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
NUTS Code
Prov. Liège
RBD code
BEMeuse_RW
Transboundary
0
Data provider
Alexandra Rossi, ACTeon
Source(s)
NWRM(s) implemented in the case study
Longitude
6.0833333
Latitude
50.5
Site information
Climate zone
cool temperate moist
Mean rainfall
1439
Mean rainfall unit
mm/year
Average temperature
6
Type
Case Study Info
Light or indepth?
In-depth
Monitoring maintenance
Monitoring impacts effects
1
Performance
Performance impact estimation method
Catchment outlet
Design & implementations
Application scale
Field Scale
Installation date
2007-01
Age
4
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.
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
| Arrangement type | Responsibility | Role | Comments | Name |
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Design consultation activity
| Activity stage | Key issues | Name | Comments |
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Design land use change
| Land use change type |
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Design authority
| Authority type | Role | Responsibility | Name | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lessons, risks, implications...
Key lessons
Even if forestry activities were removed, there are still economic benefits linked to biodiversity and recreational use.
Financing mechanism
1
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)
| Success factor type | Success factor role | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|
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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. |
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Attitude of relevant stakeholders
|
secondary factor
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Existing technical standards
|
secondary factor
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Successful coordination between authorities
|
secondary factor
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Communication activities
|
secondary factor
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Financing
| Financing type | Comments | |
|---|---|---|
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EU-funds: LIFE+
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Sub-national funds
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Driver
| Driver type | Driver role | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|
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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).
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Availability of subsidies
|
secondary driver
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Financing share
| Financing share type | Share | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|
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
Self-regulation of water by filtration / storage / accumulation by ecosystems
Part of wider plan
0
Policy target
| Target purpose | |
|---|---|
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Oher Societal Benefits
|
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Improved Biodiversity
|
Policy pressure
| Pressure directive | Relevant pressure |
|---|
Policy area
| Policy area type | Policy area focus | Name | Comments |
|---|
Policy impact
| Impact directive | Relevant impact |
|---|
Policy wider plan
| Wider plan type | Wider plan focus | Name | Comments |
|---|
Policy requirement directive
| Requirement directive | Specification |
|---|
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
1
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
0
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
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
