Department of Wildlife Ecology and Biodiversity
National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus
Department of Wildlife Ecology and Biodiversity
Grenåvej 14 - 8410 Rønde
Tlf: +45 89201700 - Fax: +45 89201514
December 2008
Welcome to the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Biodiversity is the centre of excellence for all research activities associated with wildlife and nature conservation and the maintenance of biodiversity in
Our aim is to provide an objective framework to support the wise use of natural resources. Our work combines undertaking quality research with the active integration of long term surveillance and monitoring to provide a sound knowledge base for the provision of advice to industry, government and the general public.
We place considerable emphasis on understanding how human activities impact on natural processes and systems (such as investigating the effects of offshore wind farms and hunting on animal behaviour, and distribution assessing the impact of agriculture and forestry on natural vegetation, modelling population and genetic effects of landscape structure and fragmentation.
We believe it necessary to tackle issues at a variety of spatial scales, for example at both the individual and population levels and to look at small scale management right up to the challenges posed by global climate change. Such comprehensive understanding is essential to find innovative solutions to balance the modern challenges posed by the conflict created between land use change, developmental and recreational pressures and the requirements of national and international legislation to protected nature conservation interests and meet biodiversity targets, especially in relation to the EU’s Birds and Habitats Directives.
Emphasis is placed on quality control achieved through dissemination of results in the quality scientific literature and at international conferences, as well as by applying new and innovative techniques (e.g. by developing on from contemporary telemetry, genetic and modelling approaches) and maintaining high levels of international collaboration.
The Department undertakes a variety of (mainly statutory) advisory roles and staff act as consultants to a variety of local, regional, national and international projects. We maintain a substantial commitment to higher education by providing specialist courses to university departments and by hosting Ph.D and M.Sc. students who contribute greatly to the working environment and output of the Department.