Boortmeerbeek (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Boortmeerbeek launched a Tree ID campaign for the beech in Ravestein Park, the cemetery oak, and the chapel lime tree. Alderman Bert Meulemans leads it, linking ecology, history, and climate action.
As VRT News reported, Boortmeerbeek, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, has launched a campaign to give its largest and most valuable trees an official identity card. Trees like the large beech in Ravestein Park will receive a Tree ID.
Alderman Bert Meulemans (CD&V) said,
“Trees provide a buffer against heavy rain because they absorb a lot of water. In the summer, they provide cooling, and they remove CO2 from the air and produce oxygen.”
What trees in Boortmeerbeek are receiving official identity cards?
The program focuses on 3 types of tall trees: beech, summer oak, and lime. Boortmeerbeek also wants to encourage residents to plant trees in their own gardens. The project is organised with the intermunicipal group Interleuven. By giving trees a Tree ID, the municipality hopes people will recognise their value and take care of them.
Alderman Bert Meulemans said,
“In some cases, a tree has a symbolic meaning; a lime tree, for example, was often planted near a chapel. And trees are also a landmark in the landscape.”
Officials mentioned that residents can learn more about these labelled trees in Boortmeerbeek and other municipalities in the district. Each Tree ID has a QR code. It gives information about the tree, its species, and its history. People can also visit www.interleuven.be/boom-id for more details.
In 2024, Boortmeerbeek launched a campaign to give official Tree IDs to significant trees in the municipality. Several Belgian cities have launched projects to recognise and protect important trees. In Antwerp, the “Neighbourhood in Bloom” program gave 2,000 free trees to residents to plant in gardens and public spaces.
Brussels introduced a 2020–2030 Tree Plan to preserve old trees, plant new ones, and involve citizens in tree care. Ghent also started initiatives to label and plant trees, raising public awareness about their environmental and historical value.
