Hoge Venen fire releases 550,000 tons of CO2; forest compensation deemed unfeasible

The recent fire in the Hoge Venen released an estimated 550,000 tons of carbon dioxide, posing a significant environmental challenge. According to forest ecologist Kris Verheyen from Ghent University, compensating for these emissions by planting new forests would necessitate at least 3,500 hectares of woodland. However, Verheyen stresses that such an undertaking would only show effects after 20 years.

Verheyen highlights the practical difficulties of large-scale forestation in Belgium, noting the limited available space. He points out that Flanders aims to create 10,000 hectares of new forest by 2030, but only 2,500 hectares have been realized since 2019. This ambition, while significant, illustrates the challenge of finding suitable land for such extensive planting.

Instead of relying solely on new forests, Verheyen advocates for prioritizing the restoration of the peatland itself. Peatlands store vast amounts of carbon, with about 50 percent of peat consisting of carbon. While restoring the peatland's CO2 storage capacity will take decades, it is considered the most effective long-term solution to mitigate the impact of the fire. Verheyen also notes that the 550,000-ton CO2 figure is a rough estimate, as no exact measurements have yet been conducted in the Hoge Venen.