Actions related to objective 7.2

Full text of the objective 7.2 "Promote and encourage research which contributes to the knowledge and understanding of Belgium's biodiversity " from the National Strategy

Flanders:

see 7.1

• TWOL-progr
• MR403 Thema-overschrijdende en themagebonden onderzoeksprogramma's initiëren

 Brussels:

Financial support and other logistic support is given to universities and scientific institutes tot do research on Brussels biodiversity (several monitoring programs, evaluation water quality,...).

Walloon Region:

En 2002-2006, un investissement significatif en matière de recherches sur la Biodiversité a été mis en place dans le cadre du dossier Natura2000. Un programme spécifique aux milieux forestiers existait aussi dans l'accord cadre forestier. Depuis 2006, ces deux filières potentielles ont été interrompues.

Federal:

Since 2000 the Belgian Biodiversity Platform promotes and encourages research which contributes to the knowledge and understanding of biodiversity in Belgium and beyond. To promote Belgium research it represents the Belgian research community in several international reserach and science policy organisations including the international scientific programme DIVERSITAS and the European Platform for Biodiversity Research Startegies.

On 4 March 2005, the Council of Ministers approved the research programme « Science for a Sustainable Development" (2005-2009). Biodiversity issues have been addressed in the second call for proposals. The selected research projects contribute to improve the knowledge and understanding of biodiversity- notably but not exclusively in Belgium. Research is intended to generate data and information of relevant use for conservation and management in the long term.

Future actions:

• Design research projects in such a way that the expected results can guide and underpin immediate actions and generate data that may help to plan and achieve biodiversity conservation and management in the long term;
• Give research impulses in the areas of taxonomy and ecology, including inventory projects, protocols for rapid biodiversity assessment, and programmes for long-term monitoring, as well as detailed ad hoc conservation initiatives (for example in nature reserves and other protected areas);
• Promote establishment of thematic inventories (agricultural biodiversity, medicinal plants biodiversity) and precise cartography of plants related to potentially imminent GMO cultures;
• Conduct a comprehensive overview of genetic resources in Belgium.
• Make an analysis of poorly known/studied groups, ecosystems and habitats, i.a. based on the Country study 'Biodiversity in Belgium',and try to address these gaps by taking this analysis into account in research financing programmes.