Coastal Rewilding &
Experimental Ecology Research Group

Coastal Rewilding & Experimental Ecology Research Group

ReefWatchers

Institute: WU, NIOZ

Period: 2026-2030

Funding Source: NWO KIC Nature-inclusive decision making in business

Biodiversity loss is a global problem that threatens our ecosystem. Nature restoration initiatives abundant. However, in practice it is difficult to determine the effectiveness of restoration measures, making such activities hard to assess. Therefore, we investigate the information needs to better support decision-making regarding nature restoration activities. We do this by collecting biodiversity data from various types of measurements (eDNA, acoustic, visual, physical) and translating such data into practical information about biodiversity of a project or site. We also work on the use of robots in biodiversity monitoring to reduce the costs of data acquisition.

Consortium

Main applicant Dr. Ir. Rudy Helmons (TU Delft)

Co-applicants

Wageningen University and Research centre, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ).

Co-financiers

ARK Rewilding Nederland, Boskalis, Gardline (UK), Oyster Heaven, Rijkswaterstaat (MONS), Waardenburg Ecology.

Collaboration partners

Netherlands Reef Restoration Alliance, Orsted, Wageningen Marine Research.

Team Members