Adapting our societies and territories to climate change is becoming as crucial as taking measures to mitigate climate change.
Current events, still scarred by floods, almost make us forget the heatwave summers that preceded them. These hazards and their harmful effects must be analyzed in light of climate change and the associated increase in the frequency of extreme events.
Among the range of tools available to us for territorial planning are the “nature-based solutions“, often cited as relevant and cost-effective measures. The European Union has even made it a key area of work in its own right, involving research programs, innovation, development, and advice to decision-makers.
While, in the face of significant weather events, the use of plant life should not be considered a “miracle solution”, it can at least mitigate their effects. And if further convincing were needed, let us be persuaded by their many other benefits: biodiversity support, carbon storage, landscape appeal. Let us not overlook the potential economic added value: the nursery sector, planting and maintenance companies, the potential for valorization of produced biomass, etc.
Here is how some of the projects we support contribute to the adaptation of our rural territory to certain climate hazards:
Planting hedges, coppices, or miscanthus to combat mudslides, slow down water runoff, and limit soil erosion.
- Assesse: the Dubois brothers’ project
- Jodoigne: Bernard Calbert’s project
Planting agroforestry systems in pastures to protect livestock during heatwave episodes.
- Fosses-la-Ville: the Ferme du Coin² project
- Chiny: Justine Mouget’s project
- Perwez: hedges at Ferme du Ponceau
- Serinchamps: Vincent Georges’s standard-tree orchard
Planting agroforestry systems in field crops to increase organic matter content in soils, protect against droughts or late frosts.
- Tournai: an agroforestry system in field crops
Planting windbreak hedges to protect against drying winds or cold winds.
We thank the citizens and businesses who partner with us and concretely contribute, at their level, to the adaptation of our territory!
