Dr FRANS J. SIJTSMA (1964) is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Spatial Sciences of the University of Groningen, leading the research program ‘Nature and spatial change’. He holds a PhD in Economics since 2006. He publishes and teaches on subjects relating to economic geography, real estate and land use, and evaluation of spatial plans and projects. His recent research aims to address the problems of valuing economic development, spatial policies and real estate and land investments from a broad wellbeing perspective and a specific focus on the value of nature and landscape.