Merlijn van Weerd

Merlijn van Weerd is a part-time Lecturer at Leiden University's Faculties of Science and Social Science, affiliated with the Department of Environmental Biology and the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML). He leads the Mabuwaya Foundation, a Philippine conservation NGO focused on biodiversity conservation. His research emphasizes biodiversity distribution, human-environment interactions, and conservation effectiveness in tropical regions, particularly the Philippines.

Education and academic background details are not explicitly provided in the text. Research interests include tropical forests, crocodilian conservation, and sustainable water management, with a focus on the Cagayan River Basin and Sierra Madre Mountains. He co-organized an annual interdisciplinary field course on water management and sustainable development in the Philippines since 2011, involving students from natural, social, and applied sciences.

No specific scientific awards are mentioned, but his work with the Mabuwaya Foundation highlights impactful conservation efforts. Advising and grants details are not provided. He collaborates with Isabela State University in the Philippines, reflecting his commitment to international academic partnerships.