Elisabeth Jeanne Marie Heloise Bernard has been hired as a specialist at the Agricultural University of Iceland (Lbhí) for an exciting project focusing on ecosystem restoration in Iceland.
This is a collaborative project between seven parties—namely, institutions, universities, and NGOs aimed at increasing knowledge and understanding of lowland wetland restoration in Iceland, particularly in relation to carbon sequestration, wetland ecology, and the effects of restoration on biodiversity. The primary focus of the project will be on education and dissemination, as well as ensuring good cooperation and the long-term sustainability of the field. The project is funded by LIFE, the European Union's environmental and climate program. The Agricultural University of Iceland (Lbhí) is leading the project, and Elisabeth will be part of a dynamic team of restoration experts, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration.
After working on a master research project on the LULUCF sector in Iceland, Elisabeth Bernard has worked for Skógræktarfélag Íslands from 2020-2025. First as a specialist and then as a project manager. While there, she has, among other things, overseen the association’s European volunteering program in close collaboration with Rannís and other European organisations, in addition to serving as the association’s representative on the field to meet with remote forestry associations regularly, and developing new innovative projects with other partners.
Elisabeth holds an MSc in Arctic Studies focusing on Arctic environmental processes, climate change adaptation, Arctic governance and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) from Paris Saclay University, obtained in 2021. In addition, she received a BA and an MA in Social Anthropology from Paris Nanterre University in 2016 and 2018, respectively, where she studied the role of volcanic and geological processes within Icelandic culture.
“I have always been interested in studying people’s interactions with the environment, especially through the study of nature-based solutions, to tackle the climate and environmental crisis. I look forward to expanding that knowledge and participating in such an ambitious project. I am very excited to join the team of Landbúnaðarháskóli Íslands and to meet my coworkers and all the project partners!”
We warmly welcome Elisabeth to our team!
