{"id":38906,"date":"2025-07-04T11:37:05","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T09:37:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/?post_type=blog&p=38906"},"modified":"2025-07-04T11:37:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T09:37:07","slug":"sweco-and-vlm-investigate-how-rural-projects-can-enhance-biodiversity","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/news\/sweco-and-vlm-investigate-how-rural-projects-can-enhance-biodiversity\/","title":{"rendered":"Sweco and VLM investigate how rural projects can enhance biodiversity"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Biodiversity<\/a> and landscape quality are crucial for the ecological health, economic resilience, and social well-being of our countryside. In a new study, Sweco examined the impact of LEADER and other rural projects for the Flemish Land Agency (VLM), and formulated recommendations for frameworks, scaling opportunities, and lasting effects of projects.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Within Flemish rural policy, biodiversity<\/a> and landscape quality are core components. However, there are still many challenges, such as fragmentation, intensive farming practices, climate change, and pressure on open spaces. In the study \u201cHow Can We Bring More Biodiversity<\/a> to the Landscape?\u201d Sweco researchers focus on the bottom-up method, where local action groups take initiatives at the local level. This fits perfectly within the LEADER programme of the European Union.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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LEADER: developing the rural economy together<\/h2>\n

LEADER is a European programme that has been committed to the development of rural areas through a participatory, bottom-up approach since the 1990s. In Flanders, this is done through Local Action Groups (LAGs), where local councils, agricultural organisations, nature associations, and other societal actors collaborate. They establish a local development strategy and guide projects that address local needs.<\/p>\n

After 30 years, Europe has 2500 LAGs active in 50% of the rural areas in the European Union. Flanders has 15 LEADER areas (see map). Within each area, project calls are launched for which residents, farmers, entrepreneurs, and local authorities can submit proposals that:<\/p>\n