Rob Venderbos

Background

About Rob Venderbos

I'm interested in ecosystem services in agriculture as well as practical applications in conservation ecology. At Altenburg & Wymenga ecologisch onderzoek (ecological research) I study the potential of herb rich meadows, on different soil types. I study the effect of plant diversity on above and belowground diversity as well as production including health benefits for cattle in both semi-natural meadows and highly productive meadows with herb cultivars. I am also involved in vegetation surveys and more. In my masters degree I have studied the relationship between vegetation, management and earthworms in grassland in a range from industrialized dairy farming to nutrient poor wet meadows dominated by Juncus acutiflorus. As a second project, I have studied the effect of lifestock grazing by Maasai communities in Tanzania on vegetation diversity at both small and large scalles. To do so, I compare the vegetation in Loliondo game controled area, Ngorogoro conservation area and Serengeti national park using modified wittaker plots. I'm interested in learning about identifying many different taxonomic groups, though my first love here has been vascular plants. I also have experience in identifying earthworms and among other groups, I am interested in birds, mammals, arthropods, mosses and lichen. I got over ten years of experience in the practical side of nature management in my volunteering for WoesteLand, the youth organisation of IVN as I volunteered for Natuurmonumenten, Staatsbosbeheer, It Fryske Gea and other nature conservation organisations. At WoesteLand I also gained experience in organising and managing groups, nature education, social media communication and mentoring new volunteers.