Bending the curve
of biodiversity loss
From biodiversity loss to a nature-positive society through collective action.
CurveBend is a 7-year transdisciplinary research project starting on 1 May 2025. The program is funded as part of the National Science Agenda (NWA) by the Dutch Research Council (NWO).
CurveBend focuses on bending the curve of biodiversity loss and promoting a nature-positive society through mobilization of collective action at the landscape level. With a “hands-on” approach, CurveBend operates in three livestock-dominated regions: in Dutch meadows, the Argentine Pampas, and East African savannas. We study the mismatches in the spatial needs of plants, animals and people for the various parts of landscapes. In co-creation with societal partners, we seeks solutions to these mismatches. We aim to develop innovative, practical solutions for biodiversity restoration at the landscape scale serving as inspiration worldwide.
Our consortium
Europe
Six Dutch universities, exploring meadow lands across the Netherlands
South America
One institution based in Buenos Aires, exploring the Pampas grasslands of Argentina
East Africa
Two neighboring education organisations, exploring the savanna that spans Kenya and Tanzania
Work Packages
Find out more about their projects soon, over on the Work Packages hub.Of the 33 CurveBenders, 9 PhD candidates and 3 postdoctoral researchers are working on regional and interregional projects across the CurveBend field sites
