Arjen Boon
Arjen Boon Ph.D. is a senior researcher/consultant at the department Ecosystem Dynamics within the unit Marine and Coastal Systems of Deltares. He is a marine ecologist with a 20 year professional background in fundamental and applied marine ecological research and consulting. His disciplinary background is in benthic ecology, marine process ecology and marine ecosystem dynamics. He has an extensive and in-depth knowledge of scientific ecological issues relevant to marine science, policy and management. The sustainable implementation of human activities in the marine and coastal environment is always at the core of his work and ecosystem-based management the underlying approach. In more recent years, Arjen applied and further developed the concept of Ecosystem Services as a powerful approach to combine the marine natural environment to the socio-economic domain. Currently, Dr Boon is scientific coordinator of the work package Ecosystem Services in the 45-partner EU-funded research project Ecopotential that investigates the use of Earth Observation for the quantification of ecosystem services. He is also in the lead of work for the European Environment Agency in developing an operational MAES marine ecosystem typology for linage to marine ecosystem services assessments within MAES (as part of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020). He has extensive experience on Impact Assessments (on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning) of maritime activities such as marine sand extraction, coastal extensions (Port of Rotterdam) and offshore wind farms. In particular for the latter, the cumulative and transboundary effects of wind farms developed by Belgium, the Netherlands, UK and Germany in the North Sea have been a recurring issue also aligned with cross-border and multi-stakeholder Marine Spatial Planning. Finally, he has frequently had the role of the scientific coordinating complex and integrated research and monitoring projects, project management and (chief-) editing project reports.
Working experience
2009-present | Deltares | Senior researcher Marine Systems Ecology |
2005-2009 | Royal Haskoning | Senior researcher Marine Ecology |
2003-2005 | Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries | Policy advisor marine ecology and fisheries |
2000-2003 | Greenpeace | Campaigner Marine Fisheries |
1998-2000 | Netherlands Research Institute for Fisheries | Fisheries ecologist |
1993-1998 | Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research | Benthic ecologist |
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Ecopotential: improving future ecosystem benefits through earth observations
Europe, 2015-present
Main project features: Use and operationalize the concept of Ecosystem Services in improving protected area management; Co-ordinating scientific content and internal consistency of Work Package on Ecosystem Services Positions held: Work package scientific coordinator, Guidance for PhD student within Work Package
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Mapping and assessment of marine ecosystem services and link to Good Environmental Status
Europe, 2015-2016
Main project features: Integrating the process for MAES and for assessing GES under the MSFD.
Positions held: Scientific lead of the project (understanding issues, setting up process, coordinating work content); Main author and editor of the reports; Scientific expert on policy integration and stepwise approach for report Roadmap
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Development of an operational marine ecosystem typology for use in MAES marine ecosystem service assessments and mapping
Europe, 2014-present
Main project features: Reviewing the current MAES marine ecosystem typology and suggesting improvements based on ecological relevance, policy applicability and ecosystem services linkages
Positions held: Leading ETC-ICM task, coordinating work, main author reporting, partaking meetings with DG ENV, EEA, ETC consortia.
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Set up an assessment method of the ecological coherence of networks of Marine Protected Areas in Europe
Europe, 2014-2015
Main project features: develop criteria for the coherence and connectivity of networks of marine protected areas in Europe.
Positions held: Scientific expert; analyses of EU policies criteria for protected area implementation, writing.
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Scales: Coherent geographic scales and aggregation rules for environmental status assessment within the Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Europe, 2013-2014
Main project features: Describe methodologies for integrating temporal and spatial scales for data and assessments within the MSFD for GES.
Positions held: Scientific expert; Project co-leader and task leader
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CleanSea
Europe, 2013-2016
Main project features: Synthesis and Integration EU FP7 project CLEANSEA: towards a litter-free marine environment in the EU. Set up and application of an integrated assessment framework for ecological, toxicological, socio-economical and governance issues of marine litter.
Positions held: Work package leader
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Review and set-up guidelines for benthic quality indicators Transitional and coastal waters in the Water Framework Directive
Netherlands, 2013-2016
Main project features: Reviewing existing indicators for benthic quality, set up of improved Dutch benthic quality indicator (BEQI-2)
Positions held: Project Leader; Co-writer and chief editor of a report created by three researchers from three research institutes.
