Our campuses are bustling with activity!
As oases of tranquility in the heart of the city, the campuses of the University of Montpellier are teeming with unexpected vitality…
Raise awareness about biodiversity conservation
Did you know that on the lush Triolet campus, squirrels rub shoulders with Mauritanian tarants, foxes, and other martens? Not everyone always has the chance to catch a glimpse of these very elusive neighbors. That’s why the University of Montpellier Naturalist Group (GNUM) gave the public a chance to discover this hidden world during the “24 Hours of Biodiversity” event held on April 20 and 21.
An event open to the general public where various associations from theUM Faculty of SciencesUM turns on the Triolet campus to raise awareness about the challenges related to biodiversity conservation, particularly in urban areas. Many school classes were also in attendance: the association’s goal was to raise awareness from a young age. It was also an opportunity to deepen one’s knowledge of nature (fauna and flora) and to learn about photography or naturalist drawing.
Raising awareness about the flora and fauna found in the city
“The loss of biodiversity is a grim reality, whether in rural areas or in cities. It is therefore important for citizens to take ownership of this issue. Another goal is to expand our ecological understanding of the flora and fauna living in urban areas. This scientific knowledge will be very useful for observing the biology and dynamics of certain species,” explains Guillaume Bagnolini, science communicator and co-author of the Faculty of Sciences’ Little Naturalist’s Guide, the result of a collaborative inventory project carried out over three years byUM students. An initiative called Inventaire Fac, the campus biodiversity observatory, is being highlighted at this event.