LIFE programme - Country Factsheet

BELGIUM
Overview
Since the launch of the LIFE programme by the European Commission in 1992, a total of 160 projects have been financed in Belgium. Of these, 91 focus on environmental innovation, 67 on nature conservation and two on information and communication. These projects represent a total investment of 396 million, of which 170 million has been contributed by the European Union. This document provides an overview of LIFE in Belgium. It showcases success stories and ongoing initiatives, indicates how to find further information on the projects and provides a list of ongoing projects in Annex. Every year a call for project proposals is launched for its three components: Nature and Biodiversity, Environment Policy and Governance, and Information and Communication. You will find more details on all recent LIFE projects in Belgium in the annexed lists.

Last update: 20/09/2013

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/) Page 1

Environment Policy and Governance

To date the LIFE Environment and Environment Policy and Governance components have co-financed 91 projects in Belgium. This represents a total investment of 182 million, of which 62 million has been contributed by the European Union. Completed projects were mainly concerned with issues such as integrated environmental management; waste water treatment; water supply; groundwater protection; diffuse and dispersed sources of pollution; air quality management; construction and demolition waste; ecodesign; and clean technologies. Most of the projects were carried out by international enterprises, local authorities, research institutions and professional organisations. The projects had an average duration of 24 to 48 months. There are 16 ongoing projects in Belgium. These projects focus on: tackling diffuse and dispersed sources of pollution; developing new schemes for municipal waste management; developing a system for processing of e-waste; developing new remediation techniques for soil and groundwater contamination; studying human biomonitoring; enhancing green public procurement in the gardening sector; setting up, evaluating, and demonstrating an advanced air quality modelling system; integrating a biogas production process into an existing biomethanisation plant; transforming the gypsum demolition waste market to achieve higher recycling rates; extending the lifetime/usability of buildings made of wood and/or cement by applying environmental friendly silicon-based water repellents; and establishing a pilot process for the production of highly purified polyphosphoric acid (85% P2O5) using an innovative, less polluting and more energy-efficient wet process. These projects are being carried out by four public authorities; three large enterprises; two SMEs; one research institution, four international enterprises, and one professional organisation. They will have an duration of between 33 and 60 months. The project presented in the box below is an example of a successful LIFE Environment project in Belgium.

Sustainable Management by Interactive Governance and Industrial Networking (S.M.I.G.I.N.) LIFE06/ENV/B/000365

The S.M.I.G.I.N. project demonstrated how an industrial association or a public-sector institution could help to catalyse collective action by companies in the same industrial park towards better waste management and reduced waste generation, a more efficient use of energy, eco-landscape management and a better use of transport. The project started by developing technical tools for collective management of an economic-activity estate. The team elaborated a methodological guide to developing and implementing an action plan, based on a diagnosis of the companies within an estate. A series of action sheets were based around the four themes of waste, mobility, ecolandscaping and energy. To support this guide, the team collated an inventory of good practices into an accessible database and developed a collective-management technical guide. They also created a toolbox with posters to be displayed within companies, templates of contracts, models of invitations to tender, survey forms and communication material. The methodology was implemented in seven economic-activity parks in Wallonia and the Valenciennois region in France. The guide, the toolbox and the database are available on the website: www.econetwork.eu. The main actions implemented were: Measures to reduce car usage, including the establishment or improvement of shuttles from the parks to train stations and the promotion of both these services and car pooling; Collective management of waste e.g. streamlining the waste flows of 15 companies at Saintes (Wallonia); Recycling of ink cartridges; Valorisation of pallets between companies ; and Collective awareness-raising efforts around the management of green spaces, waste sorting and energy saving. For further information: http://www.econetwork.eu/pages/index.html

Last update: 20/09/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Nature and Biodiversity

