PLECO was created in 1975 by prof. Ivan Impens. Prof. Reinhart Ceulemans was the head of the group and spokesperson from 2000 until September 2019.
Since October 2019 prof. Ivan Nijs is leading the research group, together with prof. Ivan Janssens, prof. Erik Verbruggen and prof. Matteo Campioli.
The group has grown to more than 50 full- time at the present. The overarching theme of the research group is the study of the effects of global changes – in the broadest meaning of the term – on plants and ecosystems.