Belgium prepares nature restoration plan for EU deadline

Belgium is working toward a September 1, 2026, deadline to submit its national nature restoration plan to the European Commission, as mandated by the European Nature Restoration Law. The plan includes a marine component aimed at restoring oyster reefs and gravel beds in the Belgian part of the North Sea.

To avoid additional fishing restrictions for coastal fleets in Zeebrugge, Ostend, and Nieuwpoort through 2030, the plan emphasizes effective marine spatial planning and seabed integrity zones. The Strategic Advisory Council for Agriculture and Fisheries suggests that involving fishermen as sea guardians using real-time data could help meet 2030 targets without further limiting access to fishing grounds.

On land, the federal submission depends on the completion of regional plans. While federal and Flemish plans are awaiting government validation, the regions of Wallonia and Brussels have yet to finalize theirs. In Brussels, biodiversity challenges are significant, with reports of declining bird, bee, and butterfly species. Additionally, legal rulings have linked nature restoration to potential construction halts in Brussels to combat urbanization and soil impermeability, a matter currently subject to government appeal.