For a long time, the soil was the domain of chemistry and physics. This only changed forty years ago. Then attention also started to be paid to the biology and ecology of soils. Today, the soil has become a large and indispensable field of research. The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) has been uncovering the role of soil life for a healthy underground and aboveground ecosystem for several decades. Soil life also contributes to nature restoration, for example through soil transplantation and tackling invasive plants.

Ringing of wild birds has become indispensable as a research method to track individual birds. Since 1911, some 16 million birds have been fitted with a metal ring in the Netherlands. What has that brought in terms of knowledge, protection and policy? And what do new tracking techniques add? We dive into the world of meadow birds, goose visits and infectious diseases.

Het ringen van wilde vogels is niet meer weg te denken als onderzoeksmethode om individuele vogels te volgen. Sinds 1911 zijn er in Nederland al zo’n 16 miljoen vogels van een metalen ring voorzien. Wat heeft dat opgeleverd aan kennis, bescherming en beleid? En wat voegen nieuwe tracking-technieken toe? We duiken in de wereld van weidevogels, ganzenbezoek en infectieziektes.