“Dunes disappear under the mortar of new apartment blocks”

According to Vogelbescherming Vlaanderen, the construction of the apartments in those areas is a result of the forest compensation fund. “By paying compensation, it is possible to build on dune soil.”

Since 2014, the typical plants in the dune area sea buckthorn and creeping willow have been included in the forest compensation fund. This means that compensation must be paid for the removal of those vegetations. “For this vegetation, even three times the normal forest compensation has to be paid. This indicates that it concerns valuable areas, but it also concerns plants that occur in few places in Flanders,” says Vogelbescherming Vlaanderen.

The creeping willow now has a near threatened status. Rare dunes then revert to sea buckthorn if they are not maintained. “For example, moist dunes, such as moss dunes and dune grassland with an intermediate phase in sea buckthorn, disappear under the mortar of new apartment blocks.”

Vogelbescherming Vlaanderen therefore asks for sea buckthorn and creeping willow to be removed from the forest compensation fund. In addition, Vogelbescherming Vlaanderen calls on other (local) environmental associations to join forces. “This is the only way we can maintain the habitat of the rare and protected (bird) species.”