List of protected areas of Belgium
There are numerous protected areas in Belgium with a wide variety of types, protection levels and sizes. The below list gives an overview of the most important protected areas.
National parks
[edit]There are currently five national parks in Belgium, De Hoge Kempen National Park opening in 2006.[1][dubious – discuss]. In 2022 two national parks were designated in Wallonia: Parc National de L'Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse and Parc National de la Vallée de la Semois. In 2023 three national parks were designated in Flanders: Nationaal Park Scheldevallei, Nationaal Park Bosland and Nationaal Park Brabantse Wouden.
| Photo | Name | Founded in | Area (km2) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hoge Kempen National Park | 2006 | 127 |
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|
L'Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse National Park | 2022 | 221.29 |
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|
Vallée de la Semois National Park | 2022 | 290 |
|
Brabantse Wouden National Park | 2023 | |
|
Scheldevallei National Park | 2023 | |
|
Bosland National Park | 2023 |
Natural parks
[edit]There are many natural parks in Belgium, including 9 in Wallonia (called Parcs Naturels).
| Photo | Name | Founded in | Area (km2) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hohes Venn – Eifel Nature Park | 1978 | 720 | This natural park is a transboundary park between Belgium and Germany. |
|
Burdinale-Mehaigne Nature Park | 1991 | 110 | |
|
Two Ourthes Nature Park | 2001 | 760 | |
| Upper Sure Anlier Forest Nature Park | 2001 | 720 | ||
| Attert Valley Nature Park | 1994 | 70 | ||
| Viroin-Hermeton Nature Park | 1998 | 120 | ||
| Scheldt Plains Nature Park | 1996 | 260 | ||
| Hill Country Nature Park | 1997 | 233 | ||
|
Gaume Natural Park | 2014 | 581 | |
|
High Country Nature Park | 2002 | 157 | 11.5% (1,840 ha) is Natura 2000[2] |
Nature reserves
[edit]There are many tiny nature reserves, including:
- Zwin 1.58 km2 (1.25 km2 on Belgian territory)
Landscape parks
[edit]There are currently five landscape parks all of whom where founded in 2023.
| Photo | Name | Founded in | Area (km2) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Vlaamse Ardennen Landscape Park | 2023 | |
|
Zwinstreek Landscape Park | 2023 | |
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|
Hart van Haspengouw Landscape Park | 2023 | |
|
Grenzeloos bocagelandschap Landscape Park | 2023 | |
|
Maasvallei Landscape Park | 2023 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Ignace Schops - Goldman Prize". Retrieved 2009-01-22.
After years of campaigning, Ignace Schops has led the effort to establish Belgium's first and only national park.
- ^ These figures are from the park's website, but doesn't add up. Either 11.5 % is wrong or 1,840 ha is wrong.
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