Two weeks for biodiversity in Limburg!

9 June 2009, Limburg (Belgium). Biodiversity is in decline all over the world, and Flanders is no exception. However, the conservation, protection and strengthening of species have been a priority for Limburg Province for a number of years. Limburg Province is home to a wide variety of species that can be found nowhere else in Flanders.

For the International Day for Biological Diversity 2009, Limburg Province and partners organised a vast array of activities over a period of two weeks to highlight the unique and valuable Limburgian nature. From 15 to 29 May, communication, familiarisation and educational initatives have helped residents feel more involved in conservation efforts; enhanced their knowledge of biodiversity; and raised awareness of the fact that protecting species is an issue that affects everyone.

Among the numerous activities organized during these two weeks, Hasselt adopted a bird, the common swift, and encouraged people to look for fissures or hollows where this bird breeds. The way this municipality reaches the public is rather orginal. While having a beer (or a nice cup of tea) on a sunny sidewalk cafe, you can read about the swift and its nesting habits on the beer mat. The city guides of Hasselt are also getting trained in spotting the birds.

In Kortessem children could play a “garden doormouse game”, while their parents visited the local orchards in search of this mouse. In Sint-Truiden, people cycled along fields trying to catch a glimpse of the skylark. Bilzen, Lanaken en Zutendaal adopted butterflies.

In Hechtel-Eksel people were invited to visit the forest after dusk, a time the nightjar wakes up and starts hunting. In Genk people visited De Maten, a nature reserve, where you still can find natterjack toads, common spade foot toads and the eurasian bittern.

• Limburg Province on Countdown 2010 website
• Limburg Province website
• Leaflet on the International Day for Biodiversity – in Flemish