Thematic Report on Forest Ecosystems in Belgium

 

Programme element 1: Holistic and inter-sectoral ecosystem approaches that integrate the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking account of social and cultural and economic considerations

 

5. Has your country identified methodologies for enhancing the integration of forest biological diversity conservation and sustainable use into an holistic approach to sustainable forest management at the national level? (Work Programme, paragraph 13)

a) no
b) yes - limited extent (please give details below) X (Bxl)
c) yes - significant extent (please give details below) X (Fl, Wa)
d) not applicable

Comments on question 5 (integrating FBD into an holistic approach to SFM)

Conservation and sustainable use of forest biological diversity are ensured primarily through a combination of measures including:

• forest policy,
• elaboration of best practices for forest management,
• financial incentives,
• nature conservation and
• game management.

Flanders:
The 'Belgian Forest Act' of 1854 was replaced in 1990 by the 'Flemish Government Act on Forests' (13.06.1990). This forest law emphasises the multifunctional role of forests, stressing its economic, social and educational, shelter, ecological and scientific functions.

The Act on Forests was amended in 1997 by the Flemish decree on Nature Conservation and the Natural Environment (21.10.1997). The most important changes concern forests part of the Flemish Ecological Network (VEN), consultation between nature conservation and the forest service concerning the management plans of forests situated in sensitive and special areas (VEN, Habitat directive, Ramsar areas) and stronger limitations in case of deforestation (only for public and general interest) which can be combined with mandatory compensation by afforestation elsewhere.

Within the framework of the revision of the legislation on town and landscape planning, the Flemish government decided that forested areas should increase by 20.000 ha (10.000 ha of forests with a high ecological and nature conservation value and 10.000 ha of forests in agricultural areas). The enlargement of the forest area in Flanders is connected to the regional strategy to combat climate change and to enhance the liveability of highly urbanised areas.

The 1999 amendments of the forest decree include a new instrument to stimulate the co-operation between forest owners (private and public) and give legal bases to the Flemish Forest Inventory project and to qualitative criteria for sustainable forest management. The forest owner has to prove this by submitting a forest management plan, drawn up according to a model established by the Flemish Government. The Flemish Forest Service has to approve the management plan for private forests. If the forest owner does not manage his forest according to the approved management plan, he can be prosecuted. If a forest owner does not submit a management plan, he can be considered in default. If there is still no management plan, the Flemish Forest Service can draw up a management plan in place of the owner and at his own expenses.

Forest reserves and shelter-forests are designated by the Flemish Government and must be primarily managed according to their special role. Forest owners can count on financial compensation for this 'loss of property rights'. Public forest owners must pay special attention to the ecological forest function and forest management must comply by some regional guidelines:

• Conservation or restoration of the natural flora and fauna;
• Promoting indigenous or site-adapted species;
• Promoting natural regeneration;
• Promoting uneven-aged and irregular formed forest stands;
• Advancing the ecological balance.

The Flemish Decree on Forest tries to stimulate the private forest owners to give a more social accepted added value to their forests. Grants can be provided for private forest owners for

• Afforestation/reforestation, in particular with indigenous and noble hard wood species, and afforestation of agricultural land;
• Opening forest roads to the public;
• Joining property among several owners (at least 5 ha) to make a common management plan (including subsidies for cleaning and thinning out).
• Having a forest area designated or recognised as a forest reserve (the grant is reduced if hunting is allowed during the hunting season).

The main objective of the Flemish forest policy is to envisage a multifunctional and a sustainable forestry. The 'Management vision for Flemish public forests' was published in 2001 (ref. #1) and is a practical road map and manual for managing forests according to the principles developed by Pro Silva Flanders (close to nature management principles) with a strong emphasis on the ecosystem approach. It combines practical information for field management with a translation of policy relevant issues. It is supposed to give guidance to the management of the forests owned by the Flemish Region (13,6% of the total forest area in Flanders) and local communities (17% of total forest area). This document also illustrates the practical implementation of the criteria for sustainable forest management, which will be mandatory for forests that are part of the Flemish Ecological Network (VEN) and voluntary for other forests.

For further information, see the Flemish contribution to Belgium's Voluntary Report to UNFF-2, and among others:
· § 2.1.1.1 - The development of The Flemish Long term Strategic Plan for Forests and the Action Plan for Forests;
· § 2.1.1.2 - The development of standards for sustainable forest management in Flanders;
· § 2.1.3 - Progress in implementation on forest conservation and protection of unique types of forests and fragile ecosystems.

