I have dedicated most of my working life to the protection, management and restoration of nature. More than 40 years ago, triggered by the Berne Convention, we began to gain traction through national legislation that allowed sites to be designated to protect fragile habitats and species. It was around that time that I began working […]
Our Nature: A Legacy at Risk Read More »
My aim is to make myself redundant. This may sound bizarre, but I am an environmental toxicologist. I study the impacts of pesticides and other chemicals on environmental organisms and biodiversity, and can’t wait for the day that my job is obsolete, not needed anymore. For the day that we have found other, more sustainable
To become redundant Read More »
In 1966 kreeg ik, van Sinterklaas, ongetwijfeld na het eerst zingen van “Hoor wie klopt daar kinderen” het vogelhandboekje “Zien is Kennen” van Nol Binsbergen en D. Mooi (6de druk. 1962). Daardoor ging de wereld van vogels voor het eerst voor me open. Ik was dat jaar ook al goed begonnen met het zien van
Een vreemdeling, zeker, die verdwaald is? Read More »
It is common knowledge that the Earth has changed considerably in recent centuries because of increasing economic and population growth. These changes have been so significant in recent years that scientists see the beginning of a new geological era, the Anthropocene, an era in which man has become the most important factor in degrading the
Planetary Health: The Need for a Paradigm Shift Read More »
During a recent trip to Costa Rica, I had the opportunity to delve into the country’s lush landscapes alongside Don Carlos, a local resident. He introduced me to a hidden gem: a verdant patch of forest nestled within agricultural lands in the northern region, where his family owns a cattle farm. Don Carlos stumbled upon
Exploring Costa Rica’s Green Corridors and Insights for Europe Read More »
Wat heb je liever, je eigen benen of een prothese? Voor mij is het antwoord op de vraag waarom te investeren in gezonde ecosystemen net zo vanzelfsprekend. Iets meer dan dertig jaar onderzoek aan gezondheid en herstel van venen en duinen heeft me overtuigd dat goed functionerende, gezonde, ecosystemen net zo belangrijk zijn voor onze
Waarom investeren in natuur en duurzaamheid zinvol is Read More »
Source Photo: Karsten Russ Six years ago, our analysis of German data revealed that we have lost three-quarters of our flying insects in less than 30 years. Recent accounts on wild plants, farmland birds and hoverflies confirm that negative trends continue until today. Our ecosystems are beginning to fall apart. So, what should we be
Nature is an indispensable part of a future that desirable and feasible Read More »
Wat als er geen Europees natuurbeschermingsrecht bestond? Geen Vogel- en Habitatrichtlijnen dus, met hun vérgaande verplichtingen om gebieden en soorten te beschermen, die rechtstreeks kunnen worden ingeroepen bij de nationale rechter. En geen Europees Hof van Justitie, dat deze verplichtingen handhaaft en uitlegt in het licht van hun doel, en dus voorrang geeft aan natuurbehoud
Europese wetgeving van groot belang voor biodiversiteit Read More »
Together with MSc and PhD students I have done a lot of research on the effects of (multiple) stressors on ecosystems. These stressors include global warming, drought, salinisation and emerging chemicals like pharmaceuticals, pesticides and nutrients. We found that biodiversity is the way to counter and alleviate the impacts of these stressors on life on
Biodiversity needed to protect life on earth Read More »
Science shows that human wellbeing is supported by more than just access to nature. It is about (re)building nature connectedness – a deep relationship of respect, reciprocity and gratefulness to belong to nature as a human species. We are all interconnected to this planet, and the wellbeing of other species is also the well-being of
(Re)building connections with nature Read More »
