Action related to objective 2.1

Full text of the objective 2.1: "Investigate and monitor the effects of activities and processes that threaten components of biodiversity in Belgium and their causes" from the National Strategy

Flanders:

• ENVI-indicators website, NARA + MIRA reports on pressure indicators
• information on land use changes are given through the monitoring programmes and actualisation of Biological Evaluation Maps, actualisation of GIS layers for the preparation of changes in land destination plans, project based vegetation mapping, monitoring of contracts under the Rural Development Programme.
• fragmentation atlas
• monitoring of the water quality, and thus also of pollution and eutrophication, is conducted throughout the region.
• protocol with NL for Schelde, Maas.
• diverse TWOL-studies voor verschillende thema's
• MINA-project 35 Meetnetten en monitoring: emissie-inventaris en ecologische monitoring; monitoringsdatabank en website "Milieu- en natuurmonitoring Vlaanderen"; behoefteanalyse monitoring waterkwaliteit in relatie tot natuurmonitoring (TWOL); audit verzurende deposities en intensieve bosmonitoring; audit meetnetten waterbodem en palingmeetnet
• Monitoring i.k.v. verzuring (bv. Signaalkaarten voor verzuring voor het VEN en de groengebieden)
• monitoring i.k.v. emissiereductieprogramma's (NEC) . geïntegreerde monitoringprogramma's i.k.v. Kaderrichtlijn Water (bv. waterbodemmeetnet)
• monitoringsprogramma's voor ontsnippering- en vismigratieherstelprojecten
• monitoringsproject opgestart voor visdoorgangen op de Weerijs en Mark
• MR361 milieueffecten van het mobiliteitsbeleid opvolgen: monitoringsysteem nodig
• MINA-project 30 Milieu en mobiliteit: uitwerking monitoringsysteem verkeersdruk
• uitbouw en optimalisering van bestaande monitoringmeetnetten, waaronder nitratenmeetnetten oppervlaktewater en grondwater
• relatie milieukwaliteit, randvoorwaarden en natuurdoeltypen werden in kaart gebracht
• Klimaatproblematiek? (fenologie soorten, entregeling ecosystemen) in kaart gebracht

Brussels:

• Actualisation of GIS layers for the preparation of changes in land destination plans.
• Monitoring of the water quality, and thus also of pollution and eutrophication, is conducted throughout the Brussels Region
  - Specific monitoring programs in the framework of the Water Directive in setup.
  - Several monitoring programs of water quality (rivers and ponds)
• Monitoring of air pollution.
• Monitoring of soil pollution.
• Monitoring and evaluation of IAS is going on through the inventory of species groups.

Walloon Region:

The dashboard of the walloon environment (http://environnement.wallonie.be/eew/default.aspx)monitors presents the major trends that came out of the analysis of the 63 environmental indicators for different elements who can have direct or indirect impacts on biodiversity (air, water, soil, land use, flora-fauna and habitats, households, business, agriculture, forest management, transport, energy, waste, noise, tourism). 

Federal:

• Over-exploitation/over-fishing: Monitoring Section of the Sea Fisheries Department
• INPLANBEL research project on the evaluation of the threat from invasive alien species
• Monitoring of emissions of greenhouse gases (see www.climat.be/inventemis/inventaire1.html). Monitoring of climate change effects: national communications on climate (www.environment.fgov.be/Root/tasks/atmosphere/klim/pub/natcom/set_fr.htm).
• Study ongoing on "inventaire des resaux de surveillance belges en matière d'agriculture, d'environnement, et de santé humaine et animale, en vue d'identifier les reseaux de surveillance utilisables pour la surveillance générale des OGMs"
• study in preparation on the impacts of the development of biofuel in Belgium, in particular the use of GM plants
• study in 2005 on the elaboration of a methodology of studies on environmental risk assesment for the hybridation between GM crops and indigenous flora in Belgium

Future actions:

• Carry a study on actual and potential costs of Invasive Alien Species in Belgium;