Belgian Biodiversity Alliance
Biodiversity protects us when it is protected
Ready to contribute? Let's act together!
The Belgian Biodiversity Alliance is a national initiative in favour of biodiversity that aims to bring together actors from all sectors – citizens, companies, municipalities, financial institutions, administrations, etc. – around the same objective: to restore biodiversity and fight against its erosion in Belgium and beyond, in a very concrete way, through voluntary engagements.
The BBA aims to create a network across Belgium, of both actors and initiatives, in support of the national, European and global targets on biodiversity towards the 2050 Vision of living in harmony with nature for the benefit of people and the Planet (United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity vision).
Belgium is a densely populated and highly urbanised country, with limited and fragmented open spaces between stretches of urban and low density peri-urban areas. It also has a high ecological footprint due to its specific production and consumption patterns, high volumes of importations, exportations and transits. To optimise its contribution to the biodiversity objectives, both in Belgium and abroad, the BBA will focus on two pathways that address the specific Belgian challenges.
2 axes - 10 objective
The engagements are structured around a set of ten objectives that reflect the key issues on biodiversity in Belgium.
For each of these two axes, five quantified objectives have been developed. They provide an ambitious but realistic framework, based on existing targets at national and European levels.
For each of the objectives, criteria are provided to validate and monitor the engagements.
AXE 1
Expanding the green-blue network in, around and between cities to enhance biodiversity.
Urban and peri-urban areas
Buildings and infrastructures
Bed & Breakfasts for wild pollinators
Nature-based solutions
Ecological connectivity
AXE 2
Belgium has a high ecological footprint and puts significant pressure on biodiversity. It is due to its dense population, its specific production and consumption patterns and its high volumes of importations, exportations and transits. These production and consumption patterns have negative consequences on Belgian territory but also abroad, as Belgium is a large importer of commodities and products. This results in loss, fragmentation and degradation of natural habitats and ecosystems, such as forests, savannahs, wetlands, mangroves, rivers. To achieve sustainability and resilience of various economic sectors, it is imperative to shift Belgian consumption and production patterns. Accounting for impacts on biodiversity is also crucial. This shift will benefit and enhance biodiversity in Belgium and abroad.
Local and neutral for biodiversity crops & animal products
Neutral for biodiversity primary production areas
Neutral for biodiversity imported commodities
Surplus food
Biodiversity-friendly financial flows
Ready to take action?
Join us and let's reach our goals together!
Model projects
Wetlands4Cities
Wetlands4Cities is a project by Natuurpunt in collaboration with Ecover,
Forestbase
Forestbase est un précurseur dont l'ambition est de montrer au monde la vraie valeur financière de la nature.
Travaux d’infrastructures et biodiversité
The streets Zilverberkstraat and Leeuwerikstraat form an existing part of the town, but were completely redone. An ideal opportunity to rethink the approach to stormwater.
Make stormwater runoff from buildings more sustainable
There are also many service buildings within Aquafin's patrimony. These need to be systematically renovated.
Enhancing local biodiversity
Aquafin has more than 200 wastewater treatment plants in Flanders. Since 2021, all these plants are being converted into fully biodiverse locations and maintained as such.
Greening the wastewater pumping stations
Our aim is to reduce the amount of concrete used. Less pavement means greater infiltration and a reduction in the warming effect.
Solar panels and biodiversity
Aquafin is a large consumer of electricity and made the choice several years ago to use only green and renewable electricity.
Organic farm 'Natuurboerderij Bolhuis'
La ferme naturelle « Het Bolhuis » est une ferme d'élevage biologique qui travaille en étroite collaboration avec « Natuurpunt » et « Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos » (ANB).
Partners
Hasselt University
Jane Goodall Institute Belgium
Leefmilieu Brussel - Bruxelles Environnement
SPW Agriculture, Ressources naturelles et Environnement
FPS Health, Food chain safety and Environment
Regionale Landschappen
Agentschap Natuur en Bos
Instituut Natuur-en Bosonderzoek
Kick Belgium asbl
Vlaams Bijeninstituut
De Bosgroepen
Belgian Biodiversity Platform
The Shift
