39 protected animal species and historic swamp discovered where De Lijn wants to build: “And the list is getting longer” (Ghent)

The plans have been going on for twenty years, but after the summer De Lijn really wants to start building ‘project Wissenhage’, the largest and most modern depot in Flanders. However, this will require the destruction of 4.5 hectares of forest, which, according to De Lijn, will be compensated elsewhere in East Flanders.

The neighbors of the ‘Bloemekenswijkbos’ have been opposing the new depot for a long time, including by submitting hundreds of objections. “Because this is an important area that is disappearing,” says local resident Bart Schrever. “Many rare animal species live in the forest: this would be a disaster for biodiversity.”

194 species

A group of 57 biology students from Ghent University are now mapping out how big that disaster would be. According to them, the Bloemekenswijkbos is a rich and diverse area that should not disappear. (read more below photo)

“We came into contact with this issue during classes,” the students wrote on their Facebook page. “We threw ourselves into the case for seven weeks. For example, we tried to map the biodiversity, social importance and ecological functions of the area.”

In six hours, the students identified no fewer than 194 animal species, of which 39 are protected in Flanders. These include the fox, the beech marten, the buzzard and the alpine newt. “Soon this list will become even bigger,” it sounds. “Especially now that the plants are starting to bloom.” (Read more below the photo)

Cooling

But the arrival of the depot would not only be bad news for the animals, the students believe. “We are seeing more and more heat waves, and these can lead to more deaths and illnesses, especially among vulnerable people. Green zones and wet nature provide a cooling effect. The temperature between a park and the surrounding buildings differs on average by up to 4.7 degrees Celsius. Due to the large surface area and the wet subsoil of the Wondelgemse Meersen, the cooling effect is even greater.”

The area also has a historical value, the research shows. It was said to have been a swamp area already during the Middle Ages. Factories on the site have polluted the soil over the years, but the swamp would never have disappeared. That would turn the land into a historic swamp, the students told VRT, meaning the area should be protected. According to them, too little account was taken of this in the permit application.

Floods

We will know at the end of May whether the depot will receive the green light from the Flemish government. By then, Environment Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) must approve or reject the permit application. The application has already received a negative advice from Farys: the water company fears the impact of the paving on the groundwater level and warns of a higher risk of flooding. The City of Ghent, Infrabel and the Nature & Forest Agency, among others, provided positive advice.

Two years ago, the application was rejected by the minister because it did not include a proposal to compensate for the felled forest. The depot was given the green light in 2006 and 2017, but the permits were canceled each time.

READ ALSO. Local residents themselves bring extra trees to a threatened piece of forest: “Not in agreement that scarce nature should make way for concrete”