Bureau Waardenburg is an independent research and consultancy agency in the fields of ecology, environment and landscaping. Both national and international projects are carried out by about 60 employees specialized in ecology (aquatic ecologists, marine ecologists, vegetation experts, ornithologists, animal ecologists), geography, environmental planning & design, nature management, statistical analysis and GIS (Geographical Information Systems).

When first founded in 1979, the company’s activities initially concentrated on aquatic research and we soon acquired an excellent international reputation. The scope of our activities has rapidly expanded since and now focuses on aquatic ecology, bird ecology and nature & landscaping. Our staff has built up a thorough knowledge and can draw upon a vast experience in a wide field of topics related to ecology and the environment, enabling us to take on a wide range of projects.

Bureau Waardenburg has an independent and objective outlook and aims to deliver a product that meets the demands of the client. We favour creative and innovative solutions with a high level of practicability. Combining vision, knowledge and experience, we provide not only solid and well-founded advice, but also project plans that are appealing and realistic.

Our activities include:

research and monitoring

strategy, planning and design

nature conservation and management

impact assessment studies

Land-based projects include planning and a wide range of studies, carried out in a large variety of natural surroundings. Examples are:

• management plans for nature reserves, woodlands, road sides, urban areas etc.;
• research and experiments aimed at enhancing the ecological value of revetments protecting canal and riverbanks against erosion.;
• vegetation-mapping projects and flora monitoring (regularly using false-colour photographs);
• wildlife studies of, e.g. mammals, amphibians and reptiles, including research on habitat use and fragmentation, monitoring and telemetry studies;
• Environmental Impact Assessment studies;
• research on flight movements and distribution of (water) birds in relation to wind turbines.

Aquatic and wetland projects include:

• ecosystem and landscaping research , integrating all kinds of ecological information;
• monitoring and quantifying fish stocks and monitoring other aquatic organisms. A special aspect is the long-term cooperation with commercial fisheries as an essential part of monitoring programmes. In addition we quantify fish stocks;
• Active Biological Management;
• estimating, through bioassays in our laboratory, the environmental effects of contaminants. Ecotoxicological field-research on birds is one of our specialities, e.g. measuring the effects of contaminants on breeding success.
• studies on waterbirds, involving many different topics. We evaluate wetland status, using data on bird distribution and ecology. Studies on feeding ecology supply us with information on ecosystem level.

Marine projects

Our marine work focuses on benthos and bird ecology. We have been assigned a number of projects on the Dutch Continental Flat on the North Sea by the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management.Our scientists also collect data underwater, using specialized optic equipment. Other marine research is conducted along the Dutch coast and the delta areas: monitoring fish and bird populations and surveying intertidal as well as subtidal communities.

We have taken part in in several international studies. Examples are:

• Benin and Ghana 1999-2002. Various projects included a training programme for ecologists in coastal wetlands and an extensive study of the ecology of waterbirds (focusing on terns).
• Vietnam 1995/96: Bureau Waardenburg prepared an Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan to mitigate the negative impact of the Inland Waterways and Ports Modernization Project in the Mekong Delta. (International Bank for Reconstruction & Development)
• Indonesia 1993/94: Bureau Waardenburg was involved in the National Parks Investment Project. Management plans were made for National Parks in the Java Sea and the waters between Yapen and Irian Yaya, as well as for the Wasur reserve near Merauke.
• Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles) 1992: Research was carried out on a lagoon as part of a base-line ecological study. Ecosystems such as mangroves, sea grasses and coral reefs were the main focus points.
• Indonesia 1987/88: Euroconsult proposed a plan for sea tourism. Bureau Waardenburg was responsible for assessingits impact on the marine environment.