NON-SPECIFIC CURRENT BELGIAN PROJECTS


This part of the activity programme of WWF-Belgium does not formally fit into the structural frame of the three biomes:

  • 'Nature development outside reserves' : a field of activity which aims at recreating an ecological network in the most industrialized and urbanized areas of Belgium:


    • in 1994, WWF initiated a general census of bats summer roosting colonies in the Flemish part of the country, in order to provide more accurate scientific data on the populations of these threatened species and determine important sites for protection. Furthermore, a leaflet was produced to inform the general public about these little- known animals. In 1996, a special 'education kit', containing for example a bat detector and information panels, will be manufacured. Interested groups will then be able to borrow a number of these kits.

    • several years ago the concept of 'Educational Reserves' was initiated by WWF-Belgium. It encourages the creation of small natural reserves adjacent to (or sometimes inside) school-yards, so as to give children the opportunity to learn about nature in 'Êlive' conditions, and follow seasonal and long-term changes in ÊtheirÊown reserve. Today, WWF still counsels schools (or other organizations) interested in setting-up such reserves, and coordinates general activities of the network (which already consists of more than 200 reserves all over Belgium).

    • 'Energy/Climate': a field of activity which aims at reducing the emissions of air pollutants by lobbying the authorities and increasing the general public's and, more specifically, children's awareness :

    • the 'Ozone Campaign' works similarly to the 'Springs Campaign'. This educational project initiated in 1994 by WWF-Belgium, based on previous experiences by WWF-Switzerland, should continue for the next few years. It is primarily an awareness campaign. School classes (but also officials of the European Community in Brussels) are given seeds of a specific variety of tobacco plant which is very sensitive to ozone pollution. By observing the degree of discolouration of the leaves, the children get an idea of the negative effects of tropospheric ozone concentrations on living organisms.

      The project was restricted to Brussels in its first year, but was subsequently extended to Flanders and Wallonia. It also encourages participating schools to develop original ideas to reduce air pollution.

    • 'Eco-tourism' : a field of activity which aims at encouraging ecologically friendlier tourism, benefiting local populations and tourism patterns in Belgium, including 'rural tourism' :

    • in 1995, WWF adopted the concept of the 'G”tes PANDA' in Belgium. Based on the experience of WWF-France, WWF-Belgium awarded the 'PANDA' label to seven holiday cottages in Wallonia on the condition that they follow specific rules in terms of environmental management, maintenance and development of indigenous nature in the neighbourhood, and increasing visitors awareness of it by means of, say, an educational kit. The project is now in its trial period and could be extended, depending on the results.


  • in the field of "Economics", WWF is currently developing a partnership with companies that wish to improve their environmental management. WWF-Belgium has identified EMAS (Environmental Management Audit System) as the most likely tool to achieve this and has consequently decided to support and promote it. This EU regulation (No.1836/93 - 29th June 1993) that recently came into force is a voluntary system in which the applying company has to go through a complete process. This includes, among other things, a preliminary environmental management assessment, a defined environmental programme for each production or administration unit, and submission to an independent environmental audit cycle... By doing this the company is supposed to gradually but effectively improve its environmental management in a way that does not abruptly affect its productivity.

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    Copyright 1996, The World Wide Fund For Nature