Case Study
Collection of projects about agriculture and rural development in Wallonia’s Nature Parks (Belgium)
Contact name
Nicolas Netherlandt
Institution name
Fédération des Parcs naturels de Wallonie (BE)
Region & country
Wallonia (Belgium)
Summary
The 12 Wallonia’s nature parks strive to be a model of development between people and nature on territories that are not confined within municipal boundaries. The desire to develop a territory harmoniously by creating a nature park first arose around the High Fens Nature Preserve in eastern Belgium.
Wildlife and environmental conservation, spatial planning, economic and rural development, and all-around awareness raising are at the heart of their missions. All these subjects have made inroads in our society…and proven their worth.
Background of the project
Walloon Government Decree of 3 July 2008 sets the following mission for nature parks:
- Protecting, managing, and promoting the use of the region’s natural and landscape assets.
- Helping to set up and guide spatial planning projects in line with sustainable development principles.
- Encouraging sustainable development that contributes to local, economic, and social development.
- Organising tourist facilities, education, and information for the public at large.
Agriculture and rural development are crucial in the Walllonia region. The natural parks can play a key role to relate agriculture practices and nature conservation, to support sustainable agriculture, to promote local products, to improve the knowledge of farming to the consumers and public awareness.
See more in the link of each project.
E.G.: LES SOLS AGRICOLES DU PAYS DES COLLINES
https://www.parcsnaturelsdewallonie.be/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/projets_parcs_naturels_2017_web-24.pdf
Solution and actions taken
Around 28 projects have been promoted by the nature parks regarding farming practices, local products, soil, water, domestic and traditional species, awareness.
See more in the link of each project.
E.G. : DES OUTILS POUR LUTTER CONTRE LES INONDATIONS
https://www.parcsnaturelsdewallonie.be/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Erosion_Parc_naturel_Plaines_Escaut.pdf
A huge number of actions have been implemented in the frameworks of these projects.
See more in the link of each project.
E.I.: L’AUTONOMIE FOURRAGÈRE DANS NOS FERMES, C’EST POSSIBLE !
https://www.parcsnaturelsdewallonie.be/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Autonomie-fourrag%C3%A8re-Parc-naturels-Collines-Escaut.pdf
Other institutions or parties involved
Parks, Wallonia Region, local stakeholders, farmers, associations, GAL, the Federation of Nature Parks of Wallonia.
See more in the link of each project.
E.I. : TERROIRLUX : LES CLÉS DE LA CONSOMMATION LOCALE EN UN CLIC
https://www.parcsnaturelsdewallonie.be/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/TerroirLux_Parc_naturel_Haute_S%C3%BBre_For%C3%AAt_Anlier.pdf
Results
Better communication between parks and farmers, improvement of the image of the farmers towards the public and the consumers, and support the relation between farmers and public authorities.
See more in the link of each project.
E.I: COLLINARIA, LE FESTIVAL GOURMAND DU PAYS DES COLLINES
https://www.parcsnaturelsdewallonie.be/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Collinaria_Parc_naturel_Pays_Collines.pdf
Challenges
Need to connect farming and biodiversity, lack of knowledge and awareness, work of farmers not well recognized, need to protect the soil, need to promote local products, land abandonments.
See more in the link of each project.
E.I. : AGRICULTURE ET BIODIVERSITÉ, UN DÉFI TERRITORIAL !
https://www.parcsnaturelsdewallonie.be/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/projets_parcs_naturels_2017_web-14.pdf
Lessons learned
Better collaboration and dialogue between farmers, protected areas, public authorities and public is the key.
See more in the link of each project.
E.I: STRUCTURATION D’UNE FILIÈRE LOCALE DE VALORISATION DE L’ÉPEAUTRE
https://www.parcsnaturelsdewallonie.be/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/projets_parcs_naturels_2017_web-23.pdf
Contact name
Nicolas Netherlandt
Institution name
Fédération des Parcs naturels de Wallonie (BE)