2.1 Promote equity and benefit sharing

• Mechanisms for equitable sharing of both costs and benefits arising from the establishment of protected areas

• socio-economic cost-benefit assessments for PA

=> study on public awareness

Flemish Region: report on a public awareness study and development of specific indicators was published in 2005, and public conference day organised in 2006.

Brussels Region : public awareness of biodiversity is under study

Federal marine area: study on public awareness - F. Maes et al. 2005. Een Zee van Ruimte – naar een ruimtelijk structuurplan voor duurzaam beheer van de Noordzee.  Uitg. Federaal Wetenschapbeleid 204pg. (CD in English)

• regulations and measures to promote  for public access to protected areas

=> regulations (law) and /or guidelines for public access are integrated in users agreements and often included in the management plan of the area – private and public reserves are open for public for leisure

=> several visitor centres and education centres are present in the 3 regions with information sets on the surrounding areas and on biodiversity issues, brochures and guided visits are made available for the public

=> public information : websites of regional, federal and local authorities and NGO’s developed portal websites under which specific themes such as nature conservation or protected areas or scientific studies can be consulted, for most protected areas information panels are set up on site and area specific brochures are published often at the establishment of the protected area, brochures on specific species(groups) or habitats and newsletters are published on a regular basis or at the occasion of a certain public event, guided tours for the public are organised by the administrations and especially the NGO’s on  weekly basis.

An important project in the Brussels Region is the “green walk” at the periphery of  the Brussels Capital Region which promote the controlled and “sustainable” access to green spaces and protected areas. 

• support to NGO’s for acquisition, management, public access of PA: regional authorities give financial support for NGO’s for the acquisition of land to be established as a nature reserve, for the management of the reserve and for the development of infrastructure for public access