To date the LIFE Nature and LIFE Nature and Biodiversity components have co-financed 67 projects in Belgium. This represents a total investment of 211 million, of which 107 million has been contributed by the European Union. The completed projects focused mainly on the restoration, conservation and management of habitats (Uitkerkse polders, woods in the Flemish Ardennes, the calcareous habitat types in the region of Lesse and Lomme, the fossil estuary of the Yzer Dunes, the upper Meuse dry grasslands, the minerotrofic mires and heath ecosystems in the Zuiderkempen, peat and wet habitats on the Saint-Hubert Plateau, the lowland mire "Damvallei", marshes along the river Scheldt, the pond complex Central-Limburg, the oligo-mesotrophic aquatic habitats in de Kempen, the wetlands in Belgian Lorraine, the salt meadows in the Flemish polders, the De Liereman complex of habitats, the valleys and turf moors of Croix Scaille, the Tailles Plateau, the alluvial forests and heath in the "Stropers", the Zwin dunes area, the Averbode valley, Hageland, habitats in military camps in Wallonia, European otter habitats, military areas in Natura 2000 areas, the lowland river system 'Grote Nete', the Dommel Valley, the Averbode Bos en Heide, heathland on continental dunes, and heaths and mires on the Hautes-Fagnes Plateau) but also the protection of certain species (the pearl mussel, the corncrake and threatened bat species in Flanders). NGOs constituted by far (more than 80%) the largest category of beneficiaries. The remaining projects were carried out by regional and local authorities and park authorities. The projects average duration was between 36 and 60 months. There are 25 ongoing LIFE+ Nature projects in Belgium. These projects aim to restore habitats (Turnhouts Vennengebied, dry calcareous and rupicolous grasslands of lower and middle valleys of the Meuse basin, Lomme river bassin, the Zwin tidal area, , Intermediate Atlantic heathland habitats in Flanders, Visbeek, Abeek, Bosbeek, Itterbeek and Kleine Nete valleys, the Pond area Midden-Limburg Natura 2000 area, the Ardenne ligeoise region, bocage landscapes of the Fagne and Famenne, grasslands and meadows in Southern Lorraine and the Ardenne, Most-Keiheuvel, Vochtig Haspengouw, natural habitats for critically endangered species by defragmentation of the Sonian Forest, grasslands in the east coast polders, Grote NeteWoud, alluvial forests and creeks within the flood controlled Scheldt estuary site Kruibeke-BazelRupelmonde, Flemish and North-French Dunes) and species (threatened butterflies in Wallonia) to a favourable conservation status. One Biodiversity project is developing innovative techniques for the creation and maintenance of forest corridors for overhead lines, in order to maximise their potential benefits for biodiversity. The majority of ongoing projects are carried out by NGOs and regional authorities. One is being implemented by a professional organisation (European Landowners Organisation). Their duration varies from 11 to 96 months. The project presented in the box below is an example of a successful LIFE Nature project in Belgium.

Zwindunes Ecological Nature Optimalisation (ZENO) LIFE06/NAT/B/000087

The project reversed the invasion of scrubs and grasses, and tree plantations were removed to restore the humid dune slacks and fixed dune habitat. Other works, featuring the shallow excavation of topsoil, accompanied by the cleaning and profiling of 17 ponds and a dune brook, also contributed to habitat restoration. Results fostered environments suitable for felworts, orchids and amphibians. The first tree frogs were heard in the area after a very long absence and the population of great crested newt is now spreading to different pools around the nature reserve. Inappropriate infrastructure (including concrete installations and 17 km of barbed wire) were removed and replaced by more natural landscape features such as pools. This opened up the nature reserves landscape so the course of the dune brook became visible once again. A mix of different livestock breeds were introduced to graze (and so manage) 168 ha on the site. Mowing is also carried out using equipment purchased by the project. In the central and eastern parts of the site (Kleyne Vlakte), the (artificially leveled) topography has been changed drastically by local excavation of differentiated ponds, creeks, shallow depressions and the reconstruction of low dunes and heights. This has created wet habitats that can sustain the growth of rare plants and wetland animals. Many birds have already favoured the new large ponds, such as the greater white-fronted geese, the common pied oystercatcher, the Eurasian curlew and spoonbills. For further information: http://www.lifenatuurzeno.be

Last update: 20/09/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Information and Communication

The projects funded under this LIFE+ component aim to disseminate information and raise the profile of environmental issues. They also provide training and awareness-raising on the prevention of forest fires. There are two ongoing projects under this component in Belgium. The overall aim of the first project is over a 48 month period - to reduce the introduction of invasive alien plants (IAPs) by raising awareness about the environmental risks along the whole ornamental horticulture supply chain in Belgium, from growers to gardeners. The projects total investment is 1.9 million, of which the European Union will contribute 0.9 million. The second project is building on the previous European Week for Waste Reduction (2009-2011, LIFE07 INF/F/000185). It will address identified gaps by focusing on increasing awareness, reinforcing and deepening understanding of waste prevention, preparing for reuse and recycling, and broadening the outreach of waste prevention. The project is being implemented by an NGO over a 48 month period. The total investment amounts to 2 million, of which the EU will contribute 50%. The projects objectives are presented in more details in the box below. Further information (including results) will be provided in due course.

