Marie Vandewalle, PhD

Research interests

Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services, Nature-based solutions, Network of Knowledge, Science-Policy-Society Interface, Stakeholder Engagement, Transformative Science-Policy Interface

CV / Scientific carrier

EU PROJECTS

Ongoing projects

• BioAgora HE project (Bio Knowledge Agora: Developing the Science Service for European Research and Biodiversity Policymaking, 2022 - 2027) - Scientific Co-coordination
• EmpowerUs HE project (Socio-economic Empowerment of coastal communities as users of the sea to ensure sustainable coastal development, 2022 - 2025) - WP4 lead
• Eco-Ready HE project (Achieving Ecological Resilient Dynamism for the European food system through consumer-driven policies, socio-ecological challenges, biodiversity, data-driven policy, sustainable futures, 2023 - 2027) - Tasks lead (through Alternet)
  
• RESTOREID HE project (Restoring Ecosystems to Stop the Threat Of (Re)- Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2024 - 2028) (through Alternet)

Past projects

• EEA ETC/CCA – European Topic Centre on Climate Change impacts, vulnerability and Adaptation (2019 - 2021)
• EKLIPSE (Horizon 2020 - 2016-2020) Establishing a European Knowledge and Learning Mechanism to Improve the Policy-Science- Society Interface on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
• BiodiversityKnowledge (EU FP7 - KNEU 2010-2014) Developing a Knowledge Network for European Expertise on biodiversity and ecosystem services to inform policy making and economic sectors 
• DG ENV contract (2011 - 2014) “Towards an EU mechanism interfacing science and policy on biodiversity and ecosystem services" (Reference; ENV.B.2/SER/2011/00424)
• RUBICODE (EU FP6 -terminated): Rationalising Biodiversity Conservation in Dynamic Ecosystems

PUBLICATIONS

Sarkki, S., Young, J.C., Vandewalle, M. et al. Transformative science–policy interfacing: the case of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Sustain Sci 20, 231–249 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-024-01593-4

West, B., Bauer, M., Chalkiadakis, C., Dendoncker, N., González-Martínez, T.M., Mascarenhas, A., Leucci, F., Phillips, B.B., Ploumi, K.T., Rodriguez, C., Vandewalle, M., Washbourne, C.-L. (2024):
Exploring human-nature relationships in academic literature on the nitrogen cycle
Ecosyst. People 20 (1), art. 2380856 10.1080/26395916.2024.2380856

van Dijk, J., Young, L.Y., Vandewalle, M., Watt, A., Locher, K. (2023): Transformative change for biodiversity requires more inclusive and participatory framing of research agendas. Biodivers. Conserv. 32 (11), 3669 - 3679

Perino, A., Pereira, H.M., Felipe-Lucia, M., Kim, H., Kühl, H.S., Marselle, M.R., Meya, J.N., Meyer, C., Navarro, L.M., van Klink, R., Albert, G., Barratt, C.D., Bruelheide, H., Cao, Y., Chamoin, A., Darbi, M., Dornelas, M., Eisenhauer, N., Essl, F., Farwig, N., Förster, J., Freyhof, J., Geschke, J., Gottschall, F., Guerra, C., Haase, P., Hickler, T., Jacob, U., Kastner, T., Korell, L., Kühn, I., Lehmann, G.U.C., Lenzner, B., Marques, A., Motivans Švara, E., Quintero, L.C., Pacheco, A., Popp, A., Rouet-Leduc, J., Schnabel, F., Siebert, J., Staude, I.R., Trogisch, S., Švara, V., Svenning, J.-C., Pe'er, G., Raab, K., Rakosy, D., Vandewalle, M., Werner, A.S., Wirth, C., Xu, H., Yu, D., Zinngrebe, Y., Bonn, A. (2022): Biodiversity post-2020: Closing the gap between global targets and national-level implementation. Conserv. Lett. 15 (2), e12848

Kelemen, E., Pataki, G., Konstantinou, Z., Varumo, L.,, Paloniemi, R., Pereira, T. R., Sousa-Pinto, I., Vandewalle, M. and J. Young (2021). Networks at the science-policy-interface: Challenges, opportunities and the viability of the ‘network-of-networks’ approach, Environmental Science & Policy 123: Pages 91-98, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2021.05.008.

Castellari, S., Zandersen, M., Davis, M., Veerkamp, C., Förster, J., Marttunen, M., Mysiak, J., Vandewalle, M., Medri, S., and J.R. Picatoste (2021) Nature-based solutions in Europe: Policy, knowledge and practice for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. European Environment Agency, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 159 p. doi:10.2800/919315

Gosselin, F., Galanaki, A., Vandewalle, M., Van Dijk, J., Varumo, L., Ventocilla, J., Watt, A., Young, J. (2020). Key messages from the scientific community for the EU post 2020 biodiversity strategy - elaboration of the multi-phased, iterative and consultative elicitation of scientific expertise (MICESE) method. Sustainability 12:2385.

