Antwerp ( Brussels Morning Newspaper ) – On January 28, 2025, Beringen City delegated authority over its 700-hectare urban forest portfolio to Bosgroep Limburg, which operates as a specialised forest management nonprofit organisation.
Bosgroep Limburg leads the forest management for Beringen’s urban forests through an official collaboration with the city. The 190 hectares of private and 500 hectares of public land comprise the 700 hectares of forest that are now under Bosgroep Limburg’s management.
According to Jessie De Weyer, the Public Space and Green Alderman, Bosgroep Limburg emerged as the obvious selection because of their considerable local experience.
Bosgroep Limburg vzw has been active in Beringen for many years and knows the region like the back of her hand,
says De Weyer.
Our public forest plots are interwoven with those of many private forest owners in the region. All these forests are included in a joint nature management plan. A collaboration offers advantages for all parties.
Party colleague and deputy for Environment and Nature Laura Olaerts (N-VA) calls the decision “a win-win”.
As the new chair of Bosgroep Limburg, I am proud that Beringen is joining forces with our forest group,
says Olaerts.
It is great to see that a municipality attaches so much importance to the optimisation and even expansion of its urban greenery and opts for well-considered management. By bundling the management works, costs are reduced, and the impact on nature and recreation is kept to a minimum.
Bosgroep Limburg itself describes the collaboration primarily as a step towards more efficient forest management in Limburg.
As Bosgroep, we have almost 30 years of experience in relieving and supporting forest owners,
says An Pierson, head of the department at Bosgroep Limburg.
Although private owners remain our top priority, in recent years, we have been creating more and more space for working in public forests. The fact that private and municipal forests in some municipalities, such as here in Beringen, overlap greatly, makes joint management not only logical but above all efficient.
Under its collaborative framework, the two entities strive to combine forest management through unified nature planning initiatives, which will deliver enhanced benefits for Beringen’s public and private forest ownership.
Laura Olaerts, deputy for Environment and Nature, described the move as a “win-win” situation, emphasising its role in optimising urban greenery while keeping costs low and minimising environmental impact. Although numerous beneficial changes are happening, there are no suitable financial details available in the agreement.
Bosgroep Limburg’s three decades of forest owner support expertise play a critical role in achieving optimal management practices throughout zones where local authorities and private landowners share property.
Urban forest management in Limburg
Bosgroep Limburg works in a system that promotes environmentally friendly forestry management across private and public forest territories. The non-profit organisation provides expert advice to forest owners and simultaneously fosters collaborative relationships with local and provincial agencies.
Bosgroep Limburg works across different parts of Limburger territory, specifically the Hoge Kempen district and South Limburg zone, through joint forestry initiatives. The forestry project in Beringen covers all the 700 hectares of forests that the organisation safeguards.
Core elements of these urban forest management plans involve assessing tree populations while developing risk minimisation techniques alongside biodiversity stock investigations and financial impact evaluations.
The sustainable urban forestry initiatives in Limburg assist wider regional objectives, from climate adaptation to recreational opportunities, by demonstrating enhanced local support for forest management.
