Restoring salt meadows in the Flemmish polders (LIFE99 NAT/B/006295)

Some 2000 years ago, the original mudflats along the Belgian coast were closed off by a dune belt, behind which an extensive area of peat bogs was formed. Incursions by the sea during the Middle Ages caused the bog to become saline and left it covered with a fertile layer of mud. Since then, the polders have been used almost exclusively as pasture. 41% of these polder grasslands (coastal grazing marsh) have been leveled or compartmentalised since 1960. This has also involved the conversion into arable land which has caused considerable tensions between conservationists and farmers' associations, as the conservation interest has been lost.

In order to restore the interest of the saline grasslands about 60 ha of degraded grassland will be purchased and its original microtopography restored. Because of the conflict associated with the loss of nature conservation value a second component of the project involves broadening social and economic support for the restoration. To this end, the possibilities for forms of recreation which are compatible with the natural environment will be exploited to the full.

Duration : 1st July 1999 - 1st July 2003

Comment: It is assumed the polder grasslands are similar to the coastal grazing marshes of south east England. Information via the Life web site http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/life/project/index.htm