Working together for grassland conservation in the Vlaamse Ardennen
In Flanders, VITO, INBO, ILVO and VLM are participating in the European research project MOSAIC. This is done in close cooperation with the Landschapspark Vlaamse Ardennen. The aim is to preserve grasslands and their specific landscape quality.
MOSAIC focuses on understanding land use change in Europe through qualitative and quantitative research into the drivers of these changes. Historical modelling by VITO shows that grasslands are gradually disappearing in Flanders, and a bit more in the Vlaamse Ardennen. This is due to the intensification of land use and increasing cultivation. It leads to the loss of the diverse bocage landscape, with negative consequences such as erosion and loss of specific habitats. Of course, this issue is not unique to the Vlaamse Ardennen, and experiences will also be shared with the other landscape parks.
In June 2024, we looked at the diversity and complexity of grasslands in the Vlaamse Ardennen, and listened to the stories of local grassland users. On 18 September, this conversation continued with an interactive workshop to identify priority grasslands and their benefits and threats. Themes included the trade-off between botanical value and forage value of grasslands, and the role of horse owners. Some potential opportunities were also identified, e.g. new partnerships, using public land and organising knowledge transfer on sustainable grassland management. This was just the beginning of a fruitful dialogue. We are pleased with the results and look forward to the next steps in the coming months.
Louise Vercruysse, Francis Turkelboom
Image above: site visit in June (photo INBO)