On Sunday, around 200 people gathered for a tree-planting campaign at Kolverendries in Lubbeek.
This initiative by Greenpeace in collaboration with BOS+ saw the plantation of roughly 3000 trees of various native species throughout the afternoon.
"This is the third consecutive year we’ve organised such a campaign," Greenpeace revealed. Supporters were encouraged to gift a piece of forest to loved ones over the festive period, a spectacle that resulted in today's turnout.
Greenpeace and BOS+ experts are ensuring only indigenous species that maintain local biodiversity, such as the winter oak, winter linden, hazel, elder, and blackthorn, are planted. Indeed, nearly one hectare is projected to accommodate all 3000 trees.
Forest-deficient
Such an increase in natural spaces not only benefits biodiversity but also provides summer shade and holds water during winter periods.
"Flanders is among the most forest-deficient and urbanised regions of Europe with a football pitch’s worth of forest disappearing daily within the region. Not something to celebrate. Our efforts here today aim to reverse this alarming trend," the environmental organisation explained.
"Protection of existing forests is paramount, and that’s where we’re currently falling short," stated Ruth-Marie Henckes, Biodiversity Campaign Leader at Greenpeace Belgium.
"Hence, we urge the forthcoming Flemish Government to promptly impose a moratorium on the annihilation of our most valuable forests and demand a general deforestation cessation by 2030."
