Eelco de Jong

Biography

The draw towards wilder places has led me to exchange my home country of the Netherlands for Scotland where I now spend most of my working and leisure time outdoors.

In September 2023, I was initially co-opted as Ecology and Natural Heritage specialist and am delighted that in 2024 I was co-opted for a further year. My background is in forestry and nature management, and I have worked in that sector in Scotland for the past decade. Day to day, I plan and carry out all activities related to the forest and nature management. This ranges from the practical delivery of operations to determining, and ensuring approval for, long-term management. As such, I regularly deal with challenges such as woodland establishment, climate change, peatland restoration and deer management and have extensive experience liaising with statutory bodies, communities, landowners and charities.

Outside of work I am an avid climber, runner and hill walker and prefer spending my weekends somewhere in the forests or the hills. Last summer I spent two months hiking the GR11 in the Pyrenees which deepened my appreciation for wild places and left me wanting to do more such trails. I also shoot recreationally as I believe wildlife management is an integral part of land management and a great source of food.

I think my understanding of natural processes through time and the practical delivery of land management is a great asset to the Trust. I believe land management is at the core of the Trust’s work and all other objectives derive from it. By demonstrating how land management can and should be done, the Trust can define standards, challenge beliefs and push for policy reform far beyond the boundaries of its landholding.

Eelco joins us as a co-opted Trustee for a second year, as our ecology and natural heritage specialist.

Member since

2023