ABOUT THE NATURE TANK
NaturTanken (the “Nature Tank”) was founded by Bo Normander in 2018 to provide insight into today’s major green challenges. NaturTanken advises and communicates about nature and biodiversity. NaturTanken examines the latest knowledge on nature conservation and offers sustainable answers to difficult questions.
NaturTanken advises companies, authorities, and organisations. The ambition is to find solutions that support a healthy relationship between humans and nature and contribute to sustainable development. The specific assignment will of course be tailored to the individual customer’s needs and goals.
Assignments are generally carried out by Bo Normander as the central advisor, and often involves one or more of NaturTanken’s competent partners.
Profile
I have lifelong experience with environmental research, writing and nature photography. I am highly knowledgeable about Nordic and Arctic nature, and I have written a number of reports, and scientific articles on nature and biodiversity.
I have an MSc degree in chemical engineering from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and a research background and a PhD from the Danish Environmental Research Institute (today: Dep. of Environmental Science at Aarhus University).
Since April 2023, I have been a part-time Scientific Advisor for the Danish Biodiversity Council.
In the period 2010 to 2018, I held senior positions in recognised organisations such as the WWF World Wide Fund for Nature, the Danish Ecological Council and the Worldwatch Institute.
I am the founder and owner of NaturTanken, a company that researches and communicates about nature conservation and biodiversity. I am also a freelance nature photographer, writer and author of several books and reports, including the books Greenlandic Seasons and Nature Guide Greenland. At explorenaturewithbo.com I share my experiences and knowledge about nature.
My research is largely based on tools and methods developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). I am a member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM).
Employment
2018 – present: Consultant, author, and nature photographer, NaturTanken
- Founder and owner of NaturTanken (the Nature Tank), specialised in nature and environmental research and communication
- Author of Greenlandic Seasons (2016), Guide to the Arctic Circle Trail (2018), and Nature Guide Greenland (2022)
- Author of non-fiction books on nature, including a nature guide for Greenland
Lecturer and speaker
2023 – present: Scientific Advisor, part-time, Danish Biodiversity Council (Biodiversitetsrådet)
2016 – 2018: Programme Manager, World Wide Fund for Nature / WWF Denmark
- Coordinating work on forest, biodiversity and endangered species
2010 – 2015: Executive Director, Worldwatch Institute Europe
- Co-founder and manager of the Worldwatch Institute’s European office in Copenhagen
- Manager/co-manager of projects on circular economy, biodiversity and urban sustainability
- Member of the Board of Directors at Worldwatch Institute (U.S.)
2010 – 2014: Chairman of the Board, The Danish Ecological Council
- Chairman of the Board and spokesperson for the Council
- Manager of the Future Farming project
2006 – 2013: Member of the City Council of Copenhagen
- Member of the Copenhagen City Council for the Danish Social-Liberal Party (“Radikale Venstre”) 2011-2013 and substitute member 2006-2010
- Member of and spokesperson for the Technical and Environmental Committee of the City Council (2011-2013)
2004 – 2010: Senior Advisor/Researcher at Aarhus University, Denmark
- Senior Advisor, PhD at Dep. of Policy Analysis, National Environmental Research Institute (now: Dep. of Environmental Science), Aarhus University
- Manager and Editor of Denmark’s State of the Environment Reporting
- Manager of and participant in European and Nordic research projects on biodiversity, sustainable development and indicator frameworks
- Consultant to the European Environment Agency (EEA) on European State of the Environment reporting and on air pollution
- Advisor to the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Danish Environment Ministry on biodiversity, indicator frameworks and climate change
2001 – 2005: Editor in Chief of Global Ecology
- Editor and producer of five yearly issues of the leading Danish environmental magazine, Global Ecology (“Global Økologi”)
1999 – 2003: Campaigner at NOAH – Friends of the Earth Denmark
- National coordinator and researcher for Friends of the Earth’s European campaigns on genetic engineering and sustainable agriculture
Education
1997 – 2000: PhD in Microbial Ecology
- PhD in Microbial Ecology from the National Environmental Research Institute at Aarhus University and University of Copenhagen
- The dissertation focused on environmental studies of the use of bacteria in agriculture and forestry as an alternative to chemical pesticides
- Guest scientist at Aberdeen University, Scotland (1999)
1990 – 1996: MSc in Chemical Engineering, The Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
- My MSc thesis project focused on the spread of DNA between bacteria in nature
- Biotechnology courses at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich (1995)
1990 – 1991: Undergraduate Student, LaGrange College, Georgia, U.S.A.
