One year before the end of the legislature, the Flemish government has replanted just over 1,127 hectares of forest – less than a third of the final target.
Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir promised 4,000 extra hectares of forest in Flanders by the end of 2024. This is a target that is also in the coalition agreement, in part through a decree which obliged cities and towns wishing to build on the additional ground to convert at least as much hard ground into forest, nature or agricultural land.
While net forest was added in Flanders for the first time in a long time between 2019 and 2021, the long-term ambition seems to be unachievable, opposition party Groen (Flemish Greens) argued. They stressed that the efforts currently being made are insufficient.
A total of 1,127.8 hectares of forest expansion has been achieved since the start of the legislature – just over 28% of the target. Based on projections, another 517 hectares will be added by the end of the legislature. This means that about 41% of the 4,000 hectares will be replanted, Flemish Green Party leader Mieke Schauvliege noted.
The Flemish government promised to replant 1,250 hectares of the total target, but Groen says that not even this goal will be fulfilled, as the government has so far only contributed just over 603 hectares, with another 427 hectares in the pipeline.
Protecting forests
So far, only the government agencies under Demir's tutelage have replanted forest land, with the Nature and Forest Agency and the Flemish Land Agency in the lead. There is available land elsewhere and commitments to afforest during the next planting season, but according to Schauvliege, "Demir's fellow ministers are refusing to offer 'their' space."
Meanwhile, more than 200 hectares of forest are still disappearing in Flanders on average every year. "Planting trees is one thing, but the Minister should also better protect the forests we do have," Schauvliege said.
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Demir stressed the fact that, despite a net loss of 1,500 hectares of forest in the period 2001-2019, the forest balance during this administrative period looks positive for the first time ever.
"Therefore, I call on all local governments, nature associations and private landowners to give their best in the upcoming planting season and plant as many additional forests as possible."
In addition, Demir believes that the Flemish Parliament should remove barriers to add new forests.
