Local Action for Biodiversityin the Brussels Capital Region

Urban Biodiversity: Local Solutions to Global Challenges Greenweek session 2.8, 3th June 2010

MACHTELD GRYSEELS – MARIE-CELINE GODIN Brussels Environment – Division Nature, Water and Forest

Brussels Capital Region (Belgium)in Europe Flanders Region

Walloon Region• 160 km² (0,5 % of Belgium)

• 19 municipalities

• 1.000.000 inhabitants

• 350.000 commuters

• dense traffic infrastructure

Brussels Environmental Administration :

Brussels Institute for Management of the Environment (BE)

Brussels Capital Region (160 km²)% Degree of green,

open spaces

Sites of HBVGreen spaces

Sites of High Biological Value: merely at the periphery (green belt)+ 50 % not build + 15 %: sites of HBV (excl. Private green)

despites high urbanization,very «green» region, green belt

Cemeteries2%

Agricultural areas7%

Derelict land7%

Private gardens

32%

Public parks and gardens

12%

Forests20%

Railway verges3%

Private large domains10%

Green spaces linked with roads

3%

Open-air recreation areas4%

Management : - Regional spaces

• Nature Reserves: 150 ha• Forests: 1750 ha• Parks: 350 ha

- Other spaces : local municipalities + other regional services + private

Brussels Capital Region: unexpected flora & fauna- richness

Peregrine Falcon on cathedral

Bee orchid on derelict land

Stag beetle

diversity in biotopes diversity of species

A wide range of high - to low quality biotopes Red foxes

Vespertilionid bat

Old World Swallowtail

GROUPS TOTAL EXOTIC ENDANGEREDMammalia 44 species

• 17 species chiroptera(total 21 sp. in Belgium)

• 3 exotic 7 species

Avifauna ± 100 species breading birds • 11 exotic 8 species

Herpetofauna 10 species(3 reptiels, 7 amphibians)

• 1 exotic 2 species

Higher plants ±793 species(50% Belg. Flore) • 27% exotic50sp./km² (center)

300 sp./km² (periphery)

66 species

Bryophyta ± 223 species 49 species

Macrofungi ± 913 species •1 exotic ± 748 species

Lichens 36 species epiphyticmacrolichens on trees

? ?

Dragonflies 23 species 0 9 species

Orthoptera 26 species • 1 exotic

Butterflies 29 species • 1 exotic 14 species

•

2004: BCR designation of 3 SAC (tot. 2.300 ha) – 14% BCR surface

48 sites

37 Core areas 11 Connecting areas

Common thread :

• habitats (limited surface) + buffer area• specific species group: bats• Life-project• connectivity of sites in the urban area• ecotones

3 coherent network areas

Global vision for the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)-Natura 2000 sites in the Brussels Capital Region

Particular approach : (semi) natural sites + urban parks

Connectivity for bats

Natura 2000 sites in the Brussels Capital Region

Existing regional biodiversity management strategy based on different concepts:

Green and Blue Network

European Natura 2000-network on a

local basis

INTEGRATION

GREEN NETWORK - Concept

Balanced partitioning: improve the spatial, functional and qualitative partitioning of the green spaces

• Connectivity: protection and development of the green continuities between the green spaces

• Differentiated management: integration of biodiversity in the management of the green spaces (ecological management)

Social aspect Ecological aspect

Green Walk

Woluwepark Scheutbos

Integration of biodiversity in urban parks

Ecological network

Practical guide for sustainable restoration and construction of small buildings

Integrated concerns:energy, air, health, noise, waste, materials, biodiversity, etc.

e.g. sheets : • What place does the project

reserve for biodiversity?• Green roofs• Green facades

Railway vergesBiodiversity in construction

Nature management

of private gardens

Forest house with bat hibernaculum

Bat ice cellar “Rood Klooster”

Specific actions for species

Green roof with beehives

Development of an artificial sand martin breeding cliff

Nestboxes for bats

Stag beetleKeeping dead wood

for Stag beetle

Blue Network Concept: integrated management

To assure the continuity of the hydrographic network on the surface and to send back into it the clear « parasite » water of the draining network

To assure the quality of the water in the hydrographic network and allow the (clean) surface runoff water to flow in it / Improve the ecological quality of the rivers, lakes and wetlands

Promote the social and cultural role of the surface waters in the area

HOLLEBEEK – LEYBEEK

S/ZENNE – K/CANA(A)L

LINKEBEEK – VERREWINKEL-

BEEK

PONTBEEK

Social function

Hydraulical and hydrological

function

Ecological function (water

environments)BLUE

NETWORK

Legal frame• Water Frame Directive (2000/60/UE) + Directive floodings (2007/60/EC)

• To achieve a ‘good’ quality of water by 2015• Ecological quality of the rivers, canals, lakes• To define: reference state very good - good - average - below average - bad• Compulsory monitoring (diversity and abundance of the biological elements):

• Benthic algae and macrophytes• Phytoplankton• Macro-invertebrates• Fish

• Many pressures on the aquatic environment• Water proofing, covering• Floodings (overflow of the sewers)• Transport (for the canal)• Social (pleasure): park ponds

Management plan + Measures program (Rain plan)

Urban constraints

Waterproofing of the grounds

Causes of the floodings

1955

.

.

1985

2006

.

% of waterproof surfaces in boxes of 100m x 100m

1770 2000

Effects of climate

change?

Evolution of hydrographical network in Brussels

Woluwe

Woluwe valley: re-opening of the river, marsh restoration, creation of green walk

Struybeek Marsh (2007)

After works (2006)

Urban environment

Green Walk

Regional Parc Keyenbempt: restoration of the river and marsh, biodiversity & social aspects

Evacuation of historicallypolluted sludge (2001)

Geleytsbeek after restoration (2002)

Social aspects: allotment gardens (2009)Biodiversity: restoration of the

wetland (2009)

Biodiversity: bat hibernaculum (2009)

Parc Roi Baudouin: river & parc landscape restoration

River Restoration

Before

After

Molenbeek 2009

Creation of a buffer zone for water retention

SWOT-analysis

Strengths

• High proportion of green space

• 14 % Natura 2000

• A strategic plan for green and blue networks

Weaknesses

• No overall strategy document or policy ‘vision’ for nature and biodiversity

• Poor and limited coordinated involvement NGOs

• Lack of legal guidelines, tools and incentives to integrate biodiv. in urban policy

• Fragmentation

Opportunities

• High proportion of nature

• Good potential for partnerships

• EU legislation driver

Threats

• High development pressures

• Very high recreational pressure

• Lots of stakeholders

Study 2006

BIODIVERCITYBRUSSELS, GREEN CITY BRUSSELS, NATURE CITY

Need for development overall integrated « Urban Biodiversity Strategy Plan »

Via engagement:Countdown 2010LAB

March 2009

• Biodiversity report: collecting data on:– not only data on habitats, flora & fauna, protected sites– also: local actions NGO

SUPPORT OF SOCIETY FOR DEVELOPMENT AND INTEGRATIONOF BIODIVERSITY, ESPECIALLY IN THE URBAN AREA

• Biodiversity strategy « Nature Plan »

Learning from LAB:

Start participatory proces 11th of May 2010

Nature Plan

EU Water frame

Water Ordonnance

Water Management Plan

EU Directive Habitat + Ancient nature legislation

Nature Ordonnance (new and innovative project 2010)

Nature Biodiversity Plan

• Continuing to implement the BN Enhancing the valleys & the wetlands

• Rain Plan, for flood control

• Protection & managements of habitats and species

• To develop the ecological network

• Integration biodiversity: participation process / development partnership

Water Plan