Wallonia:
The Belgian Forest Act of 1854 constitutes the legal base for the management of forests in Wallonia and is supplemented by the legislation on regional planning. In 1995, Wallonia adopted its 'Environmental Plan for Sustainable Development', which gives particular attention to forest issues (including training and public participation).

Several regulations were adopted in recent years to complement the Forest Act of 1854:

• The Decree on traffic in forests of 1995 (16.02.1995) aims at limiting the unfavourable effects on the forest ecosystem of uncontrolled tourism, and regulates the access to the forest for users such as pedestrians, cyclists or riders.
• The Permanent Forest Inventory (16.02.1995) evaluates the state and changes in forests.
• The Forest Act is currently under revision in order to enhance the multifunctional role of forests. This principle is applied in the 'Circular relating to the management of forests governed by the Forest Code' (22.09.1997), which is imposed on the public forests, that is to say 50% of the Walloon forest.
• The draft revised Forest Act envisages allowing a reduction in inheritance taxes for forests that are managed according to the principles of sustainable forest management.
• A law has been established in 1999 (6.05.1999) in order to support the constitution of forest groupings for privately owned forests.
  Financial incentives are allowed by the Forest Act. These include among others subventions to private owners for natural regeneration (latest version 6.09.2001), pruning and thinning (latest version 14.11.2001), horse-drawn removal of timber from the forest (14.11.2001) as well as subventions to public and private owners for training and awareness activities on the multifunctional role of forests (11.05.1995).

The 1995 regional planning legislation (Code wallon de l'Aménagement du Territoire, de l'Urbanisme et du Patrimoine) is applied to woods and forests not submitted to the Forest Act. It defines the notion of 'forest belts' and the constraints that are referred to it, as well as the procedures of modification of assignment; moreover, zones with particular statute exist within forest zones (nature reserves, forest reserves, etc., see below).

The federal law on nature conservation (12.07.1973) aims to protect the fauna and flora, natural habitats, soil, water and air. It has been revised for the Walloon context in 1984. It does not specifically apply to forestry but can apply to forest habitats. It defines the status of forest reserves, nature reserves, natural parks, humid zones of great biological interest, special protection zones, etc. It also defines the protection of plant and animal species. Specific examples relating to forests and forestry include the interdiction of conifer plantations less than 6 meters away from waterways and the interdiction of exotic conifer species in natural zones, natural zones with scientific interest and nature reserves.

A new decree (Décret relatif à la conservation des sites Natura 2000 ainsi que de la faune et la flore sauvages) was adopted by the Walloon Parliament on 6th December 2001, and entered into force on 22nd of January 2002. This decree integrates the Directive 92/43/C.E.E. in the regional legislation on nature conservation.

For an exhaustive list of forest-related legislation, check the following URL: http://mrw.wallonie.be/dgrne/legis/dnf/forets.htm.

Brussels:
Forests and wooded areas play an extremely important social role for the inhabitants of this highly urbanised region. A network of green spaces and waterways linked together by green corridors has been developed within the city. The 'green network' consists of forests, woods, parks and gardens while the 'blue network' is made of waterways, canals and ponds. Corridors correspond to green avenues, road and railway embankments, etc. The section of the Sonian Forest situated within Brussels' territory is the region's main forested area. It has a major social function, as well as a production role.

The basis for forest legislation is the Belgian Forest Act of 1854, which was adapted to meet constraints linked to new usages of forests. This includes among others the Regulation on access and circulation in forests (28.09.95). The basis for nature protection is the federal law on Nature conservation (12.07.1973). It has been adapted to the regional context in 1995. Within the Brussels Capital Region, forested areas submitted to these legislations are the woods and forests owned by the Region (Sonian Forest, Dieleghem Wood, Laerbeek Wood and Poelbos Wood) or by public institutions (Buysdelle Wood, Verrewinkel Wood) and regional nature reserves. The Sonian Forest accommodates five nature reserves and three forest reserves. A nature reserve has also been established within the 'Poelbos' Wood and in Uccle (Kinsendael - Kriekenput).

Special protection zones are also established, in order to protect vulnerable areas (plantations, natural regeneration, degraded areas, etc.) and to serve as refuges for the fauna.
No hunting is allowed in the Region.

