Project R-15843

Smart Long-Term Ecological Monitoring Network (Research)

Long-term ecological monitoring is essential to understanding ecosystem dynamics in the face of accelerating biodiversity loss, climate change, and anthropogenic pressures such as recreation. The infrastructure requested is embedded within the Centre for Environmental Sciences (CMK) and supported by the Field Research Centre (FRC) of UHasselt. We aim to establish an automatic, cost-effective, energy-efficient, near real-time data collecting monitoring system in the National Park Hoge Kempen (NPHK). By integrating biotic and abiotic parameters, it enables the detection of both gradual and acute environmental changes, informs adaptive management, and supports early-warning systems. The project leverages LoRaWAN technology biotic, and key environmental variables such as CO₂, temperature, and soil moisture. The program enhances our ability to evaluate the impact of conservation interventions and ecological shifts, such as the return of apex predators or pandemics. It also contributes to international research efforts and supports policy development under frameworks like the EU Nature Restoration Law and the Global Biodiversity Framework. As the most extensive initiative of its kind in Belgium, it sets a precedent for national and landscape park monitoring, fostering interdisciplinary research and informed conservation.

01 July 2025 - 30 June 2029