The High Fens restoration committee presented its proposal to the Walloon Government this Thursday to organise the restoration of the site following the August fire. Jointly drawn up by the SPW General Secretariat and SPW Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (ARNE), this work provides an initial assessment of the damage and defines the projects to be carried out in the coming years.
At the end of August, the Government had asked the committee to draw up an initial assessment and identify the work to be carried out and the stakeholders to be mobilised. The document presented today constitutes this first roadmap. Alongside managing the fire, the aim now is to prepare the long-term restoration of the High Fens.
The fire affected around 3,400 hectares, including 2,200 hectares in the nature reserve and 1,200 hectares of forest area. Initial observations show that the damage varies considerably from place to place. Some areas may regenerate naturally; in others, particularly heathland and peat bogs, the fire has deeply affected the soil and vegetation.
The diagnosis still needs to be completed, as not all areas are accessible to experts. The damage will need to be mapped more precisely and its impact on species, soils and water measured. These results will make it possible to determine priority actions and prepare a multi-year restoration plan.
The proposal also provides for enhanced water monitoring and fire prevention, as well as the gradual reopening of the site, balancing public access, safety and the protection of the most fragile habitats. Scientists, municipalities, site managers and local stakeholders will be involved in this work.
The aim is to launch as soon as possible the actions that can already be undertaken, without waiting for the diagnosis to be completed. The detailed timeline and necessary resources will be specified as the assessments progress. The restoration of certain habitats could, however, take several decades.
“The High Fens will not be restored in a matter of months. We must act where it is already possible and rely on scientists and those working on the ground to make the right decisions, in the right places, over the long term,” says Minister-President Adrien Dolimont.