Tjeerd Deelstra

Prelude to the International Institute for the Urban Environment
Tjeerd Deelstra worked at the National Physical Planning Agency of the Netherlands where he was involved in the 1966 National Planning Outline. This Outline paved the way to incorporate environment and ecology issues in urban development in The Netherlands.

Creating sensitivity for ecology and sociology in urban planning
In the 1960’s Tjeerd Deelstra tried to make politics and urban planning more sensitive to ecological and social issues. He worked to stimulate public participation in urban development. He did this as a member of several Dutch National bodies on the Environment and Architecture through exhibitions, TV programmes and publications.

Working on knowledge transfer
Tjeerd Deelstra co-founded the Dutch Society of Ecologists. He worked abroad, lecturing in Canada and the United States (at MIT, Harvard University and the University of California at Berkeley), in Japan and China and in several other universities in Europe,  Asia and Latin America. From 1966-1989 Tjeerd Deelstra was associate professor in environmental planning at Delft University of Technology.

In 1989 Tjeerd Deelstra founded the IIUE, The International Institute for the Urban Environment.

Research and consultancy
His activities at IIUE include research and consultancy work for international organisations such as the WHO, UNDP, UNEP and UNESCO, IUCN, the Council of Europe, the European Commission and national and local authorities.

Vision and integrated solutions
His main role was and is to initiate and supervise projects and organise knowledge transfer. His visionary approach and his sensitivity for integrated solutions make sure the IIUE is at the forefront of sustainable urban development.

Involvement in publications and professional bodies
In the 1960’s he worked as editor for the English-Dutch architectural periodical 'Forum' and for the Dutch periodical 'Landscape' (for ecology and environmental studies).

Tjeerd Deelstra was on the Editorial Board of several professional journals, such as:
•    European Forum for Urban Renewal (1987-1996)
•    WHO - World Health Forum (1990-1998)
•    Urban Nature Magazine (1996-2007)
•    Arboricultural Journal; The International Journal of Urban Forestry (1998-2007).
•    International Journal of Sustainable Society (since 2007)

Tjeerd Deelstra acted as member in the following professional bodies:
•    WHO Expert Advisory Panel on Environmental Health (1990-2001)
•    Advisory Board, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Research Centre for Ecological and Environmental Sciences (1990-present)
•    German Federal Republic Advisory Board for the Urban Ecology Research Programme (1992-1998)
•    Board of Sustainable Development, City of Moscow (1998-2003)
•    International Council Biosfera, Brazil (1998-present)
•    World Ekistics Society (2000-present)
•    European Commission Working Group on Sustainable Urban Management (2002 – 2004)
•    European Commission Working Group on the Thematic Strategy for the Urban Environment (2004 – 2005)
•    Expert Group for the Urban Charter, Council of Europe (2003 – present)

Tjeerd Deelstra's publications (more than a hundred books, articles, films, exhibitions and CD-roms) cover various environmental, architectural and urban sustainability issues and have appeared in English as well as in many other languages including French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, German, Slovakian, Russian and Chinese.

Selection of solely performed activities
•    Evaluator of Environmental Academic Education in the United Arab Emirates (commissioned by UNDP)(1995)
•    Leader European Mission to Liaoning Province, China, to establish EU-China 75 million euro environmental cooperation programme (commissioned by the European Commission, 1997)
•    Leader of workshops on child friendly cities in Saudi Arabia and Sudan (commissioned by the Arab Urban Development Institute, 2005)

Tjeerd Deelstra is president of the Delft based White Rose Foundation that offers citizens in Delft and the Netherlands information, services and advice on how to live green lives. As architect he is involved in the sustainable restoration of The White Rose Mansion in Delft.