Evelien van Gijzen BSc
Coordinator professorships Nature & Society
- E.vanGijzen@has.nl
- E.vanGijzen@has.nl
Research group Healthy ecosystems
Both rural and urban environments are on the cusp of major changes: nature and water quality are threatened and the climate is rapidly changing. Biodiversity must be restored and urban greening scaled up. A balance must be achieved between nature and its capacity to cope with the demands placed on it by society. The carrying capacity of the water and soil system has also been exceeded in many areas. These urgent issues have an impact on the physical space, the regional and local economies and the social cohesion of the rural and urban environments.
As HAS green academy, and within the Healthy ecosystems research group, we aim to make a significant contribution to the following mission through practical research: to collaborate with partners and students to realise a biodiverse, climate-adaptive and valued rural and urban environment, which has a healthy and sustainably used ecosystem. We will also use developed knowledge to improve study programmes, courses and consultancy processes.
About the research group
Goals
1. We have bridged the gap between fundamental research, practice and education. We are regarded as a valued consultant and/or knowledge partner, specifically relating to the following themes:
- Urban greening
- Biodiversity
- Climate adaptation and mitigation
- Resilient water and soil system
- Nature inclusive agriculture
2. We have conducted research into a series of future scenarios addressing healthy ecosystems, in which land use is net positive regarding all aspects of sustainability; communities and ecosystems flourish, and they are able to recover and successfully adapt to the changes and issues they encounter.
3. We have helped to shape regional transitions towards sustainable, integrated solutions that ensure a balance between people, nature and the economy. We have achieved this by organising collaborative sessions, as well as promoting knowledge development, knowledge sharing and connecting different perspectives.
4. We have established an international network of knowledge and social partners, through which we learn and conduct research together in the areas of urban greening, biodiversity, climate adaptation and mitigation, a resilient water and soil system and nature inclusive agriculture, in various regional and international contexts.
5. We have integrated the results and new insights into our study programmes and courses.
Lines of research
This research group includes three lines of research, in which targeted and intensive research is conducted.
- Futures research
What are the future scenarios for a biodiverse, climate-adaptive and valued rural and urban environment? This requires using the power of imagination, connecting different perspectives and identifying crucial principles that can accelerate the transition to a healthy ecosystem. - Realisation
What is required to successfully realise this future scenario in practice? Consider ecological and agricultural feasibility, earning capacity, legislation and regulations, new governance structures and wider social acceptance. We will approach this on the basis of concrete, regional issues in collaboration with various stakeholders. - Monitoring and evaluation
How do we monitor and evaluate the impact and effects of sustainable, integrated solutions for biodiversity regeneration, climate resilience of the water and soil system, earning capacity and society? This involves the use of innovative techniques to monitor biodiversity, water and soil quality and the use of smart sensors and artificial intelligence techniques. This enables us to establish the link between the applied measures and identify the impact of new concepts.
Involved professorships
The following professorships are involved in the Healthy ecosystems research group:
Business Models for Regenerative Agriculture professorship
Climate-robust Landscapes professorship
Partnerships & social roles
Soil Centre of Expertise
The power of living soil! professorship is setting up a centre of expertise, where knowledge will be collected and shared with agricultural businesses, business consultants, contractors, and the education sector. The research group will also ensure that students can acquire knowledge about good soil management through practical studies at research farms.
Related study programmes
Bachelor programmes
Bachelor programme Horticulture & Business Management
Business courses