List of protected areas of Belgium
There are numerous protected areas in Belgium with a wide variety of types, protection levels and sizes. The below list gives an overview of the most important protected areas.
National parks
There are currently five national parks in Belgium, De Hoge Kempen National Park opening in 2006.[1][dubious – discuss]. In 2022 two national parks were designated in Wallonia: Parc National de L'Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse and Parc National de la Vallée de la Semois. In 2023 three national parks were designated in Flanders: Nationaal Park Scheldevallei, Nationaal Park Bosland and Nationaal Park Brabantse Wouden.
| Photo | Name | Founded in | Area (km2) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hoge Kempen National Park | 2006 | 127 |
|
L'Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse National Park | 2022 | 221.29 |
|
Vallée de la Semois National Park | 2022 | 290 |
|
Brabantse Wouden National Park | 2023 | |
|
Scheldevallei National Park | 2023 | |
|
Bosland National Park | 2023 |
Natural parks
There are many natural parks in Belgium, including 9 in Wallonia (called Parcs Naturels).
| Photo | Name | Founded in | Area (km2) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hohes Venn – Eifel Nature Park | 1978 | 720 | This natural park is a transboundary park between Belgium and Germany. |
|
Burdinale-Mehaigne Nature Park | 1991 | 110 | |
|
Two Ourthes Nature Park | 2001 | 760 | |
| Upper Sure Anlier Forest Nature Park | 2001 | 720 | ||
| Attert Valley Nature Park | 1994 | 70 | ||
| Viroin-Hermeton Nature Park | 1998 | 120 | ||
| Scheldt Plains Nature Park | 1996 | 260 | ||
| Hill Country Nature Park | 1997 | 233 | ||
|
Gaume Natural Park | 2014 | 581 | |
|
High Country Nature Park | 2002 | 157 | 11.5% (1,840 ha) is Natura 2000[2] |
Nature reserves
There are many tiny nature reserves, including:
- Zwin 1.58 km2 (1.25 km2 on Belgian territory)
Landscape parks
There are currently five landscape parks all of whom where founded in 2023.
| Photo | Name | Founded in | Area (km2) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Vlaamse Ardennen Landscape Park | 2023 | |
|
Zwinstreek Landscape Park | 2023 | |
|
Hart van Haspengouw Landscape Park | 2023 | |
|
Grenzeloos bocagelandschap Landscape Park | 2023 | |
|
Maasvallei Landscape Park | 2023 |
See also
References
- ^ "Ignace Schops - Goldman Prize". Retrieved 2009-01-22.
After years of campaigning, Ignace Schops has led the effort to establish Belgium's first and only national park.
- ^ These figures are from the park's website, but doesn't add up. Either 11.5 % is wrong or 1,840 ha is wrong.