Wietse van der Werf
Wietse van der Werf | |
|---|---|
 Van der Werf in 2016 | |
| Born | 22 March 1983 |
| Occupation(s) | Conservationist, entrepreneur, author |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Known for | Sea Ranger Service |
Wietse van der Werf (born March 22, 1983) is a Dutch
ocean conservation and social entrepreneurship. He is the founder of the Sea Ranger Service and was named European Young Leader in 2020.[1]
Early life
Van der Werf grew up in
The Netherlands, and was a nature enthusiast from a young age. Being installed by the local mayor of Nieuwegein as a youth ranger in 1992, he started his conservation career at the age of 9. Initial work activities included bird counting and forestry work.[2]
Environmental activism
From the age of 15, Van der Werf became involved in
direct activism, instead pursuing a social entrepreneurial approach to ocean conservation.[6]
Sea Ranger Service
Van der Werf founded the
offshore industry .[9]
Conservation philosophy
Van der Werf has stated the inspiration for the Sea Ranger Service has originated from the
veterans as Sea Rangers. After their one-year deployment as Sea Rangers, in which they carry out conservation tasks at sea, the Sea Rangers transition into maritime employment.[12] Van der Werf advocates extensively on the benefits of social approaches to conservation and has gathered growing political support for his work. In December 2018 four Dutch government ministers signed the Green Deal Sea Ranger Service to improve environmental conservation of the North Sea through social pilots run by the Sea Ranger Service.[13][14]
Personal life
Van der Werf lives in
The Netherlands. He is vegan
.
Books
- The Next Eco-Warriors (2011), co-author, Conari Press
- Bluefin Bonanza (2012), Big Green Factory
- No More Endlings (2015), Motivational Press
- We Are Here (2020), in production
Awards
- Future for Nature Award (2016)[15]
- Ashoka Fellowship (2018)[16]
- Summit Fellowship (2019)[17]
- European Young Leader (2020)[18]
References
- ^ "Meet the EYL Class of 2020" (PDF). Friends of Europe. 1 February 2020.
- ^ "Wie worden de boswachters op zee?". NRC. 19 October 2017.
- ^ "Undercover with the vigilantes fighting organised crime at sea". The Guardian. 24 February 2016.
- ^ "Activists Are Trying to Save the World's Fish from Mafia Bastards". VICE. 16 August 2013.
- ^ "Fish: The Next Fight, BBC Radio 4, Costing the Earth". BBC Radio 4. 23 April 2013.
- ^ "What drives our founder Wietse?". Sea Ranger Service. 12 April 2018.
- ^ "Just Go Grind podcast - Episode #97". Just Go Grind. 11 December 2019.
- ^ "IKEA Social Entrepreneurship". IKEA. 10 September 2019.
- ^ "Medal of Honor for Sea Rangers". searangers.org. 19 April 2019.
- ^ "Our Ocean conference speech Wietse van der Werf" (PDF). Our Ocean. 5 October 2017.
- ^ "Could this 100-year-old idea fix the planet?". Medium. 10 May 2020.
- ^ "Unemployed Dutch youth become sea rangers to protect marine life". APolitical. 1 June 2017.
- ^ "The Smarter Way To Protect Our Planet: Include Everyone". Forbes. 6 February 2020.
- ^ "Sea Ranger Service Signs Major Government 'Green Deal'". FutureForNature.org. 19 December 2018.
- ^ "Wietse van der Werf". Future For Nature. 15 May 2016.
- ^ "Ashoka Netherlands Announces Wietse Van Der Werf as their Latest Fellow". Ashoka.org. 3 September 2018.
- ^ "Summit Fellow: Wietse van der Werf". Summit.org. 10 June 2019.
- ^ "Meet the EYL Class of 2020" (PDF). Friends of Europe. 1 February 2020.