Green Frontlines: Military Bases and Nature Conservation in the Netherlands

The Ministry of Defense is the third largest landowner in the Netherlands and uses these lands for military exercises. This affects fragile ecosystems and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. However, the military is legally required to protect nature and employs ecologists who advise on land use. This project investigates the unique yet unknown intersections between military activities and ecological conditions at three military bases. I will join ecologists during their daily work at these bases and work with stakeholders to mitigate the military’s environmental impact. This is particularly urgent in the context of ongoing military expansion and widespread ecological degradation.