Nationwide approach to boost knowledge of biodiversity in the Netherlands
Biodiversity loss is one of the most important threats to mankind and is having an increasing economic and social impact. Activities aimed at restoration do not always work. That’s because in nature everything is connected. Nature does not stop where our research ends.
We are still far from knowing everything about biodiversity in the Netherlands. And the knowledge we have is fragmented. Effective management and restoration of biodiversity requires a more fundamental knowledge of biodiversity and the ecology behind it. That’s why we’re initiating a national approach to biodiversity.
"This cooperation, of course also with universities and other knowledge institutions, makes it possible to do much better fundamental and applied research."
- Edwin van Huis, general director Naturalis Biodiversity Center
Naturalis Biodiversity Center, the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ-NWO) and Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute-KNAW have launched BiodiversityXL, the Centre of Excellence for Netherlands Biodiversity Research. Of course, Dutch universities are very much involved.
“Integrated knowledge will enable us to achieve the objectives of the Delta Plan for Biodiversity Recovery, the North Sea consultations and other societal green agendas at an earlier stage."
- Henk Brinkhuis, director of NIOZ
Connecting the research on biodiversity in
The Netherlands is an international leader in many of the biological disciplines in the field of biodiversity. However, connections between knowledge on different levels are sometimes missing: between macro- and microbiological diversity, for example. It is also important to gain more insight into the ways in which species react to each other when biodiversity de- or increases.
We want to integrate knowledge about our soil, fresh and salt water and our air and combine scientific research more intensively. We make our research integrally available.
“Although invisible to the naked eye, microfungi touch every aspect of our daily lives. This new collaboration enables us to more effectively study, preserve and apply fungi to improve quality of life.”
- Pedro Crous, director Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute
Naturalis Biodiversity Center, the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ-NWO) and Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute-KNAW have launched BiodiversityXL, the Centre of Excellence for Netherlands Biodiversity Research. Of course, the universities are very much involved.
We’re keen to expand this initiative. Does our mission resonate with you and can you contribute?
If so, please contact us and send us your details.