The Flemish coast: life is beautiful!

Along the quite short Belgian coastline (65km), six Natura 2000 sites have been delimited on land and one at sea. This probably explains why from the 20 Life nature projects that up to now have been or are being executed in the Flemish region no less than four are focused on coastal areas. This paper offers a review of those four coastal Life nature projects and their achievements. The Life nature project ‘ICCI’ (1997-2001) aimed at re-establishing ecological relations between sea and land, between sandy beaches, mudflats, salt marshes and coastal dunes and between coastal dunes and polders from De Panne to Nieuwpoort and stimulating the policy of purchase of coastal dunes by the Flemish region. Its successor, ‘FEYDRA’ (2002-2005), has as main goal, the restoration of annex 2 - habitats in several coastal dune sites in Koksijde and Nieuwpoort. ‘Salt meadows at the Flemish coast’ (1999-2003) and its sequel, ‘The Uitkerkse Polder’ (2003-2008), strive for the maintenance or restoration of polder meadows with a rich topography by land purchase and an appropriate nature management. The Life nature projects ‘ICCI’ and ‘Salt meadows at the Flemish coast’ have achieved complete realisation of their objectives. Both other Life projects that are mentioned above are still being executed, but the prospects look good. Essential elements in this success have been a thorough scientific preparation and a sustained action for public support. The Life nature projects in the coastal zone have not only accomplished their initial program, but also had a favourable influence on the conservation policy of the Flemish government for the coastal zone; prospected the possibilities for a federal conservation policy in the marine environment and stimulated dialogue between conservationists on the one hand, local authorities and drinking water supply companies on the other hand

Invasive scrub and trees in the coastal dunes of Flanders (Belgium): an overview of management goals, actions and results

Even in nature reserves and under the European Habitat Directive protected dunes of the Flemish coast, species and habitats of the open dune landscape (especially Habitat-types 2130, 2170 and 2190) have become seriously endangered. On the other hand, natural dune scrub and pioneer woodland (Habitat-types 2160 and 2180), together with alien species and manmade habitats (plantations,…), strongly increased. Since the Nature Division became responsible for nature management in Flanders (1995) and with the aid of European funding (Life-projects ICCI and FEYDRA), action was undertaken to stop and reverse this trend. The management dilemma (species rich open dune vs. natural scrub and woodland) is tackled on the basis of an Ecosystem Perspective for the Flemish Coast and by drawing up scientifically based management plans. This paper gives, from a nature managers point of view, an overview of the history and nature of these changes, the problems and dilemmas for nature conservationists, the extent and management techniques of scrub and alien tree removal and of open dune restoration, and a first evaluation of results

The Fifth International Little Owl Symposium, 4–6 February 2011, Vic, Catalonia (Spain)

The First International Little Owl Symposium took place in Champ–sur–Marne (France) in November 2000, organized by the International little owl Working Group (ILOWG). It was the first international meeting regarding a sole owl species in Europe. Since then, efforts have been made to improve our knowledge and develop management plans for little owl conservation, and every new advance has been shared among all of us, owl researchers and owl friends, at regular international meetings. The Fifth Symposium gave continuity to the series of previous meetings held in France, England and Belgium. The most recent meeting was held in Herzele, Flanders, and the highlight was the presentation of the latest little owl monograph of Van Nieuwenhuyse et al., 2008. This meeting demonstrated the need to promote future gatherings of researchers.The First International Little Owl Symposium took place in Champ–sur–Marne (France) in November 2000, organized by the International little owl Working Group (ILOWG). It was the first international meeting regarding a sole owl species in Europe. Since then, efforts have been made to improve our knowledge and develop management plans for little owl conservation, and every new advance has been shared among all of us, owl researchers and owl friends, at regular international meetings. The Fifth Symposium gave continuity to the series of previous meetings held in France, England and Belgium. The most recent meeting was held in Herzele, Flanders, and the highlight was the presentation of the latest little owl monograph of Van Nieuwenhuyse et al., 2008. This meeting demonstrated the need to promote future gatherings of researchers.The First International Little Owl Symposium took place in Champ–sur–Marne (France) in November 2000, organized by the International little owl Working Group (ILOWG). It was the first international meeting regarding a sole owl species in Europe. Since then, efforts have been made to improve our knowledge and develop management plans for little owl conservation, and every new advance has been shared among all of us, owl researchers and owl friends, at regular international meetings. The Fifth Symposium gave continuity to the series of previous meetings held in France, England and Belgium. The most recent meeting was held in Herzele, Flanders, and the highlight was the presentation of the latest little owl monograph of Van Nieuwenhuyse et al., 2008. This meeting demonstrated the need to promote future gatherings of researchers