Have you always wanted to learn more about ecological connectivity or Natura 2000? Or do you want to expand your network within the LIFE Nature projects? This year the InterLIFE, which is an annual meeting of Belgian LIFE Nature coordinators and other interested, will be held at 5 and 6 October in Saint-Hubert (BE). The main theme is ‘Ecological connectivity’ and how it can improve the functionality and capacity of the Natura 2000 network.
On the program are presentations of LIFE projects, including the LIFE BNIP project, but also several field trips are planned each day. Interesting visits will be held in frame of the LIFE Saint-Hubert and LIFE Elia project. We’ll take a look at the restoring of bogs in the Walloon region and how ecological corridors are created under high-voltage power lines. The detailed program can be found below.
Hurry up and register for the event! There are still some places left.
4th October 2016
- 19:00 – Optional “get together” dinner : typical Belgian dishes and beer
5th October 2016
- Registration and welcome coffee
- LIFE project presentations
- LIFE+ OZON: construction of 20 wildlife passages in a cross-border cooperation between three
Belgian regions. (S. Vanonckelen, LIFE+ OZON) - LIFE+ Scalluvia restores alluvial forests and creeks in the flood control area ‘Polders van Kruibeke’
(Belgium). Here, nature restoration, flood control and recreation are successfully combined with
the help of many. (V. Campens, LIFE+ Scalluvia) - A master plan for restoring bogs connectivity in the Walloon Region (P. Dufrêne, ULg)
- LIFE+ OZON: construction of 20 wildlife passages in a cross-border cooperation between three
- 10:30 – Coffee break
- 11:00 – LIFE project presentations
- LIFE Elia-RTE : finding win-win solution for ecological biodiversity along the electrical grid (S. de
Voghel, LIFE Elia-RTE) - Ups-and-downs of therenaturation of the Tretterbaach river at Leresmillen (M. Molitor, LIFE
EISLEK) - Green and blue infrastructure (P. De Corte, LIFE Green4Energy)
- LIFE Elia-RTE : finding win-win solution for ecological biodiversity along the electrical grid (S. de
- 12:00 – Lunch (Belgian buffet)
- 14:00 – Field trip : restoring bogs in the Walloon Region (LIFE Tourbières) and
enhancing biodiversity under high-voltage lines (LIFE Elia-RTE sites) - 17:30 – end of field trip
- 19:30 – International Buffet, regional specialties with contributions from the
visiting projects. Drinks will be proposed at the bar (to be paid by participants)
6th October 2016
- 08:30 – LIFE project presentations
- Boosting Natura 2000 by connecting people (T. Andries, LIFE BNIP)
- Action plan for connecting Crested newt populations (T. Goret, LIFE Prairies bocagères)
- LIFE in Quarries : Dynamic management of biodiversity in active quarries (A. Sneessens, LIFE
InQuarries) - LIFE PAYS MOSAN : Actions related to the ecological connectivity and concrete example in the
Netherlands (T. Ory, LIFE Pays Mosan) - Uitkerkse Polder, large-scale restoration of a poldercomplex at the Belgian coast’ (L. Gheysens, LIFE
Uitkerkse Polder)
- 10:30 – Coffee break
- 11:00 – Sharing experience and feedbacks : roundtables
- Table 1 : Working on ecological connectivity
- Table 2 : Biological indicators in LIFE projects
- 12:00 – Lunch (Belgian buffet)
- 13:30 – Field trip : enhancing biodiversity under high-voltage lines (LIFE Elia-RTE sites)
- 16:00 – END of the InterLIFE at the Hotel Val de Poix
The event is organized by LIFE Elia. LIFE Elia is a LIFE project which has been awarded with a Natura 2000 award, read the full article here. LIFE Elia aims to create green corridors for biodiversity under high-tension lines in wooded areas in Belgium and France.
Want to learn more about LIFE Elia? Visit their website here.
