Erik Meijaard | |
---|---|
Born | |
Nationality | Dutch |
Alma mater | Wageningen University and Research University of Amsterdam Australian National University |
Occupation(s) | Conservation Scientist and Practitioner |
Years active | 1992-present |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Conservation biology, taxonomy, tropical ecology, forest management, genetics, biodiversity |
Institutions | University of Queensland Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology University of Amsterdam |
Website | https://www.borneofutures.org/ |
Erik Meijaard (born May 22, 1967) is a Dutch conservation scientist and practitioner.[1][2] He holds a research fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Study, University of Amsterdam.[3] He currently serves as the managing director of Borneo Futures.[3][4][5]
Meijaard received a Bachelor of Science in environmental sciences from Wageningen Agricultural University in 1986, followed by a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Amsterdam in 1990. He later completed a Master of Science in tropical ecology at Wageningen Agricultural University in 1994, and obtained his PhD in biological anthropology at Australian National University in 2004, conducting research in Baluran National Park in East Java.[6][7][8]
In 1990's, Meijaard served as an ecologist at the Tropenbos Kalimantan Project in Indonesia, studying mammal distribution, investigating wildlife trade, and aiding in wildlife confiscations of illegally kept wild animals.[9] He planned and led conservation projects in Indonesia focused on preserving forests, coral reefs, and endangered species.
From June 2002 to May 2004, Meijaard served as a consultant at the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) in Indonesia.[10][11][12]
He chaired the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Wild Pig Specialist Group and edited its newsletter Suiform Soundings (2002–2007), also co-chairing the IUCN Oil Crops Task Force.[13][5][14][15]
Meijaard served as lead scientist for The Nature Conservancy's Indonesia Program, including work on projects like the Orangutan Conservation Support Program (OCSP) Borneo, from 2004 to 2009.[16][9]
Meijaard held an adjunct professorship at the University of Queensland from 2014 to 2023 and is currently a Honorary Professor at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology.[7][5][17][15][18]
He served as a visiting professor at Charles University’s Faculty of Science last semester, where he taught Ph.D. students.[19][20]
Meijaard's research identified the new species Pongo tapanuliensis (orangutan) and Tragulus versicolor (Silver-backed Chevrotain or Vietnam Mousedeer), contributing to mammalian taxonomy and understanding behaviour.[21][22][23][24] He highlights the importance of tackling unsustainable killing as a driver of population decline in orangutans and the species' ecological resilience in logged areas.[25][26][27][28][29]
In 2024, Meijaard reported a notable decrease in Southeast Asian pig species due to African swine pathogen.[30][31]
Meijaard has published over 300 peer-reviewed journals and has contributed to over 125 newspaper articles.[7][32][33]
Meijaard received the "Mahathir Science Award" and the "Victor E. Shelford Award" for conservation.[34][35]
In 2020, Meijaard's contribution to a publication in Current Biology comparing the environmental impacts of coconut oil to palm oil raised questions about potential conflicts of interest due to his connections to the palm oil industry.[26][36][37][13][38][39] Despite criticisms, he maintained that palm oil's economic importance, economic development, and addressing food security are vital.[40][41][42][14][30]
In 2022, Meijaard clashed with the Indonesian government over his opinion piece in the Jakarta Post, disputing claims made by the Environment Minister regarding orangutan populations.[43][44][45] This led to his ban from Indonesian nature parks, limiting his research opportunities.[46][47] These incidents initiated debates on scientific integrity and freedom of expression within environmental discourse.[48][49]