Wolvenberg
Wolvenberg is the only recognized nature reserve within the Antwerp ring road.
Le projet
Wolvenberg is the only recognised nature reserve within the Antwerp ring road (R1). It was constructed along the former Brialmont rampart around Antwerp, but was heavily excavated during the construction of the ring road in the 1960s. The reserve consists of a few green zones along the ring road, which together cover just over 12 hectares and which are managed according to a recognised nature management plan. In addition to the natural values created in this way, this nature reserve also ties in with the (mainly floristic) nature-rich roadside landscape of the Antwerp ring road and thus forms part of an ecological connection between the nature zones around Antwerp.
Site du projet
Antwerpen (stad)
Contribution(s)
Coût du projet
Au-delà de 500.000 €
Participant(s)
For many years now, the volunteer management team of the local Natuurpunt department ensures the nature management. In addition, this nature reserve is part of countless local programmes (Brialmont Park, Ringpark Groene Vesten (ring road park), Visual Quality Plan Green Singel (green roadside landscape of the ring-motorway R1 and inner ring road Singel around Antwerp), Core Area (Green Singel/Wolvenberg) and essential Urban Ecological Connection (SEV) in the Antwerp Supra-local Green Plan, ...). As a consequence, we mainly work in close collaboration with the city administration and policymakers and, through various participation initiatives, also with the local residents and local associations.
Comment les critères de l’objectif sont-ils remplis ?
Zones urbaines et périurbaines
Initiatives éventuelles à laquelle le projet participe :
Protected areas - national and regional parcs - Natura 2000
Maintenance à long terme
The nature management plan is adapted to the Wolvenberg area and its surroundings, in such a way that the existing ecological qualities and their naturalness are respected and maintained. The management plan is designed to maximise conditions for native species and to ensure that the nature reserve is managed in a way that integrates it into the landscape and includes the heritage aspect (in this case, the military relic structures). The objective is to preserve ecological features in order to promote biodiversity as much as possible.
Bénéfices
Wolvenberg offers many advantages as a nature reserve. For biodiversity, especially urban biodiversity, it provides a vast green-blue space that promotes the recovery of fauna and flora in this densely populated area. Numerous animal and plant species live there, such as great cormorants, sparrowhawks, kingfishers, polecats, smooth and alpine newts, purple hairstreaks, a few rare clearwing moths, more than 130 species of wild pollinators, bee beetles and various species of jewel beetles, tons of pikes in the pond, almost 200 species of mushrooms, plant species such as broad-leaved helleborine and bee orchid, ... . The connection of Wolvenberg with other areas provides eco-connectivity between those areas, which also helps to prevent genetic erosion of populations. Appropriate management also allows for abundant and rich vegetation. Recent inventories showed that the area is, for example, very interesting for wild pollinators.The benefits for the population are numerous, but let us put forward the ecosystem services in the context of urban heat island mitigation and water buffering, and its major benefits for mental health as one of the few green accessible zones in an otherwise densely populated and highly paved area.
