dr.ing. T (Theo) van der Sluis, MSc

Theo van der Sluis works at Wageningen Environmental Research as landscape ecologist, mostly in international projects on land use and biodiversity. Besides that, he worked and lived for several years in Africa. The landscape approach has been a central theme during his entire career, whether as a land use and natural resources planner in Botswana and Ghana, as ecologist in the Netherlands, in the development of ecological networks in Europe and his current work on the Nature Restoration Regulation.

Natura 2000 is an important part of the work. For seven years he has been leading the 'Biogeographical Process', a project in close cooperation with the European Commision. The Biogeographical process dealt with knowledge exchange and faciltation of meetings and seminars on management of Natura 2000. In 2016 he finalised a study for DG-Environment on the "umbrella-effect" of Natura 2000 areas, how non-target species (common species) benefit. This involved European terrestrial mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, butterflies and plants.

Theo van der Sluis has coordinated a project on the Nature Restoration Regulation (RestoreConnect, 2023-2024, see video) and is currently coordinating a 4-year project on nature restoration for the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture. 
Besides research skills, his background enables him to advise and facilitate development processes. He has experience in capacity building and project development and was involved in multi-disciplinary projects in multi-cultural environments. 

He is a project leader and advisor for several international projects in landscape ecology, in different regions in Ukraine, Italy, UK, Poland, Bosnia/Serbia/Croatia, Russia and Israel. He was expedition coordinator for biodiversity assessment of the Pechora River / Ural mountains in Russia. As capacity builder and advisor he supported different organisations and governmental departments in improved management, project design and execution and brokering of funds, in particular in West and Southern Africa.

Theo did his PhD with the chairgroup Forestry and Nature Policy in 2017, with the thesis: Europe, the paradox of landscape change. The thesis deals with landscape change processes and (European) policy. This study evolved from the EU-Volante project, in which data from case study areas were collected in Greece, Italy, Denmark, Austria, Romania and the Netherlands. 

Next to his work he is editor of the Dutch journal 'Landscape' and in the executive Committee of IALE-Europe, the International Association of Landscape Ecology.

• Redactie Landschap (Landschapsecologisch Onderzoek) (26-6-2017/31-12-2099)
  Het blad Landscap verschijnt 4x per jaar. Ik ben redacteur, en draag bij aan het reviewen van artikelen. Ook schrijf ik elke aflevering een column over veldwerk.
• International Associaton of Landscape Ecology IALE (1-6-2021/31-12-2099)
  Formele link van IALE, vanwege standplaats Nederland; vereist voor KvK, notaris en bankrekening.
• MDPI journal LAND (1-1-2021/31-12-2099)
  Reviewing articles; assigning reviewers; coordinator of special issues or E-conference.