Valuable Forests in Wallonia Mapped for Public Access

A new digital map now allows anyone to explore Wallonia's most valuable forests, designated as 'first class' for their exceptional ecological significance. This initiative aims to highlight and protect these vital natural areas.

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You see many more types of trees, and you can also hear or spot different birds there.

Biologist Corentin Rousseau of WWF-Belgium explained that these valuable forests offer greater biodiversity. "You see many more types of trees, and you can also hear or spot different birds there," he noted. During an excursion in a designated forest in Wellin, Rousseau pointed out a nuthatch, a bird known for its unique nesting habits.

The map, developed by the Walloon nature organization 'Forêt et Naturalité' in collaboration with WWF, is the first of its kind. It reveals that about 23% of Wallonia's forested land, which constitutes a third of the region's total territory, meets the criteria for being classified as valuable.

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It is a special bird: it lives in a hollow in a tree. It shields the entrance against intruders by making it smaller with mud, so predators cannot get in.

Advanced technology, including aerial surveys using LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), was employed to create the map. This technology allowed researchers to analyze forest structure in layers, identifying not only the tree canopy but also greenery beneath it. The presence of large, old trees, such as an oak with a circumference exceeding 1.5 meters, is a key factor in determining a forest's value. The map also helps identify natural features like rivers and streambeds within these ecologically rich areas.

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The presence of large, old trees for example is an important argument. We are talking about trees with a circumference of at least 1.5 meters.