In order to fulfil international engagements concerning sustainable forest management, the Brussels Institute for the Management of the Environment (BIME) has established a management plan of the Sonian Forest. The Sonian Forest is not only a production forest, but it also has a very important social function (about 750,000 visitors per year) as well as an ecological one. The management plan can be found on the BIME website: http://www.ibgebim.be/ESPACES-VERTS/BOIS/download/plan_gestionFR.pdf (French) or http://www.ibgebim.be/GROENERUIMTEN/bois/download/plan_gestionNL.pdf (Dutch).

For an exhaustive list of nature and forest-related legislation, check the following URL: http://www.ibgebim.be/LEGI/ASP/NATURE_FR.asp (in French) or http://www.ibgebim.be/LEGI/ASP/NATURE_NL.asp (in Dutch).

Note: the Sonian Forest is spread over the 3 Belgian Regions, and the area of the forest in each Region is managed by that Region. All together, it covers about 4,400 hectares. A new website elaborated by all 3 regions has been launched in June 2002 and is available at http://www.foret-de-soignes.be/ (French) and http://www.zonienwoud.be (Dutch). English summaries are also available.

 

6. Has your country developed methodologies to advance the integration of traditional forest related knowledge into sustainable forest management, in accordance with Article 8(j)? (Work Programme, paragraph 14)
a) no
b) yes - limited extent (please give details below)
c) yes - significant extent (please give details below)
d) not applicable X

Comments on question 6 (traditional knowledge)

Not applicable as far as Article 8(j) is concerned. However, there is a wealth of traditional knowledge relating to forests in Belgium, following several centuries of forestry practices. Some of those traditional practices are being put in practice again to a limited extent (e.g. timber extraction from little accessible forest stands using horses instead of machinery). As regards timber extraction, a new decree of the Walloon Region now grants subsidies for horse-drawn removal of timber from the forest (14.11.2001).

Researchers from the Catholic University of Leuven (K.U.L.) concentrate on 'historical ecology' in which they investigate the dynamic relationship between actual situation of forest ecosystems as a result of natural and cultural processes. Research items include the studying the impact of former land use on present forest biodiversity. This research has lead to increased insights on traditional uses of forests, trees and forest products (ref.#13). An international conference will be organised on the subject on 13-15 January 2003, with a focus on the effects of history on the species composition and richness of forests. It will show how the integration of historical work, vegetation science, zoology, ecology and others result in an added value for understanding forests, their management, conservation and expansion. See also:
http://www.agr.kuleuven.ac.be/lbh/lbnl/forestbiodiv/.

 

7. Has your country promoted cooperation on the conservation and sustainable use of forest biological resources at all levels in accordance with Articles 5 and 16 of the Convention? (Work Programme, paragraph 15)
a) no
b) yes - limited extent (please give details below)
c) yes - significant extent (please give details below) X
d) not applicable

Comments on question 7 (cooperation)

National level:
Landowners are encouraged to organise themselves in forest groupings, in order for them to solve problems of small-scale ownership. Cooperation on forest research is encouraged, i.e. by giving grants to multi-institutional projects (e.g. Xylobios research project on saproxylic insects, see question 9).

Several actions involving a participatory approach have recently been set up, or are in the process of being established, in the different Belgian regions. Examples include:

• awareness activities undertaken by the Institute for Forest and Game Management in Flanders or by the NGO Forêt Wallonne in Wallonia (established and running);
• the elaboration of the Integrated Management Plan of the Saint-Hubert forest in Wallonia, (under way);
• the participatory platform for the Management of the Sonian Forest in the Brussels Capital Region (early stages of development, see question 10).

Regional level:
Belgium participates actively in the pan-European process on forests, the Ministerial Conference on the Protection on Forests in Europe, and signed the resolutions Helsinki (1993) and Lisbon (1998) conferences, which relate respectively to the sustainable management of forests (H1), the conservation of the biodiversity of European forests (H2) and to criteria, indicators and operational level guidelines for sustainable forest management (L2).

Belgium is also an active member of the Pan-European Biodiversity and Landscape Strategy and provides input to action theme number 9 on forest ecosystems. Within the European Union, Belgium takes actively part to the elaboration of EU policies and positions relating to forests and biodiversity .

An important amount of cooperation is undertaken in the field of research, both on a bilateral basis and at European level (see question 9).

Global level:
Belgium participates in a number of international initiatives related to forests, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Forum on Forests (and formerly to the Inter-governmental Panel on Forests and the Inter-governmental Forum on Forests), the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the forest programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), etc.

Development cooperation:
In the 1980's, major funding was attributed to afforestation, forestry research and agroforestry projects in developing countries. In the 1990's, funding of forestry projects dropped sharply, due to a shift away from large afforestation projects and political instability in funded regions (e.g. Great Lakes region in Central Africa). In 1999, following the reform of the Belgian international cooperation policy, the environment was selected as one of the three priority cross-sectoral themes. Biodiversity is now an integral part of the policy.

