PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Concentrated human activities including intensive agriculture and urbanisation have gradually degraded habitats in the Atlantic Biogeographical Region (ABR) of Wallonia, and only a largely impoverished landscape remains. This poses a challenge for the region’s Natura 2000 sites, which prioritise habitat restoration and protection.
LIFE Atlantic Valleys will build on the knowledge generated by the LIFE BNIP project (2015-2022) and will implement some of that project’s action and management plans. It covers 16 Natura 2000 sites in the Brabant and Hainaut valleys, but will also operate up to 10km outside these sites in order to reconnect them.
OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of the LIFE Atlantic Valleys project are to improve the conservation status of characteristic habitats in the Atlantic Valleys of Wallonia and to strengthen the integrity of its Natura 2000 network.
Concretely, LIFE Atlantic Valleys plans to restore 230 ha of ‘habitats of community interest’ and ‘habitats favourable to species of community interest’ (as defined by the EU Habitats Directive). It will do this by:
- acquiring 100 hectares (ha) of private land to create newly protected areas
- restoring, reconnecting and protecting habitats in 16 Natura 2000 sites in the Brabant and Hainaut Valleys and their surroundings to ensure their long-term ecological viability
- reducing degradation caused by intensive agriculture, urbanisation and other human activities
- improving the conservation status of 9 habitats of community interest characteristic of wetlands and ‘transition’ environments
- restoring 3 habitats that are favourable to species of community interest
- increasing the amount of protected area both inside and outside Natura 2000 sites, with a view to reducing isolation and reconnecting sites
- encouraging landowners near the restored sites to apply biodiversity-friendly practices to their green spaces
- taking steps to improve the conservation status of great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) populations
- sharing project results with relevant stakeholders
- raising public awareness of the importance of these sites
RESULTS
The expected results of this project are the restoration of:
- 30 ha of eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition type vegetation
- 15 ha of hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities
- 25 ha of alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior
- 10 ha of inland dunes with open Corynephorus and Agrostis grasslands
- 50 ha of dry heaths
- 5 ha of Molinia meadows on calcareous peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils
- 5 ha of species-rich Nardus grasslands
- 20 ha lowland hay meadows
- 15 ha of old acidophilous oakwoods on sandy plains
and the creation of:
- 25 ha of reedbeds
- 30 ha of wet and flood meadow
- 120 ponds
- 4 new Triturus cristatus metapopulations within its historic range
Benefits of these actions will include:
- a reduction of invasive alien species (IAS) from 128 ha to 50 ha by the end of the project
- improved carbon sequestration over 175 ha of restored grasslands and forests
- reduced soil erosion and improved water retention in the region after restoration
- restoration of 40 ha of forest ecosystems near urban areas, with an expected improvement in local air quality
- increased ecotourism with benefits for local businesses and services
