How much more evidence do we need before we act? Biodiversity decline in the Netherland is evident and happens across many taxa and very fast. (Local) species extinction is not only something which happens when tropical forests are cut down, it is apparent in our own backyard as well. Due to intensive agriculture, nitrogen pollution […]
Biodiversity decline in the Netherlands Read More »
Living with biodiversity definitely is one of the main challenges for humanity in the coming century. Everyone enjoys butterflies, but >80% of butterflies have disappeared in the Netherlands over the last century. Looking at butterflies, we can learn what it takes to meet our challenge. I propose the ‘butterfly dimension’ of getting engaged for biodiversity
Let’s show that humanity has something good to offer for the planet Read More »
I was captivated by nature from a young age, inspired by the incredible diversity it holds. Sir David Attenborough fueled my curiosity, imprinting upon me the importance of understanding and preserving our natural world. Yet, despite this passion, we’ve witnessed a devastating loss of approximately 50% of global biodiversity due to human activities. This decline
Elevating nature conservation in European law Read More »
The increase in agricultural productivity led to the removal of small bushes, trees, hedges, and ponds to make way for larger agricultural plots. Consequently, this transformation of the landscape has made it more vulnerable to climate change, contributing to the spread of diseases, viruses, and pests, while also leading to a decline in biodiversity. Moreover,
Restoring nature in agricultural landscapes Read More »
President Roosevelt zei al in 1937: “Een bevolking die haar bodems niet koestert, riskeert haar eigen voortbestaan”. Uit mijn eigen ervaring als ecoloog die regelmatig letterlijk haar kop in het zand steekt om de staat van de bodem te onderzoeken, heb ik geleerd dat bodems de basis zijn van ons bestaan. Vroeger dacht men dat
Een levende bodem als basis Read More »
Feeling overwhelmed by today’s environmental challenges is understandable, but it’s crucial to remember that positive change is possible. While it may seem daunting to reverse biodiversity loss and reduce CO2 emissions, I’ve found inspiration in my own experiences. Growing up in Katwijk aan Zee, I witnessed environmental degradation firsthand, from carpets of dead fish in
Important environmental achievements thanks to European collaboration Read More »
Current pesticide use has serious consequences for the environment and human health. Current policy assessments have mainly focused on how pesticides pollute ecosystems and affect economies, but recent studies show they harm more than just pests. For instance, recent studies found that bumblebees across Europe face harmful pesticide exposure, linked pesticides to declining bird populations,
The Hidden Costs of Pesticides: Threats to Nature and Food Read More »
The European Union’s ambitious Farm to Fork strategy, aimed at transforming our food system for a sustainable future, is facing significant challenges and setbacks. Despite promising goals to reduce pesticide use, promote organic farming, and enhance animal welfare, the strategy has fallen short due to several key reasons. Firstly, the revision of animal welfare laws
EU Fails to Deliver on Food System Transformation in Face of Environmental Collapse Read More »
Incredible and worrying to see how high the average global sea surface temperature is. Since March 2023, temperatures seem to have gone off the rails. Since then, temperatures have been record high every day. I hope it inspires people to take nature and sustainability into account more in all the choices they make so that
Extremely high global sea surface temperatures Read More »
Europeans should prioritise nature and sustainability to prevent situations like summer 2023 in the Netherlands where almost 1000 people died because of a combination of large amount of grass pollen, high concentration of air pollutants and very high temperatures. #EuropeForNature, www.EuropeForNature.eu
Deadly combination of pollen, air pollutants and heat in 2023 Read More »
