PhD research SBO - IWT in cooperation with UA - Modelling the risk of damage to agriculture in Flanders as a result of the presence of wild boar (Sus scrofa)

In order to contribute to the risk analysis for wild boar with its further spread in Flanders, the main objective of this research, three specific research topics are central:

Impact assessment: Two study areas are selected in which cases of damage to agricultural parcels are measured in detail and the corresponding financial loss quantified.

Impact modelling: In the two study areas, measuring the landscape characteristics in and around the agricultural parcels with and without damage will lead to the construction of a Spatial Distribution Model (SDM) that can be used to model the probability of damage to a plot.

Distribution modelling: The geographical distribution that has been monitored since 2008 will form the basis for an SDM that can estimate the future distribution from the core area in Limburg to the rest of Flanders. Landscape genomic techniques will provide a better insight into the connectivity and barrier effect of certain landscape elements.