dr. AE (Arjen) Buijs

Arjen Buijs focuses on Citizen Engagements for Transformative Change, with specific focus on nature and biodiversity conservation in the Global North. From a just transformative change lense, he investigates the interrelationships between the three key elements of transformative change, sustianable views, practices and structures. Here, he investigates: i) the plurality of human-nature relationships ("views") in relation to inner transformations, ii) how in-depth relationships between humans and non-human nature inspire stewardship practices from citizens, local communities and NGOs ("practices") and iii) how views and practices influence and are influenced by "structures". He investigates culturally embedded relationships with nature and community-based nature-positive practices as levers for structural policy changes towards more sustainable societies. Arjen specifically focuses on how citizens self-organise for stewardship or political actions, how they aim for sustainable transitions and how these groups relate to local and national governments. In several European and Global project, he investigates urban and non-urban governance structures that foster collaborations between civil society and local governments.

In recent publications, Arjen explores the role of perceptions, attitudes and identities in current backlash in environmental policies argues for the need to develop new narratives on human-nature relationships through direct interactions with nature. These narratives may contribute to a “Positive Ecology” as basis for individual stewardship practices as well as for increased legitimacy of nature conservation policies. To embed stewardship practices from active citizens and communities within larger governance schemes, he (co-)developed innovative governance concepts, such as Mosaic Governance and Nature-Based-Thinking for co-creating inclusive and effective conservation policies based on ambitions, visions and knowledge from local communities.

Current projects focus on Biodiversity Perceptions and Communication (BIOLOGUE), Relational Biodiversity Economies and politics (RELATE4NATURE, Rewilding Attitudes (wildE) and Mosaic Governance for inclusive urban greening with marginalisec communities (NATURO). Arjen explicitly aims for social impact through collaborations with stakeholders in transdisciplinary research, policy evaluations, advice, workshops and presentations for e.g. EU, European cities, Natuurmonumenten, IVN and other NGOs, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Conservation and Food security and local citizens and communities.

Arjen has published on a diverse range of theoretical approaches, including framing theory, social representation theory, plural values of nature, and mosaic governance. He is associate editor for the scientific journal People & Nature from the British Ecological Society, focusing on relational values of nature.

Arjen teaches "People in Forest and Nature Conservation" (FNP-24806) and Social and Political Theory (FNP31608) within the Bachelor and Master Forest and Nature Conservation (BBN & MFN). In his home-town Utrecht, he has initiated several green initiatives to reconnect children and nature. Arjen sits on the Scientific Advisory Board for Natuurmonumenten and has been in the jury for Trouw Duurzame-100.