- Awarded a one-year Georgia Rotary Student Program scholarship
1988 – 1990: High School Graduate, Vordingborg High School, Denmark
Puplications
Petersen, A., Normander, B., Feyeh F. & Woollhead, J. (2024): Vurdering af Holmehave-projektet i forhold til IUCN’s Standard for Naturbaserede Løsninger. [Assessment of the Holmehave project against the IUCN Standard for Nature-based Solutions]. Report for the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Woollhead, J., Normander, B., Petersen, A., Feyeh, F. & Garn, A-K. (2024): Grønlistning af beskyttede naturområder – Forstudie til anvendelse af IUCN’s globale grønliste i Danmark. [Green listing of protected areas – Feasibility study for the use of the IUCN Green List in Denmark]. Parks’nTrails, NaturTanken, GEON, SustainParks & Zoologisk Have for IUCN Green List Programme.
Biodiversitetsrådet (2024): Finansiering af Danmarks biodiversitetsindsats – perspektiver på den offentlige og private sektors rolle og bidrag. Danish Biodiversity Council, 76 pp. [contributor to report in Danish].
Petersen, A., Normander, B., Woollhead, J., Feyeh, F. & Garn, A-K. (2024): Vurdering af 30 fredninger efter IUCN’s standard for beskyttet natur. [Assessment of 30 protected areas according to the IUCN standard for protected nature]. GEON, NaturTanken, Parks’nTrails, SustainParks & Zoologisk Have København for Miljøstyrelsen.
Normander, B. (2023): Nature Guide Greenland. Nature & Environment Publishers, Copenhagen, Denmark, 384 pp.
Biodiversitetsrådet (2023): Mod robuste økosystemer – anbefalinger til en dansk lov om biodiversitet. Danish Biodiversity Council, 208 pp. [contributor to report in Danish].
Normander, B., Woollhead, J., Petersen, A., Feyeh, F. & Garn, A-K. (2022): Vurdering af fem naturnationalparker efter IUCNs standard for beskyttet natur. [Assessment of five nature national parks according to the IUCN definition for protected areas]. NaturTanken, Parks’nTrails, GEON, SustainParks, Zoologisk Have København & IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group Europe.
Normander, B. (2022): Naturguide Grønland. Gyldendal Forlag, Denmark, 384 pp. [in Danish].
Normander, B., Woollhead, J., Petersen, A. & Garn, A-K. (2022): Vurdering af otte områder under Den Danske Naturfond efter IUCNs standard for beskyttet natur. [Assessment of eight areas under the Danish Nature Foundation according to the IUCN defintion for protected areas]. NaturTanken, Parks’nTrails, GEON, Zoologisk Have København & IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group Europe.
Normander, B., Woollhead, J., Petersen, A., Garn, A-K. (2021): Denmark’s Marine Protected Areas Assessed According to IUCN’s International Definition. PARKS 27(2). The International Journal of Protected Areas and Conservation. IUCN/WCPA.
Woollhead, J., Petersen, A. & Normander, B. (2020): Vurdering af danske beskyttede havområder efter international standard. [Assessment of Danish marine protected areas according to international guidelines]. Parks’nTrails, GEON & NaturTanken for IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group Europe.
Normander, B. (2020): Velkommen til den sjette masseuddøen. Nyt Fokus #15, marts 2020.
Normander, B., Woollhead, J., Petersen, A. (2019): Assessment of Nature Protected Areas in Gladsaxe Municipality According to International Standard. NaturTanken, Parks’n Trails, GEON.
Vogdrup-Schmidt, M., Olsen, S.B., Dubgaard, A., Normander, B. et al. (2019): Using spatial multi-criteria decision analysis to develop new and sustainable directions for the future use of agricultural land in Denmark. Ecological Indicators 103:34-42.
Normander, B. (2018): Guide to the Arctic Circle Trail in Greenland. Nature & Environment Publishers, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Woollhead, J., Petersen, A., Normander, B. et al. (2018): Assessment of Protected Areas in Denmark According to IUCN Categories. IUCN-Denmark.
Normander, B. (2016): Greenlandic Seasons – Nature and Climate in the Disko Bay Area. Photo book, 192 pp. Nature and Environment Publishers.
Normander, B., Frostholm, A.B., Schjelde, J., Ahrenst, A.F. (2016): Biodiversitetsbarometer – Vurdering af Danmarks indsats for biodiversitet 2016. WWF Verdensnaturfonden og Danmarks Naturfredningsforening.
Bulmer, E. Normander, B. et al. (2015): Urban Biodiversity in Action – The URBIA project and award. Worldwatch Institute Europe, Report 4/2015, 22 pages.
Jørgensen, L.B., Normander, B. et al. (2015): Scenarios for sustainable farming in Denmark. Report, 160 pp. The Ecological Council, University of Copenhagen, and Aarhus University.
Olsen, S.B., Vogdrup-Schmidt, M., Dubgaard, A., Normander, B. et al. (2014): Multicriteria analysis (MCA) in the future farming project. IFRO Report 2014/5. University of Copenhagen. 54 pp.
Normander, B. (ed.) (2013): Business Innovation in a living economy. Worldwatch Institute Europe, Report 3, 122 pages.
Normander, B. (2012): Biodiversity: Combating the sixth mass extinction. In: State of the World 2012: Moving Toward Sustainable Prosperity, pp. 169-176. Worldwatch Institute.
