This essay analyses the current backslash relating to the EU Green Deal and identifies four distinct explanations for it (changing political mood, Baptists-Bootleggers politics, planned implosion, and counter mobilization). It then argues for three main changes needed to strengthen EU nature policy: 1) more transparency, including the assessment of trade offs, 2) more participation, and […]
Biodiversity is a broad concept, often difficult to grasp. Nonetheless, our research on biodiverse consumption shows that people value biodiversity and wish to protect it. But what is the best way to do this, and what influence does one consumer have in a system that seems to be ruled by profitability? These questions arise when
Societal engagement for biodiversity? Provide a framework for action! Lire la suite »
The Netherlands is famous for many of its domesticated plant exports, not least tulips but also vegetable seeds. Together with plant breeders, we are researching into how to breed for crops that are adapted to more biodiverse growing conditions (e.g. intercropping, where more than 1 crop species is simultaneously cultivated). Biodiversity in agriculture has been
Breeding for biodiversity Lire la suite »
Having worked over 30 years on international conservation, I’m proud of what has been achieved in Europe. Natura 2000 is the largest protected area network in the world, with in general well-managed sites, this is a tremendous achievement! I’m organising knowledge exchange between Member States, around the Birds and Habitats Directives. European countries are very
Natura 2000: much to be proud of! Lire la suite »
As an ecologist and (soil) biodiversity scientist, I am always interested in nature. But I also see the need for food, and therefore agriculture. What I long did not understand is that many kids nowadays do not even know how their very basic food, like potatoes grow. What I was also surprised about and learned
Lieve Aarde Soms ben ik bang dat ik te diep in je glas kijk Soms ben ik bang dat ik te ondiep kijk Soms zit ik met gesloten ogen op je oppervlak wil ik je met zoete tong bezingen zachte briesjes in je oren fluisteren regendruppels in je nek sprenkelen Soms wil ik zonnestralen voor
P.S. We onthouden geen dagen, we onthouden momenten Lire la suite »
“This is the economic salvation of Indonesia,” he shouted. We drove through Central Kalimantan and where once stood the wet peatlands and biodiverse tropical forests, home to the orangutan, I saw only oil palms and oil palms, as far as the eye could see, in every direction, to the horizon. As there are millions of
Between hope and despair Lire la suite »
