Integrated in the University of Liege since 1 October 2009, Gembloux Agro Bio-Tech is an internationally renowned university, known for its teaching (ISO, CTI, EURACE accreditations) and high-quality research in the agronomic sciences and biological engineering fields. The faculty has 1000 students, 335 doctorate students, close to 500 staff members and over 250 ongoing research agreements.

The TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, a new high-tech center housed on the Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech premises is also home to CARE Forest is life. It is dedicated to studying temperate and tropical forest ecosystems in order to deepen understanding of their functioning and hence better manage them.

Under the tropical component, the tropical forestry laboratory comprises 3 permanent staff (Professors Doucet, Vermeulen and Fayolle) who are involved in Masters and PhD training, both in Belgium and abroad (DRC and Gabon). It also comprises a dozen European and African doctorate students, working on a variety of tropics-related topics and releasing close to 30 international publications per year.

For over 22 years now, the laboratory has been conducting research in several countries, mainly in Central Africa (Cameroon, Gabon, DRC, Congo...). The research work covers a host of areas such as characterization and monitoring of fauna and flora, forest dynamics, sustainable management and planning of forest ecosystems as well as valuing of wood and non-wood forest products.

Over the years, we have forged several partnerships with other research organizations, logging companies, State agencies, African universities, COMIFAC, etc.

The tropical forestry laboratory also works closely with ASBL Nature+ which is very active in development and applied research in the tropics. In Central Africa, we work on close to three million hectares of land on a regular basis in partnership with the private sector.

Which is why we believe that all our research and work falls squarely in line with strategic thrusts of the COMIFAC Convergence Plan, particularly, strategic thrust no. 2 “Knowledge of the resource”, 3 “Ecosystem planning and reforestation, 7 “Capacity building, stakeholder participation, information, training” and 8 “Research and Development”

The CBFP Facilitation of the Kingdom of Belgium is very pleased to welcome Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech of the University of Liège-Gembloux.

 Welcome to our new partner!

Contact:

Professors Doucet (jldoucet@uliege.be)

Vermeulen (cvermeulen@uliege.be)