Increase awareness to curb horticultural introductions of invasive plants in Belgium (AlterIAS) LIFE08/INF/B/000052
The AlterIAS project aims to promote best practices for preventing the release and spread of IAPs and to promote adherence to a Belgian voluntary code of conduct developed by the project on IAPs and horticulture. It will target some 2 500 ornamental horticulture professionals (including nursery and garden centre managers, wholesalers, garden contractors, landscape architects and open spaces managers), as well as 100 horticulture teachers and 400 000 amateur gardeners. Three awareness campaigns will be carried out. The first will introduce the target audiences to the IAPs issue and inform them about IAPs found in Belgium. The second will communicate best practice to prevent the release of IAPs, and will promote the Belgian code of conduct and the use of alternative plants. The third will specifically target horticultural teachers. A wide range of channels and tools will be used, including press, TV, radio, information sessions, stands at horticultural fairs, brochures, folders, posters, DVD, etc. Key messages will include: 1) Raising awareness on the environmental consequences of IAPs; 2) Encouraging professionals to stop growing, retailing and recommending the use of IAPs to customers; 3) Encouraging gardeners to stop planting IAPs and to substitute them with harmless alternatives; and 4) Disseminating best practices in getting rid of IAP wastes and avoiding their unintentional introduction and spreading. For further information: http://www.alterias.be

Last update: 20/09/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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How to find out more about LIFE and LIFE projects

By surfing on the LIFE website
The LIFE website provides a wealth of information on the LIFE programme: http://ec.europa.eu/life/

By searching on the LIFE projects

For further information on LIFE projects in Belgium or LIFE projects in general, please consult the online LIFE projects database. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm The easy-to-use database is the authoritative source of information on all ongoing and closed LIFE projects. The database also provides information on the beneficiaries, their contact details, and the projects websites.

By contacting: The National Contact Point for Belgium

Sant publique, scurit de la chane alimentaire et environnement (Environment and Policy and Information and Communication) Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos (Nature and Biodiversity)
Name: Address: Mrs. Stefanie Hugelier (Environment Policy and Governance) Mrs. Els Martens (Nature and Biodiversity) Place Victor Horta 40 bte 10 B 1060 Brussels (Environment) Koning Albert II-laan 20 bus 8 B 1000 Brussels (Nature) +32 2 524 96 88 (Environment) +32 2 553 7686 (Nature) N/A stefanie.hugelier@milieu.belgie.be els.martens@lne.vlaanderen.be

Tel: Fax: E-mail:

Websites: Federal service for public health, Food security and Environment: http://www.health.belgium.be/eportal/Environment/Inspectionandenvironmentalrig h/international/Life/index.htm Natur en Bos (Natura 2000): http://www.natuurenbos.be/nlBE/Natuurbeleid/Natuur/Natura_2000.aspx

The Monitoring Team for Belgium

ASTRALE GEIE - PROSPECT C&S Rue du Prince Royal, 83 B-1050 Brussels Tel: (32) 2 514 55 34 Fax: (32) 2 514 01 97 E-mail: prospect@astrale.org
Last update: 20/09/13 European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Recent Environment Policy & Governance projects in Belgium

Project Title Project Number Website Click on the icon to read the project summary Project duration