Watt, A., Ainsworth, G., Balian, E., Cojocaru, G., Darbi, M., Dicks, L., Eggermont, H., Furman, E., Goudeseune, L., Huybrecht, P., Kelemen, E., Koch, F., Konstantinou, Z., Livoreil, B., Locher, K., Lux, A., Mehring, M., Neßhöver, C., Paloniemi, R., Saarikoski, H., Sousa Pinto, I., Vandewalle, M., Varjopuro, R., Varumo, L., Wittmer, H., Young, J., (2018): EKLIPSE: engaging knowledge holders and networks for evidence-informed European policy on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Evid. Policy (in press)

Li Y, Shipley B, Price JN, Dantas VdL, Tamme R, Westoby M, Siefert A, Schamp BS, Spasojevic MJ, Jung V, Laughlin DC, Richardson SJ, Le Bagousse-Pinguet Y, Schöb C, Gazol A, Prentice HC, Gross N, Overton J, Cianciaruso MV, Louault F, Kamiyama C, Nakashizuka T, Hikosaka K, Sasaki T, Katabuchi M, Frenette Dussault C, Gaucherand S, Chen N, Vandewalle M, Batalha MA (2017) Habitat filtering determines the functional niche occupancy of plant communities worldwide. Journal of Ecology: 1365-2745. doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12802

Tremblay, M.*, Vandewalle, M.* & Wittmer, H. (2016). Ethical challenges at the science-policy interface: an ethical risk assessment and proposition of an ethical infrastructure. Biodiversity and Conservation 25(7)

Balian, E., Drius L., Eggermont, H., Livoreil. B., Vandewalle, M., Vandewoestjine, S., Wittmer, H. & Young, J. (2016). Supporting evidence-based policy on biodiversity and ecosystem services: recommendations for effective policy briefs. Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research Debate and Practice 12(3):431-451

Neßhöver, C., Livoreil, B., Schindler, S. & Vandewalle, M. (2016). EDITORIAL: Challenges and solutions for networking knowledge holders and better informing decision-making on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Biodiversity and Conservation 25(7):1207-1214. doi: 10.1007/s10531-016-1066-1

Neßhöver, C., Vandewalle, M., Wittmer, H., Balian, E.V., Carmen, E., Geijzendorffer, I.R., Görg, C., Jongman, R., Livoreil, B., Santamaria, L., Schindler, S., Settele, J., Sousa Pinto, I., Török, K., van Dijk, J., Watt, A., Young, J., Zulka, K.P., Kneu Project Team (2016): The Network of Knowledge approach – improving the science and society dialogue on biodiversity and ecosystem services in Europe. Biodiversity and Conservation 25(7):1215-1234. doi: 10.1007/s10531-016-1127-5 (open access)

Görg, C., Wittmer, H., Carter, C., Turnhout, E., Vandewalle, M., Schindler, S., Livoreil, B. & Lux, A. (2016). Governance options for science–policy interfaces on biodiversity and ecosystem services: comparing a network versus a platform approach. Biodiversity and Conservation 25(7)

Livoreil, B., Geijzendorffer, I.R., Pullin, A.S., Schindler, S., Vandewalle, M., Neßhöver, C. (2016) Biodiversity knowledge synthesis at the European scale: actors and steps. Biodiversity and Conservation 25(7): 1269-1284. doi:10.1007/s10531-016-1143-5

Hauck, J., Stein, C., Schiffer, E., Vandewalle, M. (2015). Seeing the forest and the trees: Facilitating participatory network planning in environmental governance, Global Environmental Change 35 : 400-410

Carmen, E., Neßhöver, C., Saarikoski, H., Vandewalle, M., Watt, A., Wittmer, H. and J. Young (2015): Creating a biodiversity science community: Experiences from a European Network of Knowledge. Environmental Science and Policy: 54: 497-504

Siefert A., et al. (2015) A global meta-analysis of the relative extent of intraspecific trait variation in plant communities. Ecology Letters 18 (12): 1406-1419

Heink, U, Marquard, E., Heubach, K., Jax, K., Kugel, C., Nesshöver, C., Neumann, C.K., Paulsch, A., Tilch, S., Timaeus, J. and M. Vandewalle (2015). Conceptualizing credibility, relevance and legitimacy for evaluating the effectiveness of science–policy interfaces: Challenges and opportunities. Science and Public Policy 42(5):676-689

Vandewalle, M., Purschke, O., de Bello, F., Reitalu, H.C., Prentice, H.C., Lavorel, S., Johansson, L.J., Sykes, M.T. (2014): Functional responses of plant communities to management, landscape and historical factors in semi-natural grasslands. Journal of Vegetation Science 25 (3), 750 - 759

Le-Bagousse-Pinguet, Y., de Bello, F., Vandewalle, M., Leps, J., Sykes, M.T. (2013): Species richness of limestone grasslands increases with trait overlap: evidence from within- and between-species functional diversity partitioning. Journal of Ecology 12, DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.12201

de Bello, F.*, Vandewalle, M.*, Reitalu, T., Lep
s, J., Prentice, H.C., Lavorel, S. and M.T. Sykes (2013). Evidence for scale- and disturbance-dependent trait assembly patterns in dry semi-natural grasslands. Journal of Ecology 101(5): 1237-1244

