Rehabilitation of heaths and mires on the Hautes-Fagnes Plateau, Belgium

General

National Id:

Belgium_01

Site name:

Rehabilitation of heaths and mires on the Hautes-Fagnes Plateau

Summary:

The project of rehabilitation of heaths and mires on the Hautes-Fagnes Plateau (Belgium). It consists in wetland restoration. Actions include restoring 1400 ha of peaty and wet habitats, abandoning spruce plantation for natural habitats on 630 ha and regenerating 400 ha of oak and birch forests.

The in-depth description of the case study:

cs-be-01-final_version.pdf

NUTS Code:

Prov. Liège

RBD code:

BEMeuse_RW

Transboundary:

Data provider:

Alexandra Rossi, ACTeon

Source(s):

Restauration des landes et tourbières du Plateau des Hautes Fagnes, Final report, covering the project activities from 01.01.2007 to 31.12.2012

Etude de l'impact socio-économique de la conservation et restauration de la nature dans les Hautes Fagnes

NWRM(s) implemented in the case study:

Wetland restoration and management

Longitude:

6.0833333

Latitude:

50.5

Site information

Climate zone:

cool temperate moist

Mean rainfall:

1439

Mean rainfall unit:

mm/year

Average temperature:

Type:

Case Study Info

Light or indepth?:

In-depth

Monitoring maintenance

Monitoring impacts effects:

Performance

Performance impact estimation method:

Catchment outlet

Biophysical impacts

Information on increased water storage:

About 8 km of drain were plugged and 23 ha of mires were submerged. We can evaluate the volume of water in mires and ponds between 120 000m3 and 360 000m3 depending on rain falls (the water retained in soil is not counted).

Water quality overall improvements:

N/A info

Soil quality overall soil improvements:

N/A info

Lessons, risks, implications...

Key lessons:

Even if forestry activities were removed, there are still economic benefits linked to biodiversity and recreational use.

Financing mechanism:

Financing mechanism information:

A financial compensation was given to spruce plantation owners (who accepted to participation to the project) for the early cut down. A estimation of the value was realized based on Gembloux agronomic university data. The owner received the money got from the wood sail and an extra compensation (5k€ maximum per person). The average compensation was 2Â 080€. 177ha of private plantation and 113ha of public plantation were cut down and compensated.

Success factor(s):

Type	Role	Comments
Specific incentives for stakeholder involvement	main factor	Half of the area of the site project is a national nature reserve including Natura 2000 areas (some deteriorated). It was an element in favor of the implementation of the project. It led to ambitious objectives (wide area). There also were areas under national property (but not included in natural reserve) was also favorable. Indeed, Walloon administration was the head project and wanted to realize a deep restoration.
Attitude of relevant stakeholders	secondary factor
Existing technical standards	secondary factor
Successful coordination between authorities	secondary factor
Communication activities	secondary factor

Financing:

Type	Comments
EU-funds: LIFE+
Sub-national funds

Barrier:

Type	Role	Comments
Other	main barrier	For private and municipal areas, the adherence to the restoration project and to have their plot restored.
Other	main barrier	The period to realize works was very short (July to October). The short period of works required many enterprises available at the same moment.

Driver:

Type	Role	Comments
Balancing different objectives	main driver	Heaths and mires are priority habitats types. They have an ecological interest at European level and they are rare and endangered at the Wallonian level. A regional plan to preserve heaths and mires has been implemented through LIFE projects (6 are completed and 2 are still running).
Availability of subsidies	secondary driver

Financing share:

Share type	Share	Comments
European funds	50
National funds	50

Socio-economic

Direct benefits:

10000000

Direct benefits information:

The study of the socio-economic impact shows that the main impact is on biodiversity (assessed value 9,8M€/y) and recreational use (0,3M€/y).

Costs investment:

2950928

Costs investment information:

See below

Costs capital:

2614178

Costs capital information:

The main expense were destinated to works (wood cut down, grinding of the mires, scouring of the peatland, flooding, etc.)

Costs land acquisition:

336750

Costs land acquisition unit:

€ (total value)

Costs land acquisition information:

Aquisition of 137ha

Costs operation maintenance:

24243,5

Costs operation maintenance:

A conservation plan †œAfter life† was designed. It defines all the maintenance tasks (mowing and grazing, maintenance of hydraulic structures, etc). The Agriculture and natural environment department and the Nature and Forest Department, Walloon administration, the natural park of the hautes fagnes, the friends of the fagnes association, the Patrimoine Nature, enterprises, farmers, communes and private owner are involved in the maintenance.

Costs total:

4500300

Ecosystem improved biodiversity:

Information on Ecosystem improved biodiversity:

Observations of biodiversity shows an increase of biodiversity in flora (Sphagnum, Carex, Eriophorum angustifolium, Juncus bulbosus) and fauna (black grouse, dragonflies, butterflies). The ecological connectivity was improved.

Ecosystem provisioning services:

Ecosystem impact climate regulation:

Impact on GHGs (net emissions and storage) including soil carbon

Information on Ecosystem impact climate regulation:

The CO2 storage was estimated at 12 000 t/y.

Ecosystem impact Green House Gas (GHG) soil carbon:

12000

Policy, general governance and design targets

Policy description:

Biodiversity and gene-pool conservation in riparian areas Self-regulation of water by filtration / storage / accumulation by ecosystems

Part of wider plan:

Policy pressure:

Policy requirement directive:

Policy impact:

Policy wider plan:

Policy area:

Policy target:

Target purpose
Oher Societal Benefits
Improved Biodiversity

Design & implementations

Application scale:

Field Scale

Installation date:

2007-01

Age:

Performance timescale:

> 20 years

Area (ha):

14000

Area subject to Land use change or Management/Practice change (ha):

500

Design capacity description:

The project was not designed for its water retention capacity. Although, about 8 km of drain were plugged and 23 ha of mires were submerged. We can evaluate the volume of water in mires and ponds between 120 000m3 and 360 000m3 depending on rain falls (the water retained in soil is not counted).

Constraints:

For private and municipal areas, the adherence to the restoration project and to have their plot restored. The period to realize works was very short (July to October). The short period of works required many enterprises available at the same moment.

Favourable preconditions:

Half of the area of the site project is a national nature reserve including Natura 2000 areas (some deteriorated). It was an element in favor of the implementation of the project. It led to ambitious objectives (wide area). There also were areas under national property (but not included in natural reserve) was also favorable. Indeed, Walloon administration was the head project and wanted to realize a deep restoration.

Design contractual arrangement:

Design consultation activity:

Design land use change:

Design authority:

Authority type	Role	Name	Comments
Other	Initiation of the measure	Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment General Direction
Other	Other	Natural Habitat and Agricultural Studies Department	Partner of the project, data collecting about environment watching
Other	Other	Nature and Forest Department	Partner of the project, forestry, hunting, fishing and nature conservation
Other	Monitoring	Hautes Fagnes-Eifel Natural Park management commission	Stakeholder involved in the project

Last updated: 23 Jun 2015 | Top

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