Through the BIOMANG project, a number of initiatives have been carried out to work towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals for biological diversity at UiA.
"Preserving biodiversity on campus contributes both to teaching and research, creates a good learning environment, and involves the local community in protecting nature," says environmental adviser Katharina Reionn Bjørnestøl.
The idea is that the campus areas function as living outdoor classrooms, and that rich species diversity strengthens health, wellbeing, and UiA’s commitment to sustainable development.
Bats observed on campus
One of the initiatives has been to put up bat boxes around Campus Grimstad and Kristiansand, giving the bats a safe place to live.
Earlier in October, biologist Roar Solheim inspected the bat boxes at Campus Grimstad. There he found both bat droppings and a small pipistrelle bat resting in one of the boxes
Solheim points out that it is important to take care of the small animals:
"With the general decline in the number of insects taking place across Europe, including in Norway, bats are at risk of losing access to their food sources. That’s why it’s also important to monitor the occurrence and populations of bats," he says.
The boxes were put up to give the flyers more safe places to live. Inspections show that they have made good use of them.
At Campus Kristiansand, there has been slightly less activity than in Grimstad, but there have still been clear signs that the bats have been using these boxes as well.
Several of the boxes will be mounted higher during the spring of 2026 to see whether this can help increase activity.