Over the years, Bas has been a fervent spokesperson for IUCN both in the EU circles and beyond, having spoken at countless high-level events, led the office through two World Conservation Congresses, and oversaw the expansion of our members. In 2015 the Brussels Office became a fully-fledged European Regional Office again, representing the largest IUCN Membership globally with 371 members, including the majority of IUCN’s main Framework Partners and State Members. Under the strategic leadership of its Director since then, 88 New Members were admitted, including Government Agencies of Portugal, Malta, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Gibraltar and Israel. 

Bas also played a key role in strong policy developments with the creation of a new IUCN EU-policy team and the EU Policy Advisory Group. The office has had an overall growing presence of IUCN in policy debates on topics such as agriculture, climate mitigation and adaptation, circular economy, and mainstreaming biodiversity into other sectoral policies.

In his time at IUCN, nature-based solutions (NbS) have moved up the European agenda, with the Europe office at the forefront. Bas has been a vocal spokesperson for IUCN on the topic with senior policy-makers and NbS are now included in cross-cutting EU policies, such as in the Climate Adaptation Strategy and the Nature Restoration Action plan. He has been instrumental in the process towards integration of NbS in the Horizon 2020 programme for Research and Innovation. Our work on species conservation has also expanded under his leadership, with several projects on pollinators (e.g. hoverflies, moths), as well as the European Red List reassessments.  

Looking to the future, the IUCN European Regional Office will continue our pivotal work in Brussels as before. We intend to further explore the relationship between circular economy and biodiversity, enhance the dialogue between the forest and environmental stakeholders and improve the management and effectiveness of protected areas in Europe through tools such as the Green List of Protected Areas. Our unique membership is also at the heart of our work, and we aim to continue expanding, in particularly in the Eastern parts of Europe.

In his new role as a member of the Senior Management Team at the EEA, Bas responsibilities include, shaping the International Cooperation framework, relations with the EU Institutions, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and setting the quality standards. 

IUCN once more congratulates Bas on his new exciting role and offer our sincere thanks for the many years of hard work. We look forward to further collaborating with him at the EEA as we work towards a more sustainable, just world with nature conservation at its heart. 

%3Cp%3EIUCN%20Europe%20Staff%20and%20National%20Committee%20members%20meeting%20at%20the%20Brussels%20office%3A%20One%20Union!%3C%2Fp%3E%0A Photo: Picture provided by Luc Bas