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🇧🇪 Belgium /Environment & Climate

Herkenrode and Wijer forests to become one: Flemish government approves draft decree

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Approved/passed
  • The Flemish government has approved a plan to connect the Herkenrodebossen and Wijerbos forests, creating a larger, more cohesive woodland area.
  • The plan designates 436 hectares for new forest, with about 140 hectares to be planted in the coming years, while preserving over 800 hectares as agricultural land.
  • It also aims to protect the region's landscape, improve the water system, and provide recreational space, with the plan now moving to the Council of State for advice.

The Flemish government has given the green light to a plan that will merge the Herkenrodebossen and Wijerbos forests, creating a significant ecological and landscape connection between Hasselt and Herk-de-Stad.

So bleibt es Raum für landwirtschaftliche Produktion, während die wertvollsten Wald- und Landschaftsstrukturen gestärkt werden. Wir sorgen für mehr Wald und mehr Zusammenhalt, aber auch für Rechtssicherheit für die Landwirte.

— Jo BrounsFlemish Minister of Agriculture and Environment Jo Brouns explains the dual benefits of the plan for agriculture and nature.

The approved draft agreement, part of a regional spatial execution plan (GRUP), covers 1,425 hectares of open space in Limburg. It aims to better protect and link existing forest fragments, adding 436 hectares of forest designation – approximately 376 hectares in Herkenrodebossen and 60 hectares in Wijerbos. This expansion represents a substantial 6% of the available forest balance in Flanders, with plans to plant about 140 hectares in the coming years.

Simultaneously, the plan safeguards over 800 hectares of agricultural land from further fragmentation, ensuring continued agricultural production while strengthening valuable forest and landscape structures. "We are ensuring more forest and cohesion, but also legal certainty for farmers," stated Flemish Minister of Agriculture and Environment Jo Brouns.

Auch das Wassersystem erhält mehr Atemraum, da Wald, Natur und Freiflächen besser miteinander verbunden werden.

— Jo BrounsFlemish Minister of Agriculture and Environment Jo Brouns discusses the positive impact on the water system.

Beyond forest expansion, the GRUP is designed to preserve the region's characteristic landscape, including old forest edges, hedgerows, castle estates, historic farmhouses, and the bocage landscape. The water system will also benefit from improved connectivity between forest, nature, and open spaces. The plan includes provisions for recreational activities, such as the Woutershof riding school, and addresses potential land value compensation for affected agricultural plots through subsidies or land swaps.

Für landwirtschaftliche Flächen, die betroffen sind, können unter bestimmten Bedingungen Entschädigungen oder Landtausch möglich sein.

— Jo BrounsFlemish Minister of Agriculture and Environment Jo Brouns outlines compensation possibilities for affected farmers.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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