Replicating Region – East Flanders

Ghent (French: Gand) is the capital and largest city of the Belgian province of East Flanders. Ghent has an area of 15,777 hectares and has more than 260,000 (registered) inhabitants (2020), making it the second largest city in Belgium by population, after Antwerp. It is also a well-known student city. You can always find these students on the banks of the Graslei when the sun is shining.

The Province of East-Flanders can be divided in two subregions separated by the Scheldt river: in the south, an undulating landscape mostly with small water courses, and in the north, the Flemish valley. The central and north-eastern part of the province is highly urbanised. The rural areas within the southern part have arable land and livestock production, with a mixture of biodiverse woodlands, often part of the NATURA2000 network.

Facts and Figures

Total surface: 298.200 ha
Houses and gardens 39.362 ha
Transport infrastructure 18.488 ha
Agricultural buildings and infrastructure: 2.386 ha
Recreational areas: 6.859 ha
Forests: 19.681 ha
Agricultural land: 95.424 ha
Watercourses: 8.051 ha
Companies and business parks: 5.368 ha
Shrubland: 2.087 ha
Natural wetland: 1.491 ha

Principal climate change challenges :

East-Flanders is facing severe water-related risks in the current changing climate: extreme episodes of water scarcity, periods of extreme rainfall and related flooding, fluvial flooding of the rivers Scheldt, Leie, Dender and Durme. This is the case for the Moervaart valley. In the hilly southern part (“Vlaamse Ardennen”), climate change will double the water erosion of the highly fertile arable land. Heavy rainfall in these valleys causes flooding of villages, residential and industrial areas. Attention to nutrient and pesticide runoff due to farming activities is also taken to prevent the contamination of water bodies in the region.

Existing strategic engagements:

The Blue Deal of the Flemish Government funds a wide variety of water-management related projects. It focuses on 70 action lines, grouped into 7 tracks. Numerous project calls and projects are funded under the Blue Deal, many of which focus on NBS and other non-grey infrastructure works for better soil and water management, infiltration, and removal of sealed infrastructure, etc.

East- Flanders in NBRACER

The insights and experiences gained from the South-Western Flemish Ardennes, the Moervaart Valley, and the Water+Land+Schap project will be applied and followed up in East Flanders. Managed by the Flanders Environment Agency (VLM), these areas serve as important testbeds for implementing nature-based solutions (NbS). Within the NBRACER framework, VLM will gather valuable knowledge on the practical application of NbS, focusing on the factors that contribute to their successful implementation. This will involve addressing regional climate adaptation needs, considering the socio-economic context, and strengthening the ecosystem services provided by the NbS.

Land Development Project (LIP) – South-Western Flemish Ardennes

The Land Development Project (LIP) in the South-Western Flemish Ardennes aims to define and implement nature-based solutions (NbS) that are tailored to the region’s specific characteristics. These solutions will be developed as practical measures to improve local resilience, biodiversity, and water management, providing a model for replication in other regions. By adopting a regionally focused approach, the project seeks to identify scalable NbS interventions that align with the area’s unique environmental conditions and socio-economic factors.

Water+Land+Schap Project & Climate Working Group VLM Region West

The Water+Land+Schap project, in collaboration with the Climate Working Group of the VLM West Flanders Region, will identify the most relevant NbS measures from ongoing regional efforts. These measures will be integrated into a newly developed NbS portfolio, which will guide both future demonstration and replication projects. By focusing on the most effective NbS strategies already in use, the project will enhance the region’s capacity for climate adaptation while ensuring that local communities benefit from improved environmental services.

Gracht Hogedreef thv oversteek Stenenbrug

Moervaartvallei Project - Kalvekant-Reepkens-Oostdonk-Maaibos

The Moervaartvallei project covers the Kalvekant, Reepkens, Oostdonk, and Maaibos regions and will explore how nature-based solutions can be implemented in these interconnected landscapes. Special attention will be given to improving water retention, flood prevention, and ecosystem restoration. The project will assess how NbS can be employed in these areas to create a balanced approach to land and water management, ensuring that local agricultural practices coexist with healthy natural habitats and enhanced water management systems.

Case Study: Maaibos - Wetland restauration

Maaibos presents an opportunity to further develop the "wet nature" concept, a nature-based solution focused on wetland restoration. This existing concept will be refined and evaluated for its potential replication within the NBRACER framework. By investigating the role of wetland ecosystems in climate change adaptation, Maaibos will serve as a demonstration project, highlighting the ecological benefits of wetland restoration, such as increased biodiversity, improved water quality, and enhanced flood resilience.