In 2000/2001, Belgium's contribution to GEF and UNEP was assigned to specific programmes, of which several were directly concerned with forest biodiversity conservation. Such programmes include the 'Regional Environmental Information Management Project' in the Central African Region, a project which aims at improving the management of natural resources, or the UNESCO programme 'Biodiversity Conservation in Regions of armed conflict' which supports the conservation of 5 protected areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. An environmental strategy determining objectives and priorities for Belgium's international co-operation policy is currently in preparation and will address forests and biodiversity as priority issues.

 

8. Has your country promoted the sharing of relevant technical and scientific information at all levels on networks of protected forest areas and networking modalities in all types of forest ecosystems? (Work Programme, paragraph 17)
a) no
b) yes - limited extent (please give details below)
c) yes - significant extent (please give details below) X
d) not applicable

Comments on question 8 (information on networks of protected areas)

a) General sharing of information on forest biological diversity

See also question 7.

National level:
The Belgian Biodiversity Platform (BBPF), set up in 2000, is an advisory and communication body of the Belgian Federal Office for Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs. Its mission is to establish strong links between scientists in Belgium and abroad and to promote Belgian biodiversity research in the frame of the international trends, conventions and research programmes. One of its programmes of actions is specifically dedicated to forest ecosystems. In this context, it has set up in 2001 the 'Belgian forum on forest biodiversity', a discussion forum on forest biodiversity issues
(http://www.biodiversity.be/bbpf/forum/forest/forestintro.html).

Regional and global levels:
Belgium takes part in many initiatives related to forests, as presented in question 7. Belgium is also part of several European and international research organisations and networks either through direct participation or through funding (IUFRO, ETFRN, EFERN, EFI, CIFOR, IPGRI, ICRAF, etc.). EU-funded projects include BEAR (forest biodiversity indicators), ECOFAC (Conservation and rational use of forest ecosystems in Central Africa) and NAT-MAN (Nature-based management of beech in Europe). For more information, see the website of the forum on forest biodiversity:
http://www.biodiversity.be/bbpf/forum/forest/forestres.html

b) Sharing of information specifically on networks of protected areas and forest ecosystems

National level:
At the national level, discussions on the role of integral nature reserves in forests were carried out in 2001 through the Belgian Forum on Forest Biodiversity.

In Flanders, a specific and detailed management plan has to be developed within 3 years of the registration (for state-owned forests) or the recognition of a forest reserve (for private forests). For each reserve, a management commission has to decide on the management options. Appointed members the commission are: the chief forester of the area, the forester responsible for management, a representative of the Institute for Forest and Game Management and a representative of the Institute for Nature Conservation. Appointed members are joined by 3 to 5 additional members, appointed by the minister, that come from scientific circles or local associations which are active in the area of nature conservation and forestry. The mandate runs for six years and can be renewed. For each forest reserve, a Forestry Department official is charged with its management. A yearly information brochure 'Bosreservaten Nieuws' is produced yearly by the Institute for Forest and Game Management. It deals specifically with scientific and management aspects of forest reserves in Flanders and is distributed free of charge to all interested stakeholders.

An information day was held on 12 June 2002 on the development of the network of protected forest areas in Flanders. It presented the aims of the network and brought together scientists, administrative authorities and field managers.

Regional level:
Belgium participates in the MCPFE process (see question 7). MCPFE is currently working on a project concerning the 'Classification of Protected and Protective Forests and Other Wooded Land in Europe', which is linked to the IUCN categories of protected areas.

As part of the PEBLDS process (see question 7), Belgium takes an active part in promoting and establishing the Pan-European Ecological Network. In September 2000, the Walloon Region together with the Council of Europe organized an international symposium on the subject.

The Habitats and the Birds Directives are key tools also to ensure the protection of forests and their biodiversity in the European Union. They are aiming at the maintenance of biodiversity through the conservation of natural habitats, most notably also forest ecosystems, and at the establishment of a coherent ecological network of representative sites, the Natura 2000 Network.

Belgium is also a member of the 'E27-PROFOR' COST action (Protected forest areas in Europe - analysis and harmonization). The action E27 aims at providing the international community with an overview of the different forest protection categories and regimes in the different countries, in order to provide a scientifically sound 'categorization', so future comparisons between different countries could be done on more objective grounds.

 

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