Lander has a BSc in environmental awareness, and wrote his thesis on fish migration on the Flemish waterways. At Natuurpunt, Lander is working on the Wetlands4Cities project, with the aim of developing at least five urban wetlands in Flanders over the next two years. He is also involved in the Curieuzeneuzen project, a citizen science research initiative to measure heat and drought, in cooperation with the University of Antwerp.
“I believe that networking within the vibrant and diverse EJWP community, including the recognized experts on European water issues, will further improve my skills and knowledge for water research, and in passing on the importance of water resources management to younger generations,” said Mirela.
“I am looking forward to seeing how different countries and organizations are working on their specific water issues, and to exchanging knowledge and expertise. The EU policy is also especially interesting, as we will be working with EJWP colleagues from around Europe with different backgrounds,” said Lander.
We asked Lander some questions, and these are his answers.
What value are you bringing to your organization and career from your EJWP journey?
“I think that EJWP and water-sector organizations in the Water Europe Network can partner with Natuurpunt in the future to work together on water related projects. We can combine the importance of nature and water in integrated projects on wetlands, water quality, drought measures, and future adaptation projects to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Water and nature both will have very important roles in the years to come.”
What is your most valuable experience with EJWP so far?
“The training week we had in Bordeaux was an excellent chance to meet the people coming from different countries in Europe, all working on the water theme. It was nice to see how the city of Bordeaux is integrating water and environment in its development plans. An unexpected surprise was also the visit we had in Bordeaux to the former WWII submarine bunker, which I did not know it existed.”