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Monitoring and evaluation “sand engine”, pilot project Dutch coastal restoration
Netherlands, 2011-2016
Main project features: Monitoring and evaluating the changes on coastal safety and ecology of a mega-nourishment along the Dutch coast.
Positions held: Project manager, project leader; Leading the project, responsible for management, and scientific evaluation and integration
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Implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Netherlands, 2010-2011
Main project features: Implementation of the MSFD in the Netherlands based on a collaborative approach throughout different marine research institutes and universities in the Netherlands.
Positions held: Project leader in consortium; Co-ordinating the background research, writing and editing project reports, set up by researchers from different institutes.
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Master plan long-term research and monitoring of offshore wind farms in the North Sea.
Netherlands, 2010-2011
Main project features: Co-ordinating a consortium of researchers from various institutes writing on different disciplines (hydrology, underwater sound, plankton, benthos, fish, birds, mammals), contributing to various disciplines (benthos, birds), chief writer and editor of the report.
Positions held: Project leader, chief editor
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Mapping and assessment of marine ecosystem services and link to Good Environmental Status (phase 1), Roadmap for an integrated approach to a marine MAES
2016, Boon A.R, M.C. Uyarra, A.S. Heiskanen, A. Borja, M. van der Meulen, W. Stolte, I. Galparsoro, M. Viitasalo, J.M. Garmendia, A. Murillas, Mapping and assessment of marine ecosystem services and link to Good Environmental Status (phase 1), Roadmap for an integrated approach to a marine MAES, Deltares report 1210689-000-ZKS-0018
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Application of the Benthic Ecosystem Quality Index 2 to benthos in Dutch transitional and coastal waters
2015, W.M.G.M. van Loon, A.R. Boon, A. Gittenberger, D.J.J. Walvoort, M. Lavaleye, G.C.A. Duineveld, A.J. Verschoor, Application of the Benthic Ecosystem Quality Index 2 to benthos in Dutch transitional and coastal waters, Journal of Sea Research 103 1-13
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A Framework for Integrating Knowledge in the CleanSea Project
2014, Boon AR, Brouwer R, Boteler B, Veiga J, Fernandez P, Leslie H (2014). , A Framework for Integrating Knowledge in the CleanSea Project., Deliverable 6.17, EU Project CleanSea 23
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Analysis and comparison of criteria used by Member States for establishing coherent, adequate and representative networks of marine protected areas
2014, Galparsoro I, Uriarte A, Castro R, Uyarra MC, Korpinen S, Reizopoulou S, Schipper C, van der Meulen M, van Dalfsen J, Wolters W, Boon A, Roeleveld G, Analysis and comparison of criteria used by Member States for establishing coherent, adequate and representative networks of marine protected areas , Report for DG ENV, EU 73
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Coherent geographic scales and aggregation rules in assessment and monitoring of Good Environmental Status – analysis and conceptual phase
2013, Prins T, Van der Meulen M, Boon A, Simboura N, Tsangaris C, Borja A, Menchaca I , Coherent geographic scales and aggregation rules in assessment and monitoring of Good Environmental Status – analysis and conceptual phase - Analytical report., Report for DG ENV, Brussels
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Phytopigments and fatty acids in the gut of the deposit-feeding heart urchin Echinocardium cordatum in the southern North Sea: selective feeding and its contribution to the benthic carbon budget
2012, Boon AR, Duineveld GCA, Phytopigments and fatty acids in the gut of the deposit-feeding heart urchin Echinocardium cordatum in the southern North Sea: selective feeding and its contribution to the benthic carbon budget., Journal of Sea Research 67 77–84
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Environmental targets and associated indicators: Implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive for the Dutch part of the North Sea
2011, Boon AR, Prins TC, Slijkerman D, Schipper C, Environmental targets and associated indicators: Implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive for the Dutch part of the North Sea., Deltares report 1204315-000-ZKS-007 113
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Review of Marine Benthic Indicators and Metrics for the WFD and design of an optimized BEQI
2011, Boon AR, Gittenberger A, Van Loon WMGM , Review of Marine Benthic Indicators and Metrics for the WFD and design of an optimized BEQI., Deltares report 1203801-000 pp. 65