Using full scale bioaugmentation for costefficient remediation of a large CAH groundwater contamination (BACad) Design of a decision tool for hydromorphological restoration of water bodies in Walloon Region (WALPHY) WEEE LABEL OF EXCELLENCE. European Standards for Treatment and Recycling of E&E Waste and for Monitoring the Processing Companies (WEEELABEX) Energy recovery system from landfill waste as a contribution to the fight against climate change (CLIM-WASTENER) The Water Emissions Inventory, a planning Support System aimed at reducing the pollution of water bodies (WEISS) Using hydrogeobiocells (HGBcells) for the in-situ biological treatment of CAH contaminated groundwater in areas with low hydraulic gradients Enhancing Green Public Procurement using 100% annually renewable innovative resources in gardening products (Renew4GPP) Using ISCO with perozone for the remediation of a cocktail of organic contaminants at an EX-rated industrial site in operation (VOPAK-EXPERO3) Policy support system for atmospheric pollution hot spots (ATMOSYS) Demonstration of a study to coordinate and perform human biomonitoring on a European scale (DEMOCOPHESII Validation of an environmentally friendly system, combining CO2 capture and biofuel production based on algae culture for industrial exhaust application (AGICAL+) Sustainable and integrated soil management to reduce environmental effects (DEMETER) Last update: 20/09/13

LIFE07 ENV_B_000022

http://www.bioaugmentatie.be/web/ bioaugmentatietpl1.asp?customer= 17&ut=L&hmain=2698&hsub=277 0&stype=X http://www.walphy.be/

01/2009> 12/2013

LIFE07 ENV_B_000038

01/2009> 12/2013 http://www.weeeforum.org/index.php?section=servic es&page=services_harmonisation& subpage=services_harmonisation_ weeelabex http://www.clim-wastener.eu/ 01/2010> 12/2012 http://weiss.vmm.be/ 01/2010> 12/2012

LIFE07 ENV_B_000041

01/2009> 12/2012

LIFE08 ENV_B_000040

LIFE08 ENV_B_000042

LIFE08 ENV_B_000046

http://www.lvm-biocells.be/project/ 01/2010> 12/2014

LIFE09 ENV_B_000406

http://www.renew4gpp.com

09/2010> 08/2015

LIFE09 ENV_B_000407

http://www.vopak-expero3.be 09/2010> 08/2015

LIFE09 ENV_B_000409 LIFE09 ENV_B_000410

http://www.life-atmosys.be 09/2010> 12/2013 http://www.euhbm.info/democophes 09/2010> 11/2012

LIFE10 ENV_B_000696

http://www.agical.eu/ 01/2011 > 09/2016

LIFE10 ENV_B_000699

http://www.demeterlife.eu 01/2012 > 03/2016

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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GtoG: From Production to Recycling, a Circular Economy for the European Gypsum Industry with the Demolition and Recycling Industry(GtoG) Improving sustainability of construction materials using innovative Silicon based treatment (SILEX) Production of Polyphosphoric Acid using an innovative system based on the phosphoric acid wet process (LIFE Polyphos Acid) Demonstration of an innovative fine crushing method for glass and alternative cullet in flat glass production (LIFE FLAT to FLAT)

LIFE11 ENV_BE_001039

http://gypsumtogypsum.org/ 01/2013 > 01/2016

LIFE11 ENV_BE_001046

http://www2.dowcorning.com/conte nt/construction/landing/lifeplus.asp x N/A

06/2012 > 05/2016

LIFE12 ENV_BE_000205

07/2013 > 03/2016

LIFE12 ENV_BE_000214

N/A 07/2013 > 12/2017

Recent Nature & Biodiversity projects in Belgium

Project Title Project Number Website Click on the icon to read the project summary Project duration

Restoration of Intermediate Atlantic heathland habitats in Flanders (Vlaams veldgebied) Reconstituting a habitat network for threatened butterflies (Euphydryas aurinia, Lycaena helle, Lycaena dispar) in the Walloon region (Belgium) (PAPILLONS) Dry calcareous and rupicolous grasslands of lower and middle valleys of the Meuse basin (Hlianthme) Restoration of natural habitats in the Lomme river bassin and in surrounding areas (LOMME) Habitat restoration in the Visbeekvalley (Life Visbeek) Habitat restoration in the Abeekvalley (Life Abeek) Ecological restoration of the Pond area M-L through a close participation of the private and public landowners and a tripple E-approach (Triple E Pond area M-L) Large scale habitat restoration in the valley of the Kleine Nete (LIFE Kleine Nete) Zwin Tidal Area Restoration (ZTAR) Habitat restoration in the Valleys of the eastern region of Limburg: Bosbeek and Itterbeek (Life Itter en Oeter) Last update: 20/09/13

