Belgium

Belgium has an area of just over 30,000km² and a marine area of nearly 3,500km². With a coastline on the North Sea, it is bordered by 4 other countries. Belgium consists of a coastal plain, a central plateau and the Ardennes upland area in the south east of the country. The highest point is Signal de Botrange at 694m. Belgium has a population of 11.61 milion people and a population density of 380.5 people per km².

of land covered

by protected areas

of marine waters

covered by protected areas

species protected

under EU law

habitats protected

under EU law

Protected areas in Belgium cover a total of km² on land and km² at sea.

Percentage of area covered by protected areas

Currently, of terrestrial area of Belgium is designated as protected areas, falling below the EU value of 26.4%. The EU Biodiversity Strategy has set a target of reaching 30% protected area coverage at the EU level by 2030. With a coverage of in its marine waters, Belgium surpasses the EU value of 12.1%.

Number of protected areas

Belgium has a total of protected areas, comprising sites designated under national laws and recognized as Natura 2000 sites. These Natura 2000 sites are designated under the Birds Directive, encompassing Special Protection Areas, and the Habitats Directive, encompassing Sites of Community Importance. Many sites are designated under both Directives.

Number of protected areas

Protected areas designated

under national laws

Designated sites

in the Natura 2000 network

Distribution of protected areas between national designation and Natura 2000

In Belgium nearly two-thirds of the protected areas in the terrestrial environment are exclusively designated as Natura 2000 sites, indicating their importance in conserving biodiversity and natural habitats. An additional of the protected areas hold dual designations, falling under both the Birds and Habitats Directives as well as national laws. The remaining of the protected areas are designated solely under national laws.
In the marine waters of Belgium, the majority of protected areas, accounting for , are exclusively designated as Natura 2000 sites. This highlights the vital role of Natura 2000 in protecting the marine biodiversity and habitats in Belgian waters.

Spatial distribution of protected areas network

Protected areas designated under national laws

Designated sites in the Natura 2000 network

Size distribution of protected areas network

The size distribution of the protected areas network in Belgium terrestrial environment, aligns with the trend observed in many other EU countries, where the majority of protected areas are smaller than 1km². However, the distribution of protected areas in the marine waters of Belgium presents a more heterogeneous picture, encompassing a range of sizes.

Natura 2000 sites

Natura 2000 sites in Belgium cover species and habitats from the nature directives. The number of species and habitats protected in each site varies depending on the location of the site, the biodiversity in the region, the designation being used, and the features the site is being created to protect.

Species protected in Belgium under EU law fall under the Habitats and Birds Directives. Belgium hosts protected under the Habitats Directive, which is approximately 6% of the total of the Habitats Directive’s species and protected birds, which is approximately 50% of the species protected under the Birds Directive.

species protected under EU law

species under the Birds Directive

Conservation Status of species: Habitats Directive

In Belgium, of species assessments indicate a good conservation status, which is similar to the EU average of 27.5%. However, there is a higher proportion of assessments indicating bad conservation status in Belgium, reaching , compared to the EU average of 20.6%.

Protected species composition by taxonomic group

In Belgium, the distribution of protected species across taxonomic groups highlights the prominence of birds, comprising the largest proportion at 72.8%. They are followed by mammals, accounting for 9.4% of protected species, and arthropods, representing 4.4%.

Conservation Status by Taxa

In Belgium, the assessment of species groups reveals that molluscs have the highest proportion of species with a good conservation status, standing at 44.4%. Following closely behind are arthropods, with 31.6% of species in good conservation status. On the other hand, vascular plants exhibit the highest percentage of species with a bad conservation status, reaching 55.5%, while fish also have a significant proportion of species in bad conservation status at 50%.

Habitats protected in Belgium under EU law fall under the Habitats Directive. Belgium hosts habitat types, which is approximately 25.3% of the total of habitat types protected by the Habitats Directive.

habitats protected under EU law in Belgium

Conservation status of habitats

In Belgium only 4.3% of habitats assessments indicate a good conservation status which is below the EU average of 14.7%. Conversely, a significant proportion of assessments, amounting to 79.6%, indicate a bad conservation status, surpassing the EU average of 35.8%.

Protected habitat composition by group

In Belgium the group of protected habitats with the largest number consists of forests, coastal and inland dunes, each accounting for 16.9% of the total. Following closely behind are grasslands, encompassing 15.2% of the protected habitats.

Conservation status by group

In Belgium the assessment of habitat groups reveals that rocky habitats have the highest proportion of good conservation status, standing at 25%. Following behind are coastal habitats, with 14.2% of habitat types in good conservation status. On the other hand, heath and scrub exhibit the highest percentage of habitat types with a bad conservation status, reaching 100%, while bogs, mires and fens also have a significant proportion of habitat types in bad conservation status at 91.6%.

Belgium is predominantly characterised by three main types of ecosystems: Agroecosystems, which cover 54.7% of the country, followed by Forest ecosystems occupying 24% of the land area, and Urban areas accounting for 19.9%. However, Belgium has relatively smaller proportions of rivers and lakes (0.6%), heathlands (0.6%), and wetland ecosystems (0.2%).

In terms of the protected area network, forests constitute the largest portion, covering 56% of the protected areas. Agroecosystems make up 32% of the protected areas, reflecting the importance of conserving and managing agricultural landscapes for biodiversity. Urban areas account for 4.7% of the protected areas, emphasizing the significance of protecting nature within urban environments. Heathlands contribute to 3.3% of the protected areas, while rivers and lakes represent 2.1%, and wetlands comprise 1.8%.