Gert-Jan Nabuurs Appointed to Built by Nature Board
Built by Nature is proud to welcome Gert-Jan Nabuurs to its Board of Directors. As one of Europe’s foremost experts on forest resources and climate change, Gert-Jan brings exceptional scientific insight and decades of experience in forestry and climate policy. His appointment reinforces Built by Nature’s mission to accelerate the timber and biobased material transformation while promoting responsible forest stewardship worldwide.
Gert-Jan is Professor of European Forest Resources at Wageningen University & Research and Senior Researcher at Wageningen Environmental Research. His work spans European-scale forest resource analysis, climate change adaptation, and sustainable forest management. He co-developed the EFISCEN model, a leading tool for understanding wood availability, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
He has served as Coordinating Lead Author for the Agriculture and Forestry chapter of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, the IPCC Fourth assessment and the IPCC Good Practice Guidance for land use. Gert-Jan was Assistant Director of the European Forest Institute in Finland from 2009 – 2013. He is also actively engaged in six EU projects on forests and climate change and regularly advises the European Commission.
Gert-Jan says: “Forests are central to tackling the climate crisis and to shaping a truly sustainable built environment. Built by Nature plays a unique role in connecting science, industry and policy to accelerate this transformation, and I’m honoured to contribute my knowledge and expertise to this mission.”
His appointment reflects Built by Nature’s commitment to integrating scientific leadership into its governance. Gert-Jan has already collaborated with Built by Nature as a jury member for the Built by Nature Prize 2025, helping evaluate projects against the Principles for Responsible Timber Construction. His familiarity with these principles will be instrumental in advancing their development and adoption.
Commenting on the appointment, Donald Brenninkmeijer, Chairman of the Built by Nature Board, says: “Gert-Jan brings a rare combination of scientific rigour and practical engagement with the forest sector. His leadership will help us deepen our impact and ensure that timber construction aligns with climate and biodiversity goals.”
His appointment strengthens our commitment to a built environment in harmony with nature.
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