Meet the minds behind the stories
These are the people who don’t just walk through nature,
they notice what’s happening beneath it.
From plant genetics to ecosystem dynamics, they each bring their own way of looking at the world…
and turning it into stories that make things click.
No textbooks. No lectures.
Just curious minds, real observations, and a slightly different way of explaining things.
Careful... you might start seeing things differently too.
Maud Witte
Applied Biology | Nature Interpreter
Some people walk through nature.
I look at what’s happening beneath it.
With a background in Applied Biology and a lifelong curiosity for ecosystems, I focus on the living systems most people don’t notice: how they function, adapt, and restore themselves.
At Restore the Legacy, I’m part of the Ethics committee, helping evaluate projects and ensure every decision truly supports ecological impact.
I also volunteer in animal welfare and capture wildlife along the way, not as a goal, but as part of how I observe the world.
Because that’s what I do.
I see what others overlook.
Through my blogs, I translate everyday nature into something you can’t unsee.
The quiet intelligence, the hidden interactions, and the science behind what looks simple.
Read along, and you’ll start noticing it too.
Manu van Wing
Biological Science | Plant Genetics
Some people look at a forest and see trees.
I look at the invisible systems that make them work.
With a background in Biological Science and the Green Life Sciences track at the University of Amsterdam, I focus on understanding how plants, genetics, and ecosystems shape the world around us.
What drives me most is the idea that science adds something to our basic understanding of life: helping us describe, explain, and better understand the world we live in.
The most fascinating part of intact ecosystems is how much they can teach us.
Not just about nature itself, but about the impact these systems have on everything around them.
I bring that perspective into restoration. Looking deeper at how ecosystems function, how resilience is built, and why biodiversity matters far beyond what we immediately see.
Because that’s what I do.
I study the logic behind living systems.
Through my blogs, I share the science behind what most people simply walk past.
The hidden systems, the overlooked details, and the lessons nature quietly gives us.
Shadi tavakolimehr
Conservation Biologist
From tracking bears in remote areas to working with communities living near leopards, nature has never felt like something separate from people to me.
Because conservation only works when people are part of the story.
What has always fascinated me is the intelligence of ecosystems.
How everything is connected.
How resilience is built.
And how often the best solutions come from the people who know the land best.
Now, at Restore the Legacy, that same curiosity continues, just on a different scale.
As Grants Manager, I help turn ambitious restoration ideas into projects that can grow into real impact.
Only now, the questions are bigger:
How do we restore what’s been lost?
How do we work with nature instead of against it?
How do we build solutions that last, for both ecosystems and the people who rely on them?
Because that’s what I do.
I connect ideas, people, and ecosystems to help make restoration happen.
Through these blogs, I’ll share stories from the field, lessons from nature, and reflections on restoration, sustainability, and the beautifully messy relationship between people and the natural world.
Renée Smits
Neuroscientist | Ecologist | Sustainability Strategist
Of course the founder has something to say too. ;)
But let’s keep this short! There’s already plenty about me on this website.
In short: I bridge brains, behaviour, and ecosystems to rethink how we build, lead, and restore living systems.
Somewhere along the way, I also started sharing jungle logic online under the name RainforestRebel on Instagram,
because I believe knowledge is the only thing that expands when shared.
So yes… every now and then, I’ll drop in here with something fun, slightly unexpected, and hopefully something you didn’t see coming.
CHECK OUT OUR FIELDSTORIES
Your weekly dose of updates.
Straight from the forest to you.
Sometimes it’s muddy spring cleaning, handpicking red coffee cherries, or drying vanilla and cloves in the sun. Sometimes it’s a new partnership, project progress, or the slightly less glamorous reality of restoration work.
Always real. Usually with dirty hands and muddy feet.
Honestly… what more could you want?
THERE'S MORE TO EXPLORE
