Stiemervallei: groen-blauwe levensader in Genk

This projects aims at:

• Restoring the natural dynamics of the valley, feeding the Stiemer and a new parallel stream with clean surface water, rainwater and seepage flows. Rainwater infiltration into the ground in the core area as well as in the surrounding flanks of the valley.
• Improvement of the natural wealth and landscape in the valley by developing various types of nature such as a marsh stream or a flow-through marsh.
• Increasing biodiversity and its perception by interventions to create more variety of nature (reed marshes, wet grasslands, dry moors and oak-birch forests)
• Connecting urban neighbourhoods to each other and to the valley by creating accessible paths (valley route) or neighbourhood walks with informal loops through the valley.
• Creation of public places (gardens and public spaces) that invite to stay, use and meet in order to strengthen the connection between the city and valley.
• Targeted actions to enhance the experience of and interaction with the landscape.

Nature-based solutions

• Use nature/natural processes that support biodiversity to address the challenges related to climate change, water management (including flood management) and land degradation.
• Have respect for and/or improve the specific environmental and ecological characteristics of the area (e.g. the topography, the type of landscape, the local plant and animal life, …).
• Incorporate those natural processes into the surrounding area and environment.
• Implement those natural processes in a way that is consistent with other actions undertaken to address these challenges (e.g. rehabilitate native plant species around water amenities that are set up to improve water management, …).
• Strengthen ecological connectivity between nature-based solutions and surrounding natural areas.

Urban and peri-urban areas

• Respect and/or improve the specific ecological characteristics of the area (e.g. the topography, the type of landscape, the local plant and animal life)
• Set up a biodiversity-friendly management system (e.g. rewilding, reduced mowing of parks, gardens, talus, ponds, no chemicals)
• As much naturalness as possible/as little alteration as possible of the initial landscape (landscape, quality of water, of soil, …)
• Incorporate the developments into the surrounding area and environment
• Use native species/subspecies that are more resilient and resistant to climate change, if appropriate

• For natural areas: nature management according to nature management plan. Mowing, grazing, coppice management, creating pools, heath management, exotic species control, debris and litter clearance, planting various native shrubs and forest conversion are some examples. We are currently building a godparenthood where local residents and volunteers patronise a sub-area, hosting, monitoring evolutions and being able to flag items: finger on the pulse and involvement.
• For urban and suburban areas: combination of extinsive and intensive management depending on location and design