NWO Open Technology funding granted to Utrecht research into ecosystem restoration

NWO has granted six applied research projects funding from the Open Technology programme. Researchers from Utrecht University and NIOZ will be able to start their project BIOPRIME. The project applies a new 'ecology meets engineering' approach to create ecosystem-specific, mass-produced structures for large-scale ecosystem restoration.

BIOPRIME: applying Biomimicry to Produce Restoration desIgns for Multiple Ecosystems

Main applicant: UU - Ralph Temmink, co-applicants: NIOZ - Tjisse van der Heide en Tjeerd Bouma

Ecosystems shaped by habitat-forming species, inluding peatlands, coastal vegetation and reefs, provide vital services, but are declining worldwide. Their restoration is difficult because ecosystem health depends on self-facilitation generated by ‘emergent traits’. Such traits appear when habitat-formers group, resulting in self-facilitation that only works when habitat-forming-groups have a minimum group-size and density.

The recent work of the research team shows how biodegradable structures can temporarily mimic emergent traits and improve restoration success. However, current structures are not designed for targeted species or unsuitable for large-scale implementation. Here, the project will apply a new ‘ecology-meets-engineering’ design approach to create ecosystem-specific, mass-produceable structures ready for large-scale application.

With this grant, we will develop new ecosystem restoration solutions that can be applied for large-scale nature restoration.

Ralph Temmink
Ralph Temmink
Faculty of Geosciences

About the Open Technology programme

The Open Technology Programme provides funding for application-oriented technical-scientific research that is free and unrestricted and is not hindered by disciplinary boundaries. The programme offers companies and other organisations an accessible way to participate in scientific research that is intended to lead to societal and/or scientific impact.