By striving for biodiverse campuses, HOGENT takes tangible action against climate change and its impacts. On the one hand, biodiverse campuses help reduce net emissions (mitigation); on the other, they strengthen us to cope with the most important effects of climate change (adaptation). Biodiverse campuses also contribute to water retention (counteracting water scarcity) and help eliminate the use of chemical pesticides, two other critical planetary boundaries.
Meet the celebrities of HOGENT.
Our biodiverse local celebs below can be spotted on HOGENT campuses.
Kingfisher
Want to spot a kingfisher? Head over to the pond on HOGENT’s Schoonmeersen campus, between building B and the R4. This location has everythin...
Bee orchid
The bee orchid is a rare flower that cleverly disguises itself as a bee during its blooming period from May to July. Smart move – this trick...
Mining bee
Mining bees make their nests underground. Each bee digs its own little burrow – they’re solitary creatures, not part of a hive or colon...
European green woodpecker
The European green woodpecker is thriving on HOGENT’s Schoonmeersen campus. It nests in the old trees behind the sports hall and feasts on an...
Bioswales
You’ll find several bioswales on HOGENT campuses. These basins collect rainwater when our underground tanks are full. Instead of disappearing...
Historic permanent grassland
On campus Schoonmeersen, between building B and the R4, you’ll find a patch of grassland thay may look ordinary at first glance. But this are...
Ecoshelter
On the Schoonmeersen campus, near Building T, you’ll find our ecoshelter: a cozy spot surrounded by greenery, in the sun, and sheltered from...
Follow the exercise route.
Follow the exercise route on HOGENT campus Schoonmeersen, a walking or running route of about 3 kilometres along surprising spots on campus.
Biodiversity policy.
The current biodiversity policy was developed by the Biodiversity Working Group - a multidisciplinary team with representatives from different departments, research centres, offices, services, students and external experts. The input from both internal and external experts, along with the perspectives of various stakeholders, was combined with existing biodiversity policy documents (such as those from Ghent University and the VUB), findings from research projects, including a Practice-Based Scientific Research project (PWO project) titled ‘Biodivers Zorggroen’ and experience gained through HOGENT Living Lab.
Biodiversity policy HOGENT (pdf)
The policy focuses on 3 strategic subgoals which are themselves divided into operational goals:
- HOGENT inventories (biodiverse and multifunctional) green space in function of fauna and flora
- HOGENT monitors (biodiverse and multifunctional) green space in function of fauna and flora
- HOGENT monitors emissions when managing and creating green space
- HOGENT creates management plans per campus
- HOGENT identifies and analyses the user of outdoor spaces on its campuses
- HOGENT develops biodiverse green spaces
- HOGENT makes its outdoor environment climate-resilient
- HOGENT builds ecological bridges and thereby encourages connectivity with the environment (associated biodiversity)
- HOGENT communicates on biodiversity (internal and external)
- HOGENT reports on biodiversity
- HOGENT structurally embeds the biodiversity working group in its operations
- HOGENT facilitates and encourages experimentation in outdoor space
- HOGENT involves colleagues in (smaller) projects on campus (e.g. ecoshelters, co-creation at campus Schoonmeersen)
- Drafting and improving water management per campus
- Developing a toolbox/checklist for terrain and/or infrastructure development projects
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Sustainability
“Give the world the best of yourself.” The slogan of HOGENT is crystal clear. As a University of Applied Sciences and Arts, we want to make a positive impact on both people and the …
NatuurRijk: over biodiversiteit
In deze Teatime@bib hebben HOGENTenaars het over het verbeteren van de biodiversiteit. Wil je meer weten over hoe je een diverse bloemrijke tuin krijgt? Of waar het Sustainability Office binnen de …