Turning the tide: global biodiversity research gets time and funding
How do you compare the living environment of Dutch dairy cows with that of Masai cattle in East Africa? And how can we reverse biodiversity loss? These questions are central to CurveBend, an international research consortium in which ecologist Michiel Veldhuis plays a key role.
‘Our research focuses on reversing the curve of biodiversity loss; hence the name CurveBend,’ explains Michiel Veldhuis. ‘The idea is that both humans and animals have their own needs within a landscape. Animals need food, water, and space to survive, while humans demand land for housing and food production. By developing and comparing “living landscapes”, we hope to create a blueprint for harmonious coexistence between people and animals.’
CurveBend is a consortium of national and international universities, conservation organisations, agricultural groups, and food companies. It has received €7 million in funding from the Dutch Research Council (NWO) to develop a new approach to restoring biodiversity in areas with intensive livestock farming.
CurveBend has its own website.
From pastures to Africa and the pampas
‘We’ll be conducting research in three different parts of the world,’ says Veldhuis. ‘First, in the Dutch pastures, where the landscape has changed dramatically, and biodiversity is at its lowest. This will include studies close to home, such as in the Polderlab. Next, we’ll study East Africa, specifically Masai lands in Kenya and Tanzania, where biodiversity is incredibly high, and humans and nature still coexist closely. Lastly, we’ll look at the pampas in Argentina, which fall somewhere in between. We’ll compare these different landscapes on a large scale and explore what they can learn from one another.’
Collaboration across disciplines
To make these comparisons, ecological expertise alone isn’t enough. Sociological, anthropological, governance, and economic knowledge are also essential. This is why researchers from Leiden University’s Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FSW) and Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs (FGGA) are involved, alongside economists from other universities.
‘We have cows here in the Netherlands, and they have cows in East Africa, but the systems are so different’
‘I’ll be leading the research in East Africa, together with anthropologist Caroline Archambault from Leiden University College,’ Veldhuis explains. ‘A PhD candidate from the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) will also join the project. In total, twelve PhD students will be working on various aspects of this research. I find it a fascinating project. We have cows here in the Netherlands, and they have cows in East Africa, but the systems are so different. How can we compare them?’
Different cultures
Large-scale international research also comes with challenges, as Veldhuis knows well. ‘The societal contexts in which you conduct research are vastly different. What are the cultures in these countries? How do you evaluate the tribal culture of the Masai compared to Dutch farmers? That’s an exciting challenge. Fortunately, the programme runs for seven years, giving us the time to truly invest and align all disciplines and organisations.’