The main Flemish agricultural union Boerenbond is poised to mount a legal challenge in Constitutional Court against recently recognised national parks, Het Belang van Limburg reported on Thursday.
On 13 October, the Flemish Government acknowledged four national parks: Bosland, Brabantse Wouden, Hoge Kempen, and Scheldevallei.
However, the Boerenbond disputes these recognitions, bar that of Hoge Kempen, and is appealing to the Council of State for intervention. The union argues that although Hoge Kempen could serve as a model for other parks, there is no support for these new national parks.
The group alleges that public inquiries were not carried out properly, denying property owners, stakeholders and interested parties a chance to respond. Flemish farmers have long expressed concern that the national parks may restrict their activities or operating licences, despite assurances in the decree that this should not be the case.
This case could potentially extend to the five landscape parks recognised by the Flemish government: Grenzeloos Bocageland, Haspengouw, Maasvallei, Vlaamse Ardennen and Zwinstreek.
