkages among the community, making it easier to find collaborators with specific specializations. The platform also provides information about upcoming events, including the LifeWatch ERIC Biodiversity and Ecosystem eScience Conference in Seville. Registering for an account is recommended to access the full range of resources available and enhance the community experience for everyone.
read more
For more information on LifeWatch News, please contact Dimitri Brosens, GBIF Node Manager Belgium at the Belgian Biodiversity Platform.
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Every month we present interesting items in the news we have read and that are worth sharing!
IUCN Webinar: Conserving Conservationists! Speakers Brittany Sawrey and Jessie Panazzolo will discuss ways to support conservationists working in remote environments, dealing with eco-anxiety and imposter syndrome. Brittany Sawrey will present her study on vicarious trauma in conservation, while Jessie Panazzolo will talk about her work with Lonely Conservationists, an online community for conservationists. The webinar will be chaired by Sophie Stenson, who is completing a PhD on sustainable governance. The webinar aims to provide insights on how to support the conservationist community. GBIF job opportunity to strengthen capacity and engagement in Europe and Central Asia.The GBIF Secretariat seeks two part-time regional support contractors for Europe and Central Asia with significant GBIF experience in data mobilization and publishing. The contractors will work with the GBIF Participant nodes, regional representatives, and volunteer trainers to enhance regional biodiversity data availability, capacity, and engagement in the GBIF network. Fluency in English and a solid working knowledge of the GBIF data infrastructure are required. Interested applicants may find more information and apply on the GBIF website. White paper 'Our Natural Capital: research needs and priorities for the future’ is out today!This document summarizes ideas that emerged during the international Collen-Francqui chair trajectory of Prof. David Ellsworth in Belgium (Sept-Dec 2022). From Australia, Prof. Ellsworth brings an external view towards the research community in Europe, formed during a series of Classes of Excellence in Belgium. These ideas emerged from the discussions with professors and young researchers attending the Classes of Excellence at seven Belgian universities, as well as with the members of the Natural Capital Research Platform of the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering at Ghent University. This document incorporated feedback and comments by 50 participants at Prof. Ellsworth’s Collen-Francqui chair closing symposium in Dec 2022. |
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