In 2024, we worked on interesting projects both in the Netherlands and internationally. From nature-inclusive business models for rural areas to greening the private sector and financing biodiversity. Our team is happy to share their highlights with you. Happy holidays and see you in 2025!
Daan
I am incredibly proud of the concrete contribution we make through our projects, such as in the area of knowledge about the financial viability of the transition to nature-inclusive agriculture within the Onder De Streep project. Additionally, attending the biodiversity COP COP in Cali was an absolute highlight. The exchange between governments, businesses, financial institutions, nature conservationists, researchers, and experts was fascinating, enjoyable, and useful, and it provides a lot of energy to continue working together towards biodiversity restoration.
Last year was focused on greening the financial sector and scaling up nature-inclusive investments for me. It was exciting to work on a private finance program during COP16 in Cali on an international level. But closer to home, I also worked on several interesting projects. For example, the Nature Inclusive investment agenda, which identifies opportunities and actions to integrate nature inclusivity into all financial flows and activities. Or the research for Transitiecoalitie Voedsel, where we looked at agricultural and food subsidies that may be harmful to biodiversity and how they can be redirected. Another success this year was the study from the City Deal Public Space on organizing integral financing for societal challenges. The topic is gaining traction, and I hope that in 2025, we will move from exploration to actually financing nature.
Iris
Tom
2024 was valuable for me due to the publication of the fauna damage prevention kits by BIJ12 and the publication of the guide for working with a species managementplan by the Province of Utrecht. For the first project, we collaborated effectively with a team from Altenburg & Wymenga and legal expert Luuk Boerema. With the prevention kits, we help farmers select appropriate measures to prevent wildlife damage. For the second project, we successfully worked with Web of Life and WesselinkVanZijst. The guide helps municipalities in Utrecht work with a Species Management Plan. Here’s to more valuable projects in 2025!
The moments when we were able to present the insights from our projects really stood out for me in 2024. A few highlights: in February, we presented the results of our research on the financial viability of 45 nature-inclusive dairy farmers to over 400 attendees in a webinar! We also presented the results of our research on the value of nature in urban environments to the Dutch Government Real Estate Agency (Rijksvastgoedbedrijf) officials, who will further advance this concept. And lastly, we shared the results of our research on how the public and private sectors can (further) develop value chains for sustainable crops at the National Soil Summit. Presenting our findings is energizing and contributes to one of our key goals: ensuring that stakeholders can take concrete steps based on our insights!
Merlissa
Kelly
The past year for me was focused on several exciting projects at the intersection of nature, agriculture, and design. Two particularly special projects stood out this year: the first is Greener.land, an app developed in collaboration with Justdiggit. This platform provides NGOs in African countries with easy access to open-source knowledge on agricultural techniques and landscape restoration – a great example of how design can contribute to global issues. The other project is the design research for Testlab New Nature and Small Living, where two of my areas of expertise – landscape design and graphic design – came together in the search for sustainable solutions. Here’s to a new year with hopefully just as diverse and impactful projects!
I have worked with great enthusiasm on topics related to the Global Biodiversity Framework, biodiversity financing, nature policy and regulation, and nature technology. I am proud of our report for GSMA: The Nature Tech Nexus. In this report, we explore the various ways in which technology is being used and the potential business models to conserve and restore biodiversity worldwide. Additionally, I worked on the Changing the Rules of the Game research for SUSTAIN, in which we examined how our current policy frameworks and regulations relate to the transition to a Nature Positive future. It highlights the need to integrate biodiversity and start realizing the goals and targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Eli
Myrthe
Last year, I had the pleasure of working on several projects. I contributed to the Onder de Streep 2023 report, in which we explored the profitability within nature-inclusive dairy farming. Additionally, I worked on Toekomstversnellers from the Province of North Holland, an initiative to support and accelerate bottom-up projects in rural areas. I also contributed to the development of the guide for working with a species managementplan (SMP) for municipalities in Utrecht. I look forward to continuing to work on these topics in 2025 and taking on new projects that contribute to a sustainable and nature-inclusive future!
In 2024, I enthusiastically worked on several valuable projects for nature and our living environment. I am proud of the contributions I have made to various publications, including the fauna damage prevention kits by BIJ12 and the report ‘Investing in Integrality’, commissioned by the City Deal Public Space. Additionally, I contributed to the development of the Greener.land-app, a mobile application based on our online landscape restoration tool Greener.land, developed in collaboration with Justdiggit.
Yso
Jort
At the beginning of 2024, I completed my internship at De Natuurverdubbelaars with an inspiring webinar for Onder de Streep 2023, where we presented an economic analysis of the transition to nature-inclusive dairy farming. After my internship, I contributed to the further optimization of a calculation tool that provides farmers with insights into the economic benefits of biobased building materials. This project provided valuable insights into a rapidly growing and promising sector. Additionally, I focused on the progress analysis of the nature-inclusive dairy farming project, which is now in its third year, revealing interesting trends and developments.