Maes J, Teller A, Erhard M, Liquete C, Braat L, Berry P, Egoh B, Puydarrieux P, Fiorina C, Santos F, Paracchini ML, Keune H, Wittmer H, Hauck J, Fiala I, Verburg PH, Condé S, Schägner JP, San Miguel J, Estreguil C, Ostermann O, Barredo JI, Pereira HM, Stott A, Laporte V, Meiner A, Olah B, Royo Gelabert E, Spyropoulou R, Petersen JE, Maguire C, Zal N, Achilleos E, Rubin A, Ledoux L, Brown C, Raes C, Jacobs S, Vandewalle M, Connor D, Bidoglio G (2013). Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services. An analytical framework for ecosystem assessments under action 5 of the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020. Publications office of the European Union, Luxembourg.

Hulme, M., Mahony, M., Beck, S., Görg, C., Hansjürgens, B., Hauck, J., Nesshöver, C., Paulsch, A., Vandewalle, M., Wittmer, H., Böschen, S., Bridgewater, P., Chimère Diaw, M., Fabre, P, Figueroa, A., Luen Heong, K., Korn, H., Leemans, R., Lövbrand, E., Norowi Hamid, M., Monfreda, C., Pielke, R., Settele, J., Winter, M., Vadrot, A.B.M., van den Hove, S., van der Sluijs, J.P. (2011). Science-policy interface: beyond assessments. Science, 333(6043):697-8

Harrison, P.A., Vandewalle, M., Sykes, M.T., Berry, P.M., Bugter, R., de Bello, F., Feld, C.K., Grandin, U., Harrington, R., Haslett, J.R., Jongman, R.H.G., Luck, G.W., da Silva, P.M., Moora, M., Settele, J., Sousa, J.P. and Zobel, M. (2010) Identifying and prioritising services in European terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Biodiversity and Conservation 19, 2791–2821.

Vandewalle, M., de Bello, F., Berg, M.P., Bolger, T., Dolédec, S., Dubs, F., Feld, C.K., Harrington, R., Harrison, P.A., Lavorel, S., da Silva, P.M., Moretti, M., Niemelä, J., Santos, P., Sattler, T., Sousa, J.P., Sykes, M.T., Vanbergen, A.J. and Woodcock, B.A. (2010) Functional traits as indicators of biodiversity response to land use changes across ecosystems and organisms. Biodiversity and Conservation 19, 2921–2947.

Anton, C., Young, J., Harrison, P.A., Musche, M., Bela, G., Feld, C.K., Harrington, R., Haslett, J.R., Pataki, G., Rounsevell, M.D.A., Skourtos, M., Sousa, J.P., Sykes, M.T., Tinch, R., Vandewalle, M., Watt, A. and Settele, J. (2010) Research needs for incorporating the ecosystem service approach into EU biodiversity conservation policy. Biodiversity Conservation, 19: 2979-2994.

Harrington, R., Anton, C., Dawson, T.P., de Bello, F., Feld, C.K., Haslett, J.R., Kluvánkova-Oravská, T., Kontogianni, A., Lavorel, S., Luck, G.W., Rounsevell, M.D.A., Samways, M.J., Settele, J., Skourtos, M., Spangenberg, J.H., Vandewalle, M., Zobel, M. and Harrison, P.A. (2010) Ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation: concepts and a glossary. Biodiversity Conservation, 19: 2773-2790.

Luck, G.W., Harrington, R., Harrison, P.A., Kremen, C., Berry, P.M., Bugter, R., Dawson, T., de Bello, F., Diaz, S., Feld, C.K., Haslette, J.R., Hering, D., Kontogianni, A., Lavorel, S., Rounsevell, M., Samways, M.J., Sandin, L., Settele, J., Sykes, M.T., van den Hove, S., Vandewalle, M. and M. Zobel (2009) Quantifying the contribution of organisms to the provision of ecosystem services. BioScience 59 (3): 223-235

Reitalu, T., Sykes, M.T., Johansson, L. J., Lönn, M., Hall, K., Vandewalle, M. and H.C. Prentice (2009) Small-scale plant species richness and evenness in semi-natural grasslands respond differently to landscape structure and history. Biological Conservation 142 (4): 899-908

Vandewalle M., Sykes M.T., Harrison P.A., Luck G.W., Berry P., Bugter R., Dawson T.P., Feld C.K., Harrington R., Haslett J.R., Hering D., Jones K.B., Jongman R., Lavorel S., Martins da Silva P., Moora M., Paterson J., Rounsevell M.D.A., Sandin L., Settele J., Sousa J.P., Zobel M. (2008) Review paper on concepts of dynamic ecosystems and their services. RUBICODE Deliverable D2.1, http://www.rubicode.net/rubicode/RUBICODE_Review_on_Ecosystem_Services.pdf