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Monitoring and researching ecological effects of offshore wind farms
2010, Boon AR et al. , Monitoring and researching ecological effects of offshore wind farms - Masterplan., Deltares report 157 pp
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Environmental Impact Assessment Offshore windpark West-Rijn
2007, Van de Bilt SGTh, Boon AR, Dotinga MR, Duyckinck Dörner GC, Rijntalder JFW, Westen B , Environmental Impact Assessment Offshore windpark West-Rijn, Report Royal Haskoning 9R8394.03 (in Dutch)
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Salt water alternative for freshwater lake Volkerak-Zoommeer and Natura 2000
2007, Van den Broek T, Grootjans K-H, Boon A , Salt water alternative for freshwater lake Volkerak-Zoommeer and Natura 2000. The effects of a salt water alternative under the restrictions of the Natura 2000 (concept) management plan. , Report Royal Haskoning 9R4329
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Environmental Impact Assessment Sand Extraction North Sea
2006, Boon AR, De Vriend M, Gerrits G, Van de Laar R, Van Ledden M , Environmental Impact Assessment Sand Extraction North Sea, Report Royal Haskoning 9R9751.01 (In Dutch)
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Alternative fishing techniques in the North Sea – a review
2006, Boon AR , Alternative fishing techniques in the North Sea – a review., Report for the WWF Centre for Marine Conservation, Hamburg, Germany 30 pp
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The geographical history of the Netherlands
2004, Boon A, Luiten E, Laban C, Stel J , The geographical history of the Netherlands, in: Luiten, E. (Ed.) (2004). Sea in sight: sustainable use of salt water values STT. Publication 67 47-61 (In Dutch)
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Sea in sight: sustainable use of salt water values
2004, Boon AR, Let the sea be, in: Luiten, E. (Ed.) (2004). Sea in sight: sustainable use of salt water values. STT Publication 67 138-144 (In Dutch)
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Short-term variations in the fluxes and composition of seston in near-bottom traps in the southern North Sea
2002, Duineveld GCA, Boon AR, Short-term variations in the fluxes and composition of seston in near-bottom traps in the southern North Sea. Helgoland Marine Research 56 140-148
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Parameters Ecosystem Objectives North Sea – an analysis of possible parameters for nature management of the North Sea
2002, Boon AR, Wiersinga WA , Parameters Ecosystem Objectives North Sea – an analysis of possible parameters for nature management of the North Sea. , EC-LNV report 2002/116 72 pp (in Dutch)
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By-catch species in the North Sea flatfish fishery (data on turbot and brill) a preliminary assessment
2000, Boon AR, DelBare D , By-catch species in the North Sea flatfish fishery (data on turbot and brill) a preliminary assessment (DATUBRAS), final report EC-study 97/078, RIVO-report C020/00
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Benthic organic matter supply and metabolism in depositional and non-depositional areas in the North Sea.
1999, Boon AR, Duineveld GCA, Kok A. , Benthic organic matter supply and metabolism in depositional and non-depositional areas in the North Sea. , Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 49 747-761
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Benthic-pelagic coupling: the nature and fate of labile organic matter in the benthic environment of the North Sea
1998, Boon, AR , Benthic-pelagic coupling: the nature and fate of labile organic matter in the benthic environment of the North Sea, PhD thesis, University Groningen 117 pp
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Chlorophyll a as a marker for bioturbation and carbon flux in southern and central North Sea sediments
1998, Boon AR, Duineveld GCA , Chlorophyll a as a marker for bioturbation and carbon flux in southern and central North Sea sediments. , Marine Ecology Progress Series 162 33-43
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Relationships between benthic activity and the annual phytopigment cycle in near-bottom water and sediments in the southern North Sea
1998, Boon AR, Duineveld GCA, Berghuis EM, Van der Weele JA , Relationships between benthic activity and the annual phytopigment cycle in near-bottom water and sediments in the southern North Sea. , Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 46 1-13
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Phytopigments and fatty acids as molecular markers of near-bottom particulate organic matter in the North Sea
1996, Boon AR, Duineveld GCA , Phytopigments and fatty acids as molecular markers of near-bottom particulate organic matter in the North Sea. , Journal of Sea Research 35 279-291