Primary production areas - Belgian Biodiversity Alliance

By 2030, 500.000 hectares of primary production areas in Belgium have at least a neutral impact on biodiversity.

Primary production (agriculture, forestry, mining, energy production, etc…) in general has a large detrimental impact on biodiversity, but there are practices promoting production methods that conserve biodiversity. Reducing pressure of Belgian primary production on biodiversity in different sectors is key to ensure resilience and to fight against the challenges our society is facing.

So far, most of primary production has led to destruction of natural habitats and nesting sites, fragmentation of ecological network, unsustainable use of land and water, air, water and soil pollution, etc. Local primary production needs to aim at integrating biodiversity in practices in order to preserve it, rebuild the ecological network, preserve the soils, use in a more efficient way water and land, emit less greenhouse gases and so forth, while providing qualitative products.

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What are the objectives to be achieved?

Sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity and its components
Reducing detrimental impacts on biodiversity of primary production
Integration of biodiversity concerns in primary production activities
Promotion of local production
Restoration and enhancement of the connectivity of the ecological network

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Criteria to be reflected in voluntary commitments:

Use biodiversity-inclusive production methods: rotation of crops/trees, crop mixtures, permanent plant coverage, agroforestry/ecology, reduced tillage, biodiversity-oriented management, no pesticides/chemicals, non-chemical production, organic production/manure, nature-based solutions, ecosystem restoration, reforestation with local and mixed tree species, …;
Develop the land by incorporating biodiversity and provide an area dedicated to biodiversity (e.g. additional flowerbeds, absence/reduction of tillage/mowing/management in a certain area, insect hotel, reorganization of mining sites);
Have respect for and/or improve the environmental and ecological characteristics of the area;
As much naturalness as possible/as little alteration as possible of the surrounding environment (landscape, quality of water, of soil, …);
Promote the preservation of green and blue areas by limiting the expansion of land use;
Incorporate these production methods into the surrounding environment (e.g. promote ecological continuity) to reduce their negative impact on the land.

Projects and initiatives "Primary production areas"

Primary production areas

The Argenteau Forest

Conservation of the Argenteau forest through mixed forestry practices with continuous cover, in order to promote the resilience of the stands while taking into account the opinions of users of this forest open to the general public.

Primary production areas