Natural Resources (NRS)

On a mission to protect the biosphere

Natural resources are essential to maintain the well-being of societies. Sustainable management of these natural resources balances the needs of people and the environment. It avoids the depletion, degradation, and destruction of ecosystems, prevents biodiversity loss and soil erosion, and mitigates the impacts of climate change.

Our research, education, and partnerships empower society to effectively use insights from geo-information and Earth observation technologies for sustainable management of the environment. The outcome is an increased understanding of the processes that affect the availability, stability, quality, and sustainability of natural resources, which in turn enables their preservation, sustainable use, development, or restoration.

Our academic staff, PhD candidates and MSc students focus on developing both the means and the measurements that are essential to monitor trends, track changes, and enable action to sustain biologically diverse environments and productive agricultural systems.

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NRS news and events

GeoForge: A platform created by GEM alumnus Maaz Sheikh to make GIS data accessible for emergency response.

Higher acidity than expected: A new study explores the effects of the nitrogen crisis on Dutch soil.

A recently released paper by UTwente researchers has brought attention to a concerning issue in our forests: higher soil acidity than previously thought. This research not only sheds light on a worsening problem but also offers practical solutions to address the detrimental effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on soil.

Made in NRS: Lilin Zhang

Lilin Zhang has received the Best PhD Student Paper in the SPIE 2023 Conference on Remote Sensing for Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Hydrology as he approaches the finish line of his PhD journey. At this edition of Made in NRS, we interview Lilin to learn more about his experience at the conference, his PhD project, and his life in the Netherlands. While he enjoys running through the Dutch natural landscape, he has gone through what he calls another tough “marathon”: his PhD journey.

A glimpse into the forest

Prince Boateng, Anesu Chimbi and Charlie Shawa are three students of the Natural Resources Management track of the MSc in Geo Information Science and Earth Observation of the ITC Faculty. As part of the programme, the students were able to travel with their class to a forest location in the region of Twente, the Netherlands, and experience a true fieldwork experience.

Made in NRS: Zhaoyang Yu

Zhaoyang Yu is an MSc student from the Master’s in Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation of the ITC Faculty. He has a big passion for wildlife conservation since he was a big fan of BBC’s Planet Earth documentary. Now, at the NRM Specialization, he is making his dreams come true with his MSc thesis research to prevent cars from driving off-road in safaris, which endangers the habitat of wild animals.

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