Chair on biodiversity

Background

Understanding, Shaping, and Assessing Biodiversity Policies & Reporting in Europe

Europe is entering a pivotal phase of ecological and regulatory transformation. In response of accelerating biodiversity decline, climate disruption, and rising societal expectations, the European Union has introduced and integrated ambitious initiatives and challenging regulatory frameworks – including the European Green Deal and the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Nature Restoration Law, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).

These frameworks collectively reshape both the protection of terrestrial and marine ecosystems and the way organisations must report and manage their environmental impacts. Yet their success depends on our capacity to understand the complex socio-ecological dynamics at play, implement policies effectively on the ground, and assess their real impacts.

The Chair responds to this urgent need by creating a unique platform for knowledge co-production, experimentation, and dialogue.

Our mission

To inspire the design, implementation, and evaluation of EU biodiversity and ESG reporting policies through integrative research that connects disciplines, sectors, and scales – from local field actors to European institutions.

Our mission: Innovate, Transform and Connect

Interdisciplinary Research

Develop cutting-edge research on sustainability with special focus on biodiversity, ESG Reporting, and sustainable finance, through rigorous academic studies.

Innovative Teaching

Integrate biodiversity and ESG Reporting in the curriculums, from specialized modules to executive programs.

Transformative Partnerships

Foster collaboration between academia, business, government, and civil society to drive sustainable development.

Anchored in the Grand Est region yet oriented toward European and global policy leadership, the Chair advances two interconnected areas of excellence: biodiversity policies and ESG reporting.

Specificities of the Section on Biodiversity Policies

What makes us unique: Exploring terrestrial and marine ecosystems through unique land-sea comparisons, from Grand Est forests to oceanic waters, creating living transdisciplinary laboratories for ecological transformation.

Land Research Ecosystem at Nancy (with researchers within the Nancy ecosystem)
Sea Research Ecosystem at Brest (in partnership with the Ocean University Initiative)

With dedicated funding for organizing seminars and policy labs, producing policy briefs under the Ocean University Initiative, and collecting data for targeted pilot case studies.

The Ocean University Initiative was initiated by local authorities in Brittany with the financial support of the French government. It is implemented by the Université de Bretagne Occidentale. Its aim is to create the conditions for an institute of the United Nations University devoted to the interface between science and the governance of the ocean and the coasts building on Brest’s marine research ecosystem.

Land Research Ecosystem at Nancy

INRAE, University of Lorraine & Mines

Sea Research Ecosystem at Brest

University of Brest, Institute for Marine Studies & Ifremer

Our first outcomes

Policy Brief on Recent Developments on Posidonia Oceanica Hide answer Show answer

With Isabelle Perret, French Ministry of Ecological Transition.

Do We Really Want "Clean Beaches"? Posidonia Oceanica Banquettes and Coastal Management Dilemmas Hide answer Show answer

With Eric Serantoni, National Park of Port-Cros.

PhD Student on biodiversity credits Hide answer Show answer

With Héloïse Tournoux, Institut National du Service Public et Romain Juillard, Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle.

Revising the policy use of natural capital account Hide answer Show answer

With Jean-Lous Weber & Mathilde Jeantil.

Contribution to 2026 PRME Chapter France-Benelux Annual Meeting Hide answer Show answer

Two hour experiential sessions at Jean-Marie Pelt Botanical Garden during the conference, with Krista Finstad-Milion and Carine Sonntag.

Seminar on biomimicry & SI with HOLOMEA Company Hide answer Show answer

Balancing Robustness and Performance: Can Nature Inspire Information Systems in the Age of AI?

Biodiversity Policies : Committees

External committee – Biodiversity Policies

Denis Bailly

Marine Economist

University of Brest
France

Katia Blairon

Forest Lawyer

University of Lorraine
France

Denis Couvet

Ecologist

MNHN & FRB
France

Bleuenn Gaëlle Guilloux

Ocean Lawyer

University of La Rochelle
France

Serge Garcia

Forest Economist

University of Lorraine
France

Yann Gunzburger

Engineer

Mines Nancy
France

Romain Pierronnet

Politic Scientist

University of Lorraine
France

Laureen Calcat

French Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Biodiversity

University of Lorraine
France

Internal committee – Biodiversity & ESG Reporting Sections