Normander, B., Levin, G., Auvinen, A.-P., Bratli, H., Stabbetorp, O., Hedblom, M., Glimskär, A., Gudmundsson, G.A. (2012): Indicator framework for measuring quantity and quality of biodiversity – Exemplified in the Nordic countries. Ecological Indicators 13:104–116.
Normander, B., Kumar, S. (2012): Op-ed: Biodiversity – Mass extinctions in the cards absent urgent action. Inter Press Service, May 23 2012.
Jensen, T.S., Glyki, E., Hayles, A., Normander, B. (2012): From consumer kids to sustainable childhood. Worldwatch Institute Europe, Report 2, 66 pages.
Normander, B. et al. (2012): Voices from Europe: Build a living economy. Worldwatch Institute Europe, Report 1, 68 pages.
Normander, B. (2011): Biodiversity – World’s forests continue to shrink. Vital Signs Online Research Paper. Worldwatch Institute, Washington, D.C.
Normander, B., Jensen, T.S., Henrichs, T., Sanderson, H., Pedersen, A.B. (2009): State of Nature and the Environment 2009 – Part A: Denmark’s environment under global challenges. National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University.
Normander, B., Henriksen, C.I., Jensen, T.S., Sanderson, H., Henrichs, T., Larsen, L.E., Pedersen, A.B. (2009): State of Nature and the Environment 2009 – Part B: Facts. National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University.
Normander, B., Levin, G., Auvinen, A.-P., Bratli, H., Stabbetorp, O., Hedblom, M., Glimskär, A., Gudmundsson, G.A. (2009): State of biodiversity in the Nordic countries. TemaNord Report 509. Nordic Council of Ministers.
Mikkelsen, M., Jensen, T.S., Normander, B. et al. (2009): Signs of climate change in Nordic nature. TemaNord Report 551. Nordic Council of Ministers.
Normander, B., Haigh, T., Christiansen, J.S., Jensen, T.S. (2008): Development and implementation of a near-real-time web reporting system on ground-level ozone in Europe. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 4:505-512.
Lyytimäki, J., Petersen, L.K., Normander, B., Bezák, P. (2008): Nature as a nuisance? Ecosystem services and disservices to urban lifestyle. Journal of Integrative Environm Research 5:161-172.
Levin, G., Normander, B. (2008): Land-use in Denmark since the end of the nineteenth century. National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University.
Erhard, M., Haigh, T., Normander, B. (2007): Linking GEOSS and European environmental monitoring. I: The Full Picture, Group on Earth Observations: 131-133.
Normander, B. (Contributor) (2006): Ozone conditions across Europe. Web portal with up-to-date information on ozone. European Environment Agency.
Normander, B., Glimskär, A., Stabbetorp, O., Auvinen, A., Levin, G., Gudmundsson, G.A. (2006): Aggregation of indicators for biological diversity in the Nordic countries. TemaNord Report 554. Nordic Council of Ministers.
Normander, B. (Contributor) (2005): The European Environment – State and outlook 2005. Part C – Country analysis. European Environment Agency. State of Environment 1/2005: 408-523.
Bach, H., Christensen, N., Gudmundsson, H., Jensen, T.S., Normander, B. (2005): State of Nature and the Environment in Denmark 2005. National Environmental Research Institute.
Normander, B., Kristensen, P., Emborg, L. (2005): Denmark and the global environment. In: Bach, H., Christensen, N., Gudmundsson, H., Jensen, T.S., Normander, B. (ed.): State of Nature and the Environment in Denmark 2005: 163-178. National Environmental Research Institute.
Normander, B. (Contributor) (2005): Nature and the environment 2004. Nature of Denmark. Environmental Protection Agency.
Normander, B., Hendriksen, N.B. (2002): Effective dose of a microbial inoculant is one to four cells in the rhizosphere. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 48(10): 940-944.
Normander, B., Prosser, J.I. (2000): Bacterial origin and community composition in the barley phytosphere as a function of habitat and presowing conditions. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 66(10): 4372-4377.
Normander, B. (2000): Fate of bacteria introduced into terrestrial ecosystems. PhD thesis. National Environmental Research Institute.
Normander, B., Hendriksen, N.B., Nybroe, O. (1999): Green fluorescent protein-marked Pseuodomonas fluorescens: Localization, viability and activity in the natural barley rhizosphere. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 65: 4646-4651.
Normander, B. et al. (1998): Effect of bacterial distribution and activity on conjugal gene transfer on the phylloplane of bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Applied and Environmental Microbiology 64: 1902-1909.
Popular and News Articles
More than 300 popular science and news articles in Danish and international media.
“The best thing you can do for nature is to keep your hands off it. Nature usually does best if it is untouched.”
Bo Normander, founder, NaturTanken
Explore Nature With Bo
Get out into the wild – from the Arctic to the Pyrenees
Website about adventures in nature