The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) is a research institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). It is located in Wageningen in the province of Gelderland, Netherlands. The institute’s mission is to conduct ecological research and to disseminate knowledge about ecology to society at large.
The NIOO was founded in 1956 as the Dutch Institute for Ecology, before being renamed to its current name in 2001. The institute has a staff of approximately 200 people, including around 80 scientists. The NIOO consists of six departments: Aquatic Ecology, Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology, Forest Ecology & Forest Management, Landscape Ecology & Nature Conservation, Microbial Ecology and Plant Ecology.
Research at the NIOO covers a wide range of topics within ecology, such as global change, biodiversity loss, ecosystem services, invasive species and sustainable land use. The institute has a strong international reputation and collaborates with many other institutes and organisations both within the Netherlands and abroad.
The NIOO strives to communicate its findings to policy makers and the general public through various means such as popular science publications, policy briefs and public lectures. In addition, the institute runs several educational programmes for school children as well as courses for adults.