Introductory note

Release date	16/02/2006

Following the State reforms in Belgium, it was decided in 1979 to transfer the competences on forests from the federal government to regional ministries. Regionalisation became effective in 1980, and from then on, different forest policies have been developed in the three regions of Belgium (the Walloon, Flemish and Brussels Regions).

For international affairs on forest and biodiversity issues, a Belgian position is defined by means of consultations between the different authorities (federal state and the 3 regions) and sectors (forestry, environment, agriculture, etc.) through a process based on a co-operation agreement (April 5, 1995) between the Federal State and the Regions on international environmental policy. The Coordinating Committee for International Environmental Policy (CCIEP) is in charge of this consultation process. It has established several steering committees, including one for the follow up of the Convention on Biological Diversity and one for the follow up of forest-related international issues.

In this regard, this report has been prepared following a consultation process that took place through the steering committee 'Biodiversity Convention', in which both federal and regional authorities are represented. Other group members include researchers and NGOs. After completion, the report was submitted to members of the steering committee 'Forests' for comments and approval.

Preparation process for the report: see at the end of the report (consultation process, stakeholders, references and online information).

Time-period covered in this report

The information provided covers the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on forest biological diversity until June 2002.

Note on the answers in the tick boxes

A cross without an abbreviation refers to an answer common to all actors. When a common answer could not be given, several crosses were used for one question, and the actor is identified by the following abbreviation:

Bxl Brussels Capital Region
Fl Flemish Region
Wa Walloon Region

Drafting of the report

The following persons contributed to the report:

Ir Jean-Yves ANDRÉ
Ministry of the Walloon Region (DGRNE)
Nature and Forests Division
U.C.L. - Unité des Eaux & Forêts
Place Croix du Sud 2, boîte 9
B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve

Dr Ir Etienne BRANQUART
Belgian Biodiversity Platform
Ministry of the Walloon Region
Nature, Forests and Wood Research Centre (CRNFB)
Avenue Maréchal Juin 23
B-5030 Gembloux

Ir Carl DE SCHEPPER
Ministry of the Flemish Region (AMINAL)
Flemish Forest Service
Koning Albert II-laan 20, bus 8
B-1000 Brussels

Dr Ir Anne FRANKLIN
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
Belgian CBD National Focal Point
Rue Vautierstraat 29
B-1000 Brussels

Dr Machteld GRYSEELS
Brussels Institute for the Management of the Environment
Gulledelle 100
B-1200 Brussels

Ir Christian LAURENT
Ministry of the Walloon Region (DGRNE)
Nature and Forests Division
Avenue Prince de Liège 15
B-5100 Jambes

Dr Jackie VAN GOETHEM
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
Belgian CBD National Focal Point
Rue Vautierstraat 29
B-1000 Brussels

Information material was sent by:

Ir Hugues LECOMTE
Permanent Forest Inventory
Nature, Forests and Wood Research Centre (CRNFB)
Avenue Maréchal Juin 23
B-5030 Gembloux

Ir Bart ROELANDT
Ministry of the Flemish Region (AMINAL)
Flemish Forest Service
Koning Albert II-laan 20 bus 8
B-1000 Brussels

Ir Kris VANDEKERKHOVE
Institute for Game Management (IBW)
Gaverstraat 4
B-9500 Geraardsbergen