Advancing Cross-Border Conservation in the Dutch-Belgian Borderlands
(c) Leo Reyrink
Following a verification visit conducted from August 9 to 11, 2026, verifier Leo Reyrink submitted the first evaluation report assessing the application of RivierPark Maasvallei and the Transboundary UNESCO Man & Biosphere Reserve KempenBroek for the EUROPARC accreditation “Transboundary Parks – Following Nature’s Design”.
Coordinated by the regional Belgian non-profit organisation Regionaal Landschap Kempen en Maasland (RLKM), this initiative connects Protected Areas across the Flemish and Dutch provinces of Limburg and North Brabant. The evaluation highlights decades of structured cooperation designed to restore habitats, manage shared landscapes, and strengthen cross-border regional identity.
Key Operational Highlights & Strengths
The evaluation report assesses the candidate areas across primary and secondary EUROPARC criteria, emphasising several core operational achievements:
1. Harmonised Vision and Governance Structures
- Both nature spaces operate under comprehensive masterplans: the RivierPark Maasvallei Masterplan and the KempenBroek Masterplan 2024–2047.
- Formal cross-border agreements guarantee operational targets and multi-year financing commitments involving state, provincial, and municipal partners across Belgium and the Netherlands.
- Dedicated governance bodies—including transboundary steering committees and specialised working groups—oversee areas such as nature management, sustainable tourism, environmental education, and flood protection.
2. On-the-Ground Ecological Restoration
- Significant wetland restoration projects in KempenBroek have reconnected fragmented habitats, resulting in ecological milestones such as the return of the European tree frog (Hyla arborea).
- Shared management in RivierPark Maasvallei utilises free-roaming cattle and horses to maintain natural riverbank dynamics along the river Meuse.
3. Community Engagement & Sustainable Tourism
- Active volunteer networks and regional ambassador programs (e.g., MaasVerkenners and KempenBroekVerkenners) lead regular educational tours.
- Dedicated visitor facilities—such as Visitor Centre De Wissen in Dilsen-Stokkem, the Kennis- en Information centre Elsloo, and NME De IJzeren Man in Weert—serve as primary educational hubs.
- Cross-border hiking networks, cycling routes, and electric river ferries provide sustainable recreational access across the river border.
Strategic Next Steps: STEC and Council Review
While the verification visit demonstrated strong alignment across primary criteria, secondary criteria, and field-of-work indicators, the formal certification decision remains pending.
The evaluation report and verifier proposals have now been officially submitted for formal review. The next steps in the certification workflow depend on the evaluation and final decision by the EUROPARC Steering and Evaluation Committee (STEC) and the EUROPARC Council.