Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): In Brussels, Natuurpunt is organizing the FloraBru project, inviting residents to adopt a 1×1 km area to track local plant species. This initiative aims to create a new plant atlas by 2027, enhancing biodiversity knowledge and conservation efforts.
In Brussels, people who know a bit about plants or want to learn can join a plant census organized by Natuurpunt Brussels. This project asks residents to take care of a specific “box” that measures 1 by 1 kilometer. They mentioned that when you adopt a box, you have to keep track of the different plant species in that area. Roosmarijn Steeman from Natuurpunt Brussels says this is part of a bigger plan to map where plants are found in the city. The information collected will help create a detailed list of plants for each area, supporting environmental research and conservation efforts.
What is the FloraBru project and how can residents of Brussels get involved?
Participants get guidelines and tools to help them identify and record the plants they see. This not only helps collect important ecological information but also lets residents learn more about local plants and connect with nature in a practical way. They said that whether you’re an experienced botanist or just starting out, this project gives you a great chance to help with local biodiversity efforts.
The project called FloraBru has already seen 100 out of 188 areas adopted by participants, which makes the organizers very happy as they rely on volunteers’ help. While it is challenging to find and identify all plants in a 1 square kilometer area, the goal is more manageable. Participants are encouraged to use Google Maps to find interesting spots like forests, grasslands, or water areas in their surroundings. This way, in 20 years, they can compare the plant life in 2046 to what they found earlier.
Natuurpunt Brussels is making a new plant atlas for the second time, after the first one in 2006. They’re seeing many new plants in Brussels, especially exotic ones from gardens that are now growing wild nearby. They want to find out how the plants have changed since 2006 and how Brussels compares to other big cities. Volunteers can help until 2027 by studying the plants in their areas. On August 28, there will be a botanical walk in Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe to explain the project to anyone who wants to know more.
