General Objective

The LIFE-Lomme Project is seeking to restore several natural habitats of great biological interest , found on the one hand in boggy environments up on high plateaus, and on the other, at the floor of brook-sourcing valleys. It is a question of boggy birch stands (91D0*), riverside alder groves (91E0*), upland peat bogs (7110*), degraded peat bogs (7120), wet heathlands (4010), acid low-marshes (7140), megaphorbia (6430), dry heathlands (4030), hay meadows (6510) and nardia (6230*). The restoration of high-altitude beech groves is also envisaged.

All of these various habitats, because of their rarity and their fragility, and on account of the great biodiversity that they shelter, are concerned by the European “Habitats” Directive, which recognises their great heritage value on a European scale and the need for ensuring that they are protected, managed and restored.

The LIFE-Lomme Project ensured the restoration of 430 hectares of boggy and wet environments

Results

Actions	Objectives	Implementation
Abandonment of coniferous forestry and obtention a sustainable nature conservation status*	120 ha	231 ha
Abandonment of leafy forestry and obtention a sustainable nature conservation status	20 ha	34 ha
Acquisition of private land for restoring natural habitats and founding a sustainable nature conservation status thereon	30 ha	32 ha
Restoration of natural habitats by the elimination of coniferous trees on boggy. very hydromorphic or alluvial soil	100 ha	202 ha
Restoration of open habitats by the selective felling of leafy and coniferous tree regenerations	70 ha	161 ha
Restoration of the hydrous quality of sensitive areas by the plugging the drainage network, and by the creation of dams and ponds	20 km of neutralised drains. 40 large ponds. 1 km of mineral dams	24 km of neutralised drains. 96 large ponds. 1500 m of mineral dams
Restoration of boggy moors or moors degraded by Molinia by removal of sod cutting and revegetation	15 ha	15 ha
Restoration of diversified regeneration in leafy habitats by installation of exclosures for protection against animal gnawing	20 ha	23 ha
Initiation of management by grazing (fixed exclosures) and by reaping	10 km of fences and 10 hectares of mown land	19 km of fences and 30 hectares of mown land
Raising owner awareness and public reception of sensitive land	Leaflet, brochure, website, 15 info panels, final symposium, final report	leaflet (PDF-1140 ko) , half-yearly brochure, 16 info panels, final report

Partners

• Project prepared by DEMNA (Marc Dufrêne) with the collaboration of Noëlle de Brabandere (Contrat Rivière Lesse ASBL)
• Project tabled by the Direction générale de l'Agriculture, des Ressources naturelles et de l'Environnement (DGARNE) with the Contrat Rivière Lesse ASBL as its partner

Means and Human Resources

• Budget: €2,379,050, including €1,189,525 from the European Commission (LIFE), €1,160,525 from the Walloon Region (including €97,200 for the provision of administrative staff) and €29,000 € from Contrat Rivière Lesse (including €24,000 for provision of staff)

• Period: 5 years, from 01/01/2010 to 31/12/2014.
• Human Resources involved in the project: Sara Cristofoli (Co-ordinator), Hubert Baltus (Technical Assistant) and Pierre Clerx (Technical Assistant)
• Associated Players: Employees from the Nature and Forests Department, DEMNA scientists, representatives of the municipal authorities and private landowners, representatives of hunters, trainees, voluntary naturalists, and so on and so forth.

Contact

• LIFE-Lomme Project

• 90, Rue de Villance, 6890 Libin

• Tel. 061/650090 (91) - Fax. 061/650099