The Kick-Off!

On March 30 and 31, the consortium met for the Kick-off meeting of the WildlifeNL project. Location: Beukenhof in Biezenmortel.

The program started with lunch so everyone could catch up. Shortly afterwards the program started with a word of welcome by Ine Dorresteijn and a short introduction to all participants. Patrick Naaktgeboren, on behalf of funding body NWO, was then also given the floor and explained NWO’s expectations with regard to the project.

Subsequent sessions focused on the activities that will be the focus of the first two years of the program. Postdoc Irma Arts started off. In her working package she will be systematically mapping Dutch wildlife management. In a subsequent blog she will give further details of her research. Next to speak were Gerard Schouten, Joris Cromsigt and Bas Michielsen. They explained how the consortium will work on developing the technological tools for wildlife management which will be tested in the Living Labs after 2024. As a result of the different backgrounds and composition of the consortium, each party looks at the steps to be taken in the project from its own perspective and experience. Besides enthusiasm and interest, there was plenty of critical brainstorming about the directions the various program components should take. This was entirely in line with WildlifeNL’s core value that our research program is developed together by all research and social partners. 

After this productive afternoon there was, for those who felt like it, time to get some fresh air by taking a walk through the nearby nature reserve De Brand Udenhout.  Afterwards we sat down to dinner. In the evening there was a talk in the cozy bar of the former monastery, where we could get to know each other better.

The next morning the program started on time again with a brief check-up to see how everyone was doing and with an opportunity to discuss what had been talked about the day before. This was followed by the Communication section, in which it was decided that the various organizations will develop a joint communication strategy in the near future. However, the website and social media channels of the project are up and running from now on and will provide regular updates on the project, as well as in this blog.

And finally, last, but not least, Martin Drenthen presented WildlifeNL’s so-called Impact Pathway. This impact pathway is a central part of our program and lays down in detail how we will translate our research results into benefits for society over the next 8 years. Again, there was plenty of brainstorming on how the researchers and community partners can work together on this. The end of the kick-off was soon in sight, and after a word of thanks by Ine, a final lunch was served, and everyone went home.

We look back on a very productive and pleasant start of the project!

In the next blog, Irma Aarts (postdoc WP1) will explain her research.