01/23/2013

Nature Network, Belgium #2

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After Kate, from Brussels, come with me to meet Pascal, from "Réseau Nature" (Nature Network)…

 


Pascal, qui êtes vous? Où êtes-vous?

I live in Manhay, a beautiful city in the belgian Ardennes, jI'm working since 2005 in asbl Natagora, whose goal is to hold down loss of biodiversity (nature reserves, species protection) and to make people aware of biodiversity issues. Since my commitment, I'm involved in several projects about slag heaps and climate. Since 2009, I coordinate "Réseau Nature".


What is "Réseau Nature"?Réseau Nature

Réseau Nature is a project to surround all citizens who want to welcome biodiversity in their property. An inhabitant, a firm, a school, ... every one can participate, whatever the size of the plot!

Membership is free. You just have to sign the charter, downloadable on the website.

The project is based on two basic principals:

  1. Putting at disposition of tools to develop nature. On the website, you'll find advices, useful adresses (nursery selling wild plants, ...). We propose assessment too to help people define the nature project for their plot. 
  2. Communication about their project thanks to a labelling, one year after the charter signing. A google map localize members and one can contact each member of the network. In 2013, participative pages will give members the possibility to share and highlight their project (blog). 

Today (january 2013), Réseau Nature has almost 500 members, for 800 hectares.

 

How was it created?

It's not new... In fact, almost the same project, called "Refuge Naturel", was implemented in the 90's but had to face to much success: not enough persons to face demands! Internet wasn't what it is today. In 2009, we decided to (re)launch it but using Internet as a tool for th dynamic, so that the project can be developed with less human ressources. At the same time, we trained volonteers to visit gardens.

 

Does Belgium implement important actions to protect biodiversity? Réseau Nature

Belgium has a lot of tools and programs to protect biodiversity and its natural ressources. For example, Natura 2000 network implementation (13% of our territory), national or recognized nature reverses creation, managed by Wallonie or local authorities. Do you know that only 1% of our territory is protected? The 99% have no protection for biodiversity! Legal measures can't hold down loss of biodiversity because most of naturel area are not protected! And those places have to face, each day, human pression (urbanization, invasive plants, pollutions, ...). That's why it is so important to develop a project to make each citizen an actor of nature on his property, to create a green meshing in Wallonie.

 

Do inhabitant seem to be aware of biodiversity? 

It would be exagereted to answer "No" but are they enough aware? I don't think so! We are always talking about economical and social crisis but the environmental crisis is often forgotten, although it is directly connected to our survival (as a species). When you read polls about belgian issues (Télémoustique polls in 2011), loss of biodiversity isn't in the Top 30! At the same time, life on earth is vanishing on an alarming rate. Capitalist consumption society is based on short term profits... That's incompatible with biodiversity preservation! Fortunately, awareness is coming (too) slowly, in vew of issues. Things aren't changing as fast as necessary and we often stay to principle speeches... Actions are too small! Again, that's why it is so important to make everyone become actor of nature at home!

 

Does the word "BiodiverCity", inspire you?Réseau Nature

Yes, totally, BiodiverCity... It's urban nature! Nature shouldn't be restricted to nature reserves and should be accessible to anyone, living in cities or in countryside.

Each of us has a biodiversity responsability. Each of us can act to invers the actual trend of loss of biodiversity. Each of us can help nature. Planting local bushes to attract insects pollinator, diging a pond without goldfishes, sowing flowery meadow, stopping using pesticides, ... There are easy and useful measures to bring back life in our garden!

 

*****

Réseau nature and Seedbomb.net are going in the same direction, so we have decided to become partners