Poster 29: Natuurinrichtingsproject 'het Vinne'

The provincial domain 'Het Vinne' (Vlaams-Brabant) has an area of approximately 130 ha and is situated in the valley of the 'Kleine Gete'. Before 1850, 'Het Vinne' was mainly a natural lake, with a surface of 100 ha and a depth of 2 to 3 m. Around 1850, drainage of the lake was started for agricultural purposes and poplars were planted. Nowadays, the domain is still drained by water pumps. Since the poplars are ready to be cut down, the Province, which became owner of the domain in the meantime, wants to make plans for the future of 'Het Vinne'. Therefore, it has asked the Institute for Nature Conservation to make an ecohydrological study of the domain. Afterwards, a nature management project was started. Aim is to partially restore the ancient situation through the natural (by stopping the water pumps) establishment of a lake with a surface of 60 ha and a depth of 1 m. In the dry areas around the lake, the forest will be conserved as much as possible. Much attention will also be dedicated to nature education. VLM and AMINAL (Nature Section) are now in the process of obtaining the necessary documents before starting the practical phase of the nature development plan. The project will probably be completed by the end of 2004.