LIFE07 NAT/B/000024 LIFE07 NAT/B/000039

http://www.natuurpunt.be/nl/natuur behoud/life-en-natura-/lifevlaams-veldgebied_1373.aspx http://www.life-papillons.eu

01/2009 > 12/2013

01/2009 > 12/2013

LIFE07 NAT/B/000043

http://www.life-heliantheme.eu 02/2009 > 01/2014 http://biodiversite.wallonie.be/offh/li felomme/ http://www.life-visbeek.be/ http://www.life-abeek.be/ http://www.lifevijvergebied.eu/ 01/2010 > 12/2013

LIFE08 NAT_B_000033 LIFE08 NAT_B_000034 LIFE08 NAT_B_000035 LIFE08 NAT_B_000036

01/2010 > 12/2014

01/2010 > 12/2014 01/2010 > 12/2014

LIFE09 NAT_B_000411 LIFE09 NAT_B_000413 LIFE09 NAT_B_000416

http://www.natuurpunt.be/nl/natuur behoud/life/life-kleinenete_1975.aspx http://www.natuurenbos.be/nlBE/Over-ons/Projecten/Ztar.aspx http://www.natuurpunt.be/nl/natuur behoud/life/life-itter-enoeter_1976.aspx

01/2011 > 12/2015

01/2011 > 12/2015

01/2011 > 12/2015

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Restoration of natural habitats in the Ardenne ligeoise region (Ardenne ligeoise) Development of the beddings of the electricity transportation network as means of enhancing biodiversity (ELIA) Conservation of habitats and species of bocage landscapes of the Fagne and Famenne (Bocages) Priority actions for grasslands and meadows in Southern Lorraine and the Ardenne (Herbages) Nature restoration MostKeiheuvel (Most-Keiheuvel)

LIFE10 NAT_B_000706

http://biodiversite.wallonie.be/fr/life -ardenne-liegeoise-20122018.html?IDC=3590 http://www.life-elia.eu/

01/2012 > 12/2018

LIFE10 NAT_B_000709

09/2011 > 08/2016 http://www.lifeprairiesbocageres.eu /

LIFE11 NAT_B_001059

07/2012 > 06/2019

LIFE11 NAT_B_001060

http://www.life-herbages.eu 01/2012 > 12/2019 http://www.natuurenbos.be/nlBE/Over-ons/Projecten/KeiheuvelDe-Most.aspx http://www.life-hageland.be http://www.lifevochtighaspengouw.be

LIFE11 NAT_B_001061

06/2012 > 05/2017

Habitat restoration HAGELAND (Life Hageland) Large-scale restoration of a complex of ground- and seepage water dependent habitats (Vochtig Haspengouw) Restoration of natural habitats for critically endangered species by defragmentation of the Sonian Forest Grassland restoration in the East Coast polders (LIFE Oostkustpolders) Grote NeteWoud: wilderness on a human scale (LIFE Grote NeteWoud) Habitat Restoration of alluvial forests and creeks within the flood controlled Scheldt estuary site Kruibeke-BazelRupelmonde (LIFE+SCALLUVIA) FLemish And North-French Dunes Restoration (Life FLANDRE) To get heath restored (Life Together)

LIFE11 NAT_B_001067 LIFE11 NAT_B_001068

09/2012 > 08/2018

09/2012 > 08/2018

LIFE12 NAT_B_000166

N/A 07/2013 > 06/2017 N/A 07/2013 > 06/2018 N/A 09/2013 > 08/2019 N/A 09/2013 > 09/2017

LIFE12 NAT_B_000252 LIFE12 NAT_B_000438 LIFE12 NAT_B_000596

LIFE12 NAT_B_000631 LIFE12 NAT_B_001098

N/A 09/2013 > 09/2018 N/A

10/2013 > 09/2017

Recent Information and Communication projects in Belgium

Project Title Project Number Website Click on the icon to read the project summary Project duration

Increase awareness to curb horticultural introductions of invasive plants in Belgium (AlterIAS) European Week for Waste Reduction (Life EWWR+)

LIFE08 INF_B_000052

http://www.alterias.be 01/2010 > 12/2013 N/A

LIFE12 INF_BE_000459

07/2013 > 06/2017

Last update: 20/09/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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