Examples of progress

-Condition of endangered and protected groups of species (See: http://www.lne.be/themas/beleid/mina4/leeswijzer/Opvolging/biodiversiteit). The 2011-2015 policy plan targeted a progress of 10% in 2015 for the “butterfly index”, compared to 2004. It is assessed to have been reached in 2010; but is again decreasing compared to 2004. The target for the “overwintering water bird index” is a 10% progress in 2015, compared to 2005-2006; with an index value of 384 in 2012, 78% of the target of the MINA plan 4 (2011-2015) is reached. The goal was assessed to be reached at 77% in 2011, with a slight negative trend during the last years. The recent decline is a consequence of various factors. In a number of important areas the carrying capacity has been reached and numbers have stabilized or even dropped. Along the River Sea Scheldt, numbers declined considerably due to changes in the food supply as a result of improved water quality. It is likely that climate change is also an important and increasing factor in regionally changes in abundance and distribution.

-The Flemish ecological network (FEN). The ecological network is a network of linked protected and other valuable areas, so that species can migrate over the whole network. The FEN is supported by an 'Integral Interweaving and Supportive Network' (IVON) that is composed of so-called interweaving areas (150,000 ha) and of interconnecting areas between the natural areas of VEN and IVON. The 2011-2015 policy plan targeted 125,000 ha of Flemish ecological network (FEN), with nature as its primary function in 2015. This demarcation is outlined in regional planning programmes. In 2012, this goal is assessed to have been reached at 72%.

-Extension of the area with conservation management. The Flemish Environmental Policy Plan (2003-2010) targeted the creation of 50,000 ha of nature area with conservation management by 2007. These include the officially recognised nature and forest reserves managed by non-governmental organisations (NGO), the nature and forest reserves managed by the Flemish governmental Agency and the military sites mainly managed for conservation. At the beginning of 2003, the area with conservation management covered 29,480 ha, or 59% of the target. By the end of 2010 this increased to 43,241 ha (86% of the target). In the Flemish Environmental Policy Plan (2011-2015), this indicator focuses both on public and private grounds with an approved conservation plan. Like this, efforts on conservation management from private owners are taken into account. Grounds without an approved conservation plan are not included. According to this new definition, 46,556 ha or 77.5% of the target (60,000 ha) was achieved by the end of 2010. At the beginning of the planning period (2011) the area with conservation management was 63,329 ha or 90% of the raised target of 70,000ha.