Actions related to objective 8.2

Full text of the objective 8.2 "Promote understanding of the importance of biodiversity and improve the knowledge of Belgium's biodiversity (outside the school system)" from the National Strategy

Flanders:

• activities of Visitor Centres, projects by Division for Nature and Environment Education of the Department;
• financial support for Nature/Environment NGO's for awareness and educational programmes
• organisation/participation in events related to biodiversity: outings, conferences, markets, fairs,...
• public consultation and brochures on the Environment & Nature Policy Plan, Press conferences such as for the launch of Nature Reports NARA and Environmental and Nature Reports MIRA, newsletters, booklets and leaflets, etc..

• MR282 Communicatiebeleid ontwikkelen en uitvoeren
• MR416 Natuur- en milieueducatie uitbreiden naar nieuwe doelgroepen: Natuur- en milieueducatie kent een eigen coördinatiemechanisme dat verder gaat dan het Vlaamse overheidsapparaat. Het gaat om een natuur- en milieueducatief netwerk waarin ook de departementen onderwijs, welzijn, volksgezondheid en cultuur, milieu- en natuurverenigingen, onderwijsnetten en provincies betrokken zijn. Naast blijvende en intense aandacht voor nme binnen het onderwijs willen we in deze planperiode ook het buitenschoolse nme bij jongeren (jeugdwerk) en bij volwassenen en gezinnen (vormingsorganisaties) ontwikkelen en stimuleren.

Brussels:

The biodiversity theme is integrated in the general education and public awareness programmes of the Brussels Institute for Environmental management (brochures, leaflets,... presence at fairs, events,... actions oriented to families, schools, citizens,...).
Financial and logistic support is given to NGO's for awareness and educational programs.
There is an active participation in events related to biodiversity (conferences, faires,...).
Public consultation and information campaigns for biodiversity action are organised (e.a. extension of protected areas in forest).

Walloon Region:

• The Walloon Region has developed an extended network of ‘Centres Régionaux d'Initiation à l'Environnement' (CRIE), centres for environmental education and awareness. Their actions are mainly (but not exclusively) oriented towards school children aged 6-12.
• Naturalists' associations are financed in view to organise public awareness and education activities oriented towards nature conservation (e.g. excursions, visits of nature reserves, management of nature reserves, publications, etc.) or towards specific thematic areas (e.g. forests, quality of watercourses, etc.).
• The Nature Department of the The Walloon Region also launches regularly thematic nature protection or development operations, which always include an important public awareness and educational part. Some examples of projects include the protection of bats, migration of amphibians, the migration of black storks (www.explorado.com) .
• the Nature and Forest Division launched several partnerships with municipalities aiming among others to sensibilise and involve them in the preservation and development of their natural heritage: ‘Plans Communaux de Développement de la Nature', the road verges operation, ‘Combles-et-Clochers', the tree week, etc.;
• the waterway schemes (Contrats de Rivières) also intend to involve rural actors into a participative process designed to enhance or restore biodiversity at a local scale and to make public awareness about nature conservation issues.
• the Order adopted on 08.02.2002 by the Walloon Region regulates the approbation of organisations involved with the education and sensibilisation on nature and forests as well as the attribution of grants for their training and sensibilisation activities.
• Natural parks and Ramsar sites have organized public awareness and education activities related to inland waters.
• Information sessions related to Natura 2000 have been organized by the Nature department of the Walloon region.
• Life projects also include information and public awareness of potential stakeholders and local communities.
• Many brochures on nature conservation have been published by the Nature and Forestry department of the Walloon region (on Natura 2000, birds, wetland's, ....) .
• For the French-speaking community, a specific tv programme ‘Jardin Extraordinaire' addresses nature and biodiversity topics from Belgium and worldwide. For the moment, the Dutch-speaking community seems to lack such a programme.

Federal:

• Booklet 'Biodiversiteit in België: een overzicht / La biodiversité en Belgique: un aperçu' .
• Booklet 'Biodiversiteit in België: van vitaal belang / La biodiversité en Belgique: une question vitale'.
• Booklet 'Biodiversiteit in België: de opmars van exoten / La biodiversité en Belgique: SOS invasions'.
• Campaign 'Ik geef leven aan mijn planeet / Je donne via à ma planète' (booklet + website).
• Booklet on biodiversity: ‘Biodiversité: construire pour demain?!' ; awareness campaign on the North Sea; GMO day open to all stakeholders
• Présentation des outils de sensibilisation et de la campagne d'engagement à diverses occasions
• 2010: Année de la biodiversité: le Muséum de Sciences Naturelles ouvrira une salle "Biodiversité"

Future actions:

• Convince people of the necessity to evolve towards sustainable production, consumption, land use and mobility patterns;
• Use as well modern technologies and expanding access to electronic communication and traditional communication systems (public media, local press, weekly TV and radio programmes on nature and biodiversity, thematic exhibitions, round-table discussions, etc.);
• Strive to include the production of acknowledged tools like brochures in continuous and sponsored schemes making these tools, regularly reviewed and updated, available for free on a continuous basis.
• The meaning of biodiversity and the consequences of its decline should be communicated in terms that are tailored to the specific audience concerned.
• Find creative and innovative ways and means, among others using modern technologies, to reach varied audiences.
• NGOs, naturalist associations, youth organisations, educational institutions and museums, research institutions, government agencies and the media should be encouraged by Federal, Regional or municipality bodies to ensure the continued availability of accurate and persuasive information about the benefits, costs and means of biodiversity protection;
• Specific yearly programmes and fairs organized by these organisations (such as the International Biodiversity Day on 22 May and events related to specific sites or species) should also be supported.
• Several local participatory instruments (for instance Communal Plans for Nature Development, River Contracts and Natural Parks) and local initiatives providing a public service on environmental information and awareness (for instance Nature Education Centres for visitors near the main natural reserves, CRIE) must be supported and developed further.