As a tropical ecologist at Utrecht University, I conducted research in Costa Rica and Indonesia, but I am skilled in many areas. In addition to my passion for nature, I have extensive experience as a project manager, editor and in healthcare. At Naturalis, I supervise(d) European projects on pollinators (SPRING, EU-PoMS), making the financial world more sustainable (BIOFIN-EU) and urban greening (C2G). The challenges facing the world require a holistic systems approach; my diverse work experience enables me to make creative connections. I am a driven connector who enjoys using a broad vision to help give meaning to projects at the intersection of nature, the environment and society.
Keywords
Biodiversity, Nature conservation, Research, Analysis, Sustainability, Project management, Cross-sectoral thinking, Connector
Myprojects
An overview of current and completed projects:
BIOFIN-EU Unlock finance to protect and restore biodiversity
Biodiversiteit in Beeld
Commit2Green
Pollinator Academy a European learning platform about pollinators
Keypublications
Baker, T.R., Adu-Bredu, S., Affum-Baffoe, K. et al. (2025) Large range sizes link fast life histories with high species richness across wet tropical tree floras. Sci Rep 15, 469. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84367-3
Settele, Josef; Aracil, Andrea; Arnberg, Harriet et al. (2025) SPRING -Strengthening Pollinator Recovery through Indicators and monitoring. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12907/53851
Sarthou, Jean-Pierre; Sarthou, Véronique; Speight, Martin C.D (2023) Illustrated key to the hoverfly genera of Europe (Syrphidae and Microdontidae). Editors: Vanappelghem, Cedric; Van Nieuwstadt, Mark G.L. https://zenodo.org/records/8248935
ForestPlots.net, et al. (2021) Taking the pulse of Earth's tropical forests using networks of highly distributed plots. Biological Conservation 260. doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108849
Sullivan, Martin J.P., et al. (2020) Long-term thermal sensitivity of Earth’s tropical forests. Science 368, Issue 6493: 869- 874. doi.org/10.1126/science.aaw7578
Qie, L., Lewis, S.L., Sullivan, M.J.P., et al. (2017) Long-term carbon sink in Borneo’s forests halted by drought and vulnerable to edge effects. Nature Communications 8: 1966. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01997-0
van Nieuwstadt, M.G.L. & D. Sheil (2005) Drought, fire and tree survival in a Borneo rain forest, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Journal of Ecology 93: 191-201. (editor’s choice in Science). doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2004.00954.x
Slik, J.W.F., et al. (2003) A floristic analysis of the lowland dipterocarp forests of Borneo. Journal of Biogeography 30: 1517–153. doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2699.2003.00967.x
Van Nieuwstadt, M.G.L. (2002) Trial by Fire – Postfire development of a tropical dipterocarp forest. PhD thesis. Utrecht University, the Netherlands. Pp. 144. https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/218/inhoud.htm
Van Nieuwstadt, M.G.L., K. Kartawinata & D. Sheil (2002) Konsekuensi ekologis pembalakan dalam kawasan hutan yang terbakar di Kalimantan Timur. Jurnal Hutan Indonesia (Indonesia Forest Journal), Edisi Perdana Agustus: 1-4.
Van Nieuwstadt, M.G.L., D. Sheil & K. Kartawinata (2001) The ecological consequences of logging in the burned forests of East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Conservation Biology 15 (4): 1183-1186. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.2001.0150041183.x
Biesmeijer, J.C., M.G.L. van Nieuwstadt, S. Lukács & M.J. Sommeijer (1998) The role of internal and external information in foraging decisions of Melipona workers (Hymenoptera: Meliponinae). Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 42: 107-116. doi.org/10.1007/s002650050418
Van Nieuwstadt, M.G.L. & C.E. Ruano Iraheta (1997) Relation between size and foraging range in stingless bees (Apidae, Meliponinae). Apidologie 27: 219-228. doi.org/10.1051/apido:19960404
Van Nieuwstadt, M.G.L., L.A. Sanchez, J.C. Biesmeijer, H.G. Arce & M.J. Sommeijer (1997) Foraging behavior of stingless bees: are their diets really so diverse? in: Mardan M. et al. (eds.), Proc. Int. Conf. Tropical Bees and the Environment, Beenet Asia, Univ. Pertanian, Malaysia, pp. 100–110.
Slaa, E.J., M.G.L. van Nieuwstadt, L.W. Pisa & M.J. Sommeijer (1997) Foraging strategies of stingless bees (Apidae, Meliponinae): the relation between precision of recruitment, competition and communication. Acta Hort. (ISHS) 437:193-198. doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1997.437.19
Willems, J.H. & M.G.L. van Nieuwstadt (1996) Long-term after effects of fertilization on above-ground phytomass and species diversity in calcareous grassland. Journal of Vegetation Science 7: 177-184. doi.org/10.2307/3236317
Van Nieuwstadt, M.G.L. & J.F. Ramirez (1994) Uso de colmenas para la polinización de cultivos: plaguicidas y el uso de un contrato. In: Veen, J.W. van, H.G. Arce & A. Ortiz (eds.) Apicultura: estrategias para el manejo adecuado de las colmenas, Memorias del tercer congreso nacional de apicultura, Costa Rica