Work has begun at Groot Schietveld and in the Visbeek valley under the European LIFE HEROES project to restore wetlands, peat bogs and nutrient-poor wet heathland across 11 nature reserves in Flanders.
The Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests announced on Monday that the scheme aims to revive degraded wet habitats whose natural functions have been weakened over time.
Healthy wetlands can store carbon, but many no longer do so effectively because they have been drained or because water is removed too quickly. This has led to the loss of species typically found in marshes and peatlands.
When peatlands deteriorate, they can even become a source of carbon emissions rather than storing it.
Project manager Dirk Meersman said keeping water in the landscape for longer would make nature more resilient to dry summers, wildfire risk and heavy rainfall.
He said the works mark an important step from planning to implementation, with the project set to restore wetlands, give water more space to spread and create better conditions for vulnerable species.
In practical terms, the scheme is designed to reactivate the areas’ role as a natural sponge.
This would allow them to release stored water gradually during drought, recharge groundwater supplies when water is scarce and help natural areas better withstand fire risk.
