David Kleijn

David Kleijn is a Full Professor at Wageningen University & Research, where he works in the Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group. With over 300 publications and 166,062 reads on ResearchGate, his research has significantly contributed to our understanding of biodiversity conservation, particularly in agricultural landscapes. His expertise spans ecology, conservation biology, and the interactions between agricultural practices and ecosystem services.

Professor Kleijn's research primarily focuses on:

• Biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes
• Pollinator ecology and conservation
• Ecosystem services in farming systems
• The impacts of land use change on biodiversity
• Development of practical biodiversity assessment tools

His work centers on understanding how agricultural landscapes can be managed to support biodiversity while maintaining productivity. Kleijn has pioneered the use of UAVs and machine learning for biodiversity monitoring, examining relationships between landscape structure, habitat quality, and biodiversity, with particular emphasis on pollinators. His recent publications (2024-2025) reveal a strong focus on technological innovation in ecological monitoring, habitat restoration effectiveness, and the socio-economic dimensions of biodiversity conservation in farming systems. His research bridges ecological theory with practical conservation applications, making significant contributions to evidence-based policy development in agricultural biodiversity conservation.

Professor Kleijn has collaborated extensively with researchers across Europe, contributing to major initiatives like the EU Pollinator Monitoring Scheme. His work on pollinator conservation has directly informed agricultural policy discussions at the European level, particularly regarding the effectiveness of Common Agricultural Policy measures for supporting wild pollinators.

His research group focuses on applying ecological principles to agricultural systems, with particular expertise in pollination ecology, landscape ecology, and biodiversity assessment methods. Current research directions include investigating trade-offs between biodiversity conservation and agricultural production, developing practical tools for non-experts to assess biodiversity, and understanding how farmers perceive the costs and benefits of biodiversity-friendly farming practices.