Network participants

Jan van der Winden

Ecologist with more than 20 years of experience in managing project teams and since 2015 owner of Jan van der Winden Ecology, research & consultancy. He wants to contribute to nature conservation policy with thorough field knowledge and research. Specialized in research and advice in the field of birds with an emphasis on marsh birds (terns and herons), channel surveys, marsh development and field ecology. Specific expertise in peat bogs and the IJsselmeer region. He believes it is important that knowledge is widely disseminated and realizes this through lectures, publications in magazines and on social media. As an expert associated with the EIA Committee. International research and nature conservation projects conducted in Central and Eastern Europe, West Africa and South America.

Camilla Dreef

Ecologist who combines applied ecological research and advice with communication activities. After completing her Bèta-Gamma Bachelor's degree, with interdisciplinary research as the guiding thread, she completed her Master's in Biological Sciences - ecology & evolution in 2015 at the University of Amsterdam. She investigated the foraging behaviour of spoonbills with GPS trackers. The fascination for birds and their migratory behaviour grew, which led to her internship at Birdlife Netherlands. During this study she implemented a science-based method to improve identification of conservation priorities for migratory birds along their flyway.

After her studies, she decided to work as an independent ecologist. Currently, her work mainly concentrates on birds in relation to their environment. She combines ecological research with communication. For example, since 2016 she has been ambassador for Birdlife Netherlands and bird expert on the TV program BinnensteBuiten in which she shows the most beautiful places for bird watching in the Netherlands. Her first book "Kwie-kwie-kwie-kwie-kwie" was published in May 2018 and contains personal stories about bird watching, research and conservation. She is also a regular guest on TV and radio and gives lectures. With her stories she wants to reach a broader audience and thus create more support for conservation.

Peter van Horssen

Geographer with more than 15 year of experience with statistical and GIS support for ecological research. Since 2015 owner of GreenStat. He advices and supports on spatial statistics, population modelling, data visualization and environmental modelling for ecological research projects. He combines general ecological knowledge with technical competences in GIS and statistics. Besides technical knowledge he is also at home in field ecological research.

more info here :http://www.greenstat.nl

Martin Poot

Ecologist who was a participant in the Lowland Ecology Network from November 2017 to September 2023. Since October 2023 he is working as a senior researcher in seabird ecology at Wageningen Marine Research. In the five years as a participant of the network, he has carried out a number of research projects in the field of his marine specialism, including counts of birds from aircraft in Voordelta coastal zone Wadden Islands and the Wadden Sea, as well as in the IJsselmeer region. In addition, he performed a supporting role in the field and analyses at research in the Krimpenerwaard (birds of wet grasslands), on Marker Wadden (including common tern), and Loosdrecht lakes (great reed warbler). These contributions he made as sideline activities alongside a position at Statistics Netherlands (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek) in the Nature Statistics team. It is logical that where possible he will continue working together with the experts of the Lowland Ecology Network.

Yvonne Verkuil

Ecologist with more than 20 years of experience in scientific research, and international conservation and research management. She specializes in waterbirds and their habitats. Since her graduation, Yvonne has conducted ecological and population genetic research on various shorebirds, and worked for 10 years in the DNA lab for ecologists at the University of Groningen (RuG). She currently combines ecological fieldwork as an independent ecologist, including on Marker Wadden, with data analysis, and writing reports and publications. She also works part-time at the RuG to develop a methodology for monitoring bird diets using DNA techniques.

In her current work as an independent ecologist, she wants to focus more on research for nature conservation. She also believes it is important to pass on her knowledge and experience to the next generation, which is why she mentors inexperienced authors as editor of the journal Wader Study.