Scientific monitoring of nature development in the areas of the updated Sigma Plan (ANB)

The updated Sigma Plan is supposed to protect the valley of the Sea Scheldt and its tributaries against flooding and increase its natural value. In addition to the recovery of the estuary, non-estuarine wetland habitat is also being restored in the valleys. The habitat types concerned are open marsh, grassland and wet alluvial forest. This should make a significant contribution to the achievement of the conservation objectives for the Sea Scheldt (IHD Scheldt estuary), of the Natura 2000 site targets (S-IHD), and, for a number of bird species, of the regional conservation objectives (G-IHD). INBO is monitoring natural values (abiotic characteristics, vegetation, birds, fish) in the nature development sites in order to determine their contribution to the conservation status of habitats and species in Flanders and to optimise the organisation and management of the nature development projects.