Today is International Women's Day!
Gender equality is one of CEBioS' core values, and key to fighting for biodiversity. As such we wanted to highlight the testimony of Ms. Judith Tsongo Mukongoli (University of Kisangani) regarding the issues she faced:
cebios.naturalsciences.be/.../judith-t...
Because protecting wildlife isn't just about saving species -- it's about safeguarding ecosystems, livelihoods, and our shared future. That is why we will keep building capacities to ensure more effective wildlife conservation. Because wildlife matters. Biodiversity matters.🦛🌿
As part of this project, CEBioS and its partners have co-edited a policy brief addressing the challenges hippos face and outlining practical solutions. You can read it here 👉https://cebios.naturalsciences.be/publications/policybriefs/
Through the RUBICOM project, we are working to protect hippos in collaboration with the Université du Burundi, OBPE and the UAntwerpen. By combining scientific research, local engagement, and policy dialogue, we aim to foster sustainable coexistence between people and wildlife.
The hippo is an iconic species that plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy freshwater ecosystems, and is justly one of the most well-known animal species globally. Yet hippos face increasing pressure from habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and unsustainable resource use.
A hippo, sitting in the river half-submerged, next to a riverbank with tall grasses.
March 3rd, is #WorldWildlifeDay! 🌍✨ We'd like to use this opportunity to talk about one of the myriad species that call Africa home: the #hippo. (And give you all some interesting reading material in the process 📑)
An image with at the top a white band, with the orange CEBioS logo and the text "capacities for biodiversity and sustainable development." Below there is a picture of a blue boat floating through a stream with mangrove trees on either side.
📣Our February newsletter is here!
Included:
🇧🇯 A double-workshop organised with the Université de Parako
🦛A PACECOR project regarding hippos in Burundi
🏢The 6th meeting of the SBI
👩🔬A call for testimonials from female CEBioS alumni
Want to know more? Click the link below:
mailchi.mp/8cd5fb51cb53...
A picture showing two South Asian woman, an older one in the background and a younger woman in the foreground looking through a microscope. In the top left corner is the programme logo CEBioS, in the bottom right the text Women in Science DAy: United for a more equal and resilient future. In small text at the bottom is a photo credit to L. Janssens de Bisthoven.
🌿✨ On #womeninscience Day 2026, we celebrate the women advancing biodiversity research and conservation. At CEBioS, supporting women in science strengthens expertise and builds a more inclusive, resilient future! #womeninbiodiversity #genderequality
🎆The CEBioS team wishes you happy holidays and a sucessful new year!
🦜We're also happy to share our end of the year newsletter: mailchi.mp/834a1dcb1b3f...
🇧🇪 Back in Belgium, we are also busy preparing for our upcoming IP and CHM workshop in Cotonou next January, as well as for the arrival of new GTI trainees who'll come to Belgium to hone their taxonomic skills, and many more projects besides.
✨2026 promises to be an exciting year!
As 2025 draws to a close, CEBioS remains busy!
🇮🇳 Our (coordinator), Luc Janssens de Bisthoven, is currently attending the One-Health Monitoring of Tropical Wetlands workshop in Kerala, India, and we look forward to hearing about it when he gets back.
📣CEBioS' new annual report on the 1st year of Phase I is out!
The full report is available on our website:
cebios.naturalsciences.be/publications...
CEBioS provided a grant to dr. Faith Thomas Mpondo to attend the 2nd International Wildlife Scientific Conference in Kenya, to present her work and to learn and network with other experts. These sorts of exchanges are vital and we hope to provide more such opportunities in the future!
CEBioS is now on Bluesky! Follow us to keep up to date with our efforts to promote taxonomic knowledge, international cooperation and biodiversity conservation 🦛🌳
