National committee aims to bring biodiversity research closer to green space management |
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New collaboration aims to help municipalities and landscaping contractors make better decisions on green space design and maintenance
Which plants contribute most to biodiversity? How can the impact of ecological green space management be measured? And which measures work in practice? Municipalities and landscaping contractors need reliable knowledge to make informed decisions. The new National Thematic Committee on Biodiversity Research aims to ensure that scientific research better addresses these questions. A national plan is expected to be ready by autumn 2027.
| Illustrative image generated with AI |
The committee consists of thirteen experts from organisations including Wageningen University & Research, Naturalis, the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and several universities and universities of applied sciences. They will develop a national research roadmap. This will identify gaps in knowledge, establish research priorities and explore ways to improve collaboration between researchers. The plan will also help guide future research funding.
From scientific research to practical green space management
For municipalities and landscaping contractors, this could eventually provide valuable practical knowledge. Examples include choosing between different mowing methods, improving habitats for insects and birds, and measuring biodiversity in parks and public green spaces. Such insights could help with developing maintenance plans, preparing tenders and evaluating landscaping projects.
To make research more relevant to practical needs, the committee also wants to involve policymakers, businesses and civil society organisations. This will allow questions arising from day-to-day green space management to influence future research priorities.
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Better knowledge of what works can help municipalities develop green space and maintenance plans
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What knowledge is still missing?
The committee will examine international developments as well as those in the Netherlands. Existing research programmes should be better coordinated to encourage knowledge sharing and avoid unnecessary duplication. The Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands will also be included.
The committee is jointly chaired by André van Lammeren (Wageningen University & Research), Edwin van Huis (NEMO Science Museum and Naturalis) and Ellen Weerman (HAS Green Academy).
The national plan is expected to be completed in autumn 2027. This means that practical results for day-to-day green space management will not be available immediately. The first step is to establish which research questions should receive priority.
More information is available on the [website of NWO](https://www.nwo.nl/nationale-themacommissie-biodiversiteitsonderzoek).
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The committee aims to strengthen connections between science, policy and practice
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Members of the National Thematic Committee on Biodiversity Research
The committee consists of thirteen experts from universities, universities of applied sciences and research institutes.
Co-chairs
- André van Lammeren - Wageningen University & Research
- Edwin van Huis - NEMO Science Museum and Naturalis Biodiversity Center
- Ellen Weerman - HAS Green Academy
Committee members
- Clemens Kool - Maastricht University
- Daniel Kissling - University of Amsterdam
- Jetske Bouma - Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
- Jonathan Verschuuren - Tilburg University
- Marjolijn Christianen - Wageningen University & Research
- Martijn van der Heide - Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences
- Sabine Gollner - Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ)
- Stefan Dekker - Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW)
- Vincent Merckx - Naturalis Biodiversity Center
- Yvonne de Kort - Eindhoven University of Technology
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This article was previously published on 19 October 2026 on the website of Stad + Groen.
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