Arie Trouwborst

Arie Trouwborst's research focuses on international, European and national environmental law, especially wildlife law. His main interest is in understanding and improving the contribution of law to the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of biodiversity. Much of his research employs a multidisciplinary approach, combining law with ecology in particular.

He authored various books and numerous journal articles on a range of topics, including large carnivore conservation, fragmentation and connectivity, transboundary conservation, marine protected areas, wilderness protection, seabird conservation, climate change adaptation, migratory species conservation, marine mammal rescue and release, the precautionary principle, hybridization, the polar regions, fisheries bycatch, conservation conflicts, the ecosystem approach, state responsibility, marine litter, invasive alien species, and conservation translocations. Current research predominantly concerns large mammals (megafauna). Apart from Pure, much of Trouwborst's research can be accessed through ResearchGate and the Social Science Research Network.

Trouwborst obtained a PhD with distinction from Utrecht University in 2006, with a thesis on the precautionary principle. In 2009 he was awarded a VENI grant under the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) Innovational Research Incentives Scheme, to fund a 3-year research project on international nature conservation law and climate change adaptation. This was followed in 2014 by a VIDI grant under the same scheme, to fund the 5-year project Ius Carnivoris on the conservation and management of large carnivores.

Trouwborst is a member of, inter alia, the Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe (LCIE) and the Working Group on Climate Change of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). He regularly carries out commissioned research for (inter)national public bodies and non-gouvernmental organizations. For instance, he is a regular consultant for the Council of Europe's Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. For his research Trouwborst has been awarded various prizes, and his work has received media coverage in many countries.

• Extraordinary Associate Professor, North-West University (Potchefstroom, South Africa), Faculty of Law (2021-present)
• Associate Professor of Environmental Law, Tilburg University, Department of European and International Public Law / Department of Public Law and Governance (2012-present)
• Visiting Scholar, Universidad de Granada (Spain), Departamento de Derecho Internacional Público y Relaciones Internacionales (2011-2012)
• Assistant Professor of Environmental Law, Tilburg University, Constitutional and Administrative Law Department (2009-2010) and European and International Public Law Department (2011-2012)
• Assistant Professor of Public International Law, Utrecht University, Department of Public International, Social and Economic Law (2006-2009)
• Research Associate, Netherlands Institute for the Law of the Sea (NILOS), Utrecht University (2001-2009)
• PhD Candidate, Utrecht University, Department of Public International, Social and Economic Law (2001-2006)
• Research Assistant with prof.dr. A.H.A. Soons, Utrecht University, Department of Public International, Social and Economic Law (1999)

Trouwborst has taught, designed and coordinated a variety of courses at Utrecht Law School, University College Utrecht, Tilburg Law School, and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna. These range from introductory courses on international and European law to specialized courses on international wildlife law, international and European environmental law, international law of the sea, the sources of international law, and (Dutch) administrative environmental law. Trouwborst has guest-lectured in many law and biology curricula elsewhere.

Click here for my courses.

Trouwborst supervises (or supervised) the following PhD projects:

• F. Sina, ‘Regulation of international trade in endangered species: a comparative analysis of law and practice in Tanzania, India and Colombia’ (with prof. P.L.H. van den Bossche, Maastricht University);
• B. Boele, ‘International law and the protection of birds during migrations’ (with prof. C.J. Bastmeijer);
• J.S.V. Dubrulle, ‘International and European law and the conservation of large carnivores in the Alps and Carpathians’ (with prof. C.J. Bastmeijer);
• Y. Yang, ‘Liability for environmental damage caused by offshore oil platforms; with a focus on China’ (with prof. J.M. Verschuuren; defence 16 December 2019);
• M.G. Lewis, ‘A critical appraisal of the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement's contribution to the conservation and management of migratory birds at the flyway level’ (with prof. J.M. Verschuuren; def. 4 October 2019; cum laude);
• A.C. Blackmore, ‘The rediscovery of the trusteeship doctrine in South African environmental law & its significance in conserving biodiversity’ (with prof. J.M. Verschuuren; def. 27 March 2018);
• D.G. Gidey, ‘The role of public participation in environmental impact assessment in Ethiopia: theory and practice’ (with prof. J.M. Verschuuren; def. 4 December 2017);
• C. Zhou, ‘The legal barriers to technology transfer under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: the example of China’ (with prof. J.M. Verschuuren; def. 30 January 2013)