INBO and VMM jointly monitor nitrogen status in European protected nature
The Flemish government is taking measures to structurally reduce the amount of nitrogen entering the natural environment, thus contributing to the conservation of European protected nature. In order to underpin the nitrogen policy scientifically and follow up its results, monitoring of nitrogen in nature is deployed. The long-term monitoring networks needed for this will be started or expanded from 2025 onwards by INBO and the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM).
New monitoring networks will allow INBO to evaluate the nitrogen status of the natural environment in Flanders every 3 to 6 years. For this purpose, nitrogen status in groundwater, surface water and soil will be measured in Natura 2000 habitats spread over Flanders. VMM will also measure ammonia concentrations in the air for one year at about a hundred measurement sites in Flemish nature reserves, complementing the existing long-term nitrogen monitoring network.
The 'maatwerkgebieden' receive extra attention: the nitrogen status is monitored at additional measuring points. We are also expanding the existing INBO network for biotic monitoring of habitat quality.
The groundwater monitoring network and atmospheric nitrogen measurements in the 'maatwerkgebieden' will start in 2025. In 2026, atmospheric ammonia concentrations will be monitored for one year and the surface water monitoring network will start. In 2027, the soil monitoring network will be rolled out. Field staff will regularly visit monitoring sites and install measuring devices, measure or take samples for analysis. The data collected will be incorporated into the PAS progress report and used to assess existing monitoring networks and models.
Karen Wuyts, Bo Van den Bril (VMM)
Image above (Shutterstock)
>> Full article in Dutch on the website of the Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij