Data, Information and Knowledge

In order to get to innovative solutions knowledge is needed and knowledge itself is based on information and data. This page offers and overview of some of the most relevant Dutch web-portals and organizations.

Data and Information

• NLBIF ‘Netherlands Biodiversity Information Facility’, the Dutch node of GBIF ( Global Biodiversity Information Facility) for open and free access to global biodiversity data. 
• Dutch National Database Flora and Fauna (NDFF) with distribution data of species. Supported by the ministries of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and the Provinces.
• Dutch Network Ecological Monitoring (in Dutch: Netwerk Ecologische Monitoring NEM). Cooperative endeavour of different government entities and species organisations aiming to collect information for the establishment of trend indices for species numbers.
• Statistical information on nature and environment  collected by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
• Nature today for topical developments in nature. 
• The topic Nature, landscape and biodiversity of the ‘Environmental Data Compendium’ with factsheets about the environment. Compiled in a partnership of Statistics Netherlands (CBS), PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment and Wageningen University & Research (WUR).
• The English language page about Biodiversity on Wikipedia.
• De Atlas Natural Capital, a cooperation of Deltares, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Statistics Netherlands (CBS), PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, under supervision of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment. Meant for a better, more efficient and targeted use of natural resources.
• Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database (DCBD), specifically for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This is being maintained by Wageningen Universiteit & Research (WUR) and the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA).
• Web portal ‘WOT Information service Nature’ (in Dutch: ‘WOT Informatievoorziening Natuur’) providing information regarding the periodic reporting obligations related to the international agreements and treaties to which the Netherlands is a party. Managed by Wageningen Universiteit & Research (WUR) as a so called ‘Statutory Research Task’ (in Dutch ‘Wettelijke Onderzoek Taak’, WOT).
• O+BN Nature Knowledge. Web portal by the OBN Knowledge Network on Ecological Restoration. See also the Ecological assessment of the landschapes of the Netherlands (in Dutch), an analysis released in 2020 by the OBN knowledge network.
• SpeciesNL (in Dutch: SoortenNL) is the Dutch Network of organisations for applied research and data collection by citizen scientists for the protection of species and their habitats.
• The Dutch Expertise Centre Exotics (NEC-E) conducts research into the many aspects of the effects of alien species on indigenous nature.

Knowledge

Developing and generating specific support for national and international biodiversity policy requires us to use existing knowledge and generate new knowledge about biodiversity. Knowledge in this context refers to a fundamental knowledge of biodiversity as a complex biological phenomenon and its social significance, as well as to the applied knowledge needed to improve policy on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Research into biodiversity in the Netherlands is carried out by:

• Universities;
• Institutes for applied research such as Wageningen Research (part of Wageningen University & Research, WUR) and Deltares;
• The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM);
• PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency;
• Centre of Excellence for Netherlands Biodiversity Research, a cooperation of:
  • Naturalis Biodiversity Centre,
  • Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO),
  • Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ),
  • Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute.

The Dutch Research Council (NWO) funds and coordinates research programs.

Internationally there is involvement by partners from the Netherlands in the following entities:

• The European Biodiversity Partnership BiodivERsA (with involvement as partners by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.
• The European Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity: Data delivery for Biodiversity indicators by i.e. PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.
• The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). This is an independent network which at a global level gathers and evaluates scientific and other forms of knowledge related to nature and biodiversity with an aim to support policy making. The IPBES was founded in April 2012. The secretariat is based in Bonn (Germany).

Capacity building and development within and from the Netherlands is delivered i.e. by:

• Tropenbos International (TBI). Research and training on tropical forests.
• Wetlands International. Develops and mobilises knowledge, and uses practical field experience to advocate for better policies.
• Probos. Knowledge exchange regarding sustainable forest management.
• The Dutch Forest and Nature reserve owners association (VBNE). Facilitates the continuous increase in professionalism of its members’ forest and nature management.
• Learning Network Renewal Nature policy (website in Dutch). Network of active provincial civil servants who share knowledge and skills about modernisations in their nature policies.

For education in the field of Nature and Biodiversity in the Netherlands are active among others:

• IVN Nature education (website in Dutch). Nature activities, courses, projects and campaigns to discover how much fun, how healthy and important nature is.
• Duurzaam door. Builds networks, connects and shares learning experiences to speed up sustainable developments. Biodiversity is one of the main themes of the Duurzaam Door programme (webpage in Dutch). Since 2013 the Dutch government stimulates knowledge, awareness and capacity building regarding biodiversity through this programme (full title: ‘Duurzaam door’ Social Innovation for a Green Economy (document in Dutch). In this program also Nature- and Enviromental education (NME in Dutch) has its place.