Willem FERWERDA

Willem Ferwerda studied biology, tropical ecology and agriculture at the University of Amsterdam and Universidad Nacional Colombia. In Colombia he lived and worked with poor farmers on the impact of agriculture and recovery of natural vegetation. After finalizing his studies, he organized expeditions to remote nature areas in Latin America and Europe. 

From 1995 Ferwerda set up a Dutch funded Rainforest Grants Program at the Netherlands office of IUCN (IUCN NL) to support rainforest conservation organisations and indigenous people worldwide. From 2000-2012 he served as Executive Director of IUCN Netherlands (IUCN NL): setting up ecosystem grants programs on wetlands, rainforests, and grasslands in more than 40 countries, supporting 1,500 projects. In 2005 he founded together with Egon Zehnder and McKinsey&Company a business network to enable a dialogue on nature and business between CEOs and conservation leaders in four countries. In the Netherlands this resulted in an agreement on biodiversity between the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers and 35 nature organizations in 2010. In India this resulted in a business and nature programme led by IUCN India and the Confederation of Indian Industries. 

In 2012 he developed a practical way to restore large landscapes, the 4 Returns framework, that was inspired by the Ecosystem Approach of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. It was published by IUCN and Erasmus University. 

In 2013 Ferwerda founded Commonland, an international nonprofit organisation, supported by the Rotterdam School of Management, the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management and private foundations to build proof of concept on the ground by using the framework. Ferwerda was CEO of Commonland between 2013-2024, which now operates globally in more than 20 countries. In May 2024, Ferwerda handed over his executive responsibilities to a new managing director who will continue to grow the organisation. As Founder within the organisation, Ferwerda will guide the board and executive team on global policy, strategy, fundraising, mentoring landscape partners and inspiring future generations to promote a holistic landscape restoration industry.  

He dedicates his time as thought leader, advisor and board member within various organizations in the field of nature, biodiversity, agriculture and sustainability, such as the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, Future for Nature Foundation, 1000 Landscapes for One Billion People, World Economic Forum, 1T.org, Princess Irene NatureCollege Foundation, Regen10, the Dutch Scientific Council for Integral Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition and the Charles Darwin Foundation. He is fellow Business and Ecosystems at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University.  

In 2016, Ferwerda was awarded first place in the Sustainable 100, the list of Dutch people with the most influence on the environment and sustainability. In 2019 he received the Dutch sustainable landscape award. In 2023 he was awarded the Wubbo Ockels Brandaris Oeuvre Prize, for individuals who exhibit courage, perseverance, and imagination in their tireless dedication to building a sustainable society.