{"id":52251,"date":"2026-06-30T16:26:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T14:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/?post_type=showroom_cpt&p=52251"},"modified":"2026-06-30T16:27:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T14:27:19","slug":"fire-salamander-gets-new-opportunities-in-the-flemish-hills","status":"publish","type":"showroom_cpt","link":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/showroom\/fire-salamander-gets-new-opportunities-in-the-flemish-hills\/","title":{"rendered":"Fire salamander gets new opportunities in the Flemish Hills"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t
\n\n
\n\t\t\t\"Vuursalamander\t\t<\/div>\n\n \n \n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n

Biodiversity<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Fire salamander gets new opportunities in the Flemish Hills<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

It is black with bright yellow spots, loves humid forests and spring-fed streams. And it needs our help. The fire salamander has been virtually absent from West Flanders for decades. Sweco contributed to a cross-border study to help change that.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n \t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n
\n
Expertise:<\/dt>\n
Climate resilience & nature<\/span><\/dd>\n
Client<\/dt>\n
Province of West Flanders<\/span><\/dd>\n
Location<\/dt>\n
Flemish Hills region<\/span><\/dd>\n
Services<\/dt>\n
Ecology & biodiversity<\/a>, habitat mapping, hydrology & water management<\/a>, nature restoration, landscape development, scenario development and stakeholder management<\/a><\/span><\/dd>\n
Partners<\/dt>\n
Agency for Nature and Forests (ANB) and Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)<\/span><\/dd>\n <\/dl>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

An iconic species on the brink of extinction<\/h2>\n

The fire salamander is one of the most striking amphibians in our region, but also one of the most vulnerable. In West Flanders, the species was last observed in Hellegatbos in 1977. Across the border, in the French Parc d\u00e9partemental du Mont Noir, a thriving population still exists. Bridging that gap, both literally and figuratively, was the assignment.<\/p>\n

Commissioned by the Province of West Flanders, Sweco is carrying out a study into habitat improvement for the fire salamander in the Flemish Hills, as part of the European Interreg project EUTOPIA Clim@Monts<\/strong>. This project focuses on strengthening the ecological network and landscape quality in a cross-border Flemish-French context.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/i><\/figure>\n

The fire salamander is a poor swimmer, a poor walker and has a very small home range. It cannot simply save itself. But if we place the puzzle pieces correctly \u2013 the right water, the right forest, the right connection \u2013 it will return on its own.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Steyn Van Assche<\/strong>, ecologist at Sweco<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\n
\n\t\t\t\"Vuursalamander\t\t<\/div>\n\n \n \n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Habitat mapping: from Hellegatbos to Mont Noir<\/h2>\n

Sweco analysed five subareas in the region: Hellegatbos<\/strong>, Broekelzen<\/strong>, Kemmelberg<\/strong>, Mont Noir<\/strong> and the critical intermediate area<\/strong> with the cross-border zone between Mont Noir and Broekelzen. For each area, detailed habitat mapping was carried out, supplemented by desktop analysis, field visits and hydrological research.<\/p>\n

We investigated how the areas can be optimised and how they can be connected. The results offer a layered package of measures: from the creation of forest ponds and weirs on streams, to controlling bramble overgrowth and creating fully fledged ecological corridors.<\/p>\n

Hellegatbos as an ecological crown jewel<\/h2>\n

Hellegatbos stands out as the most promising location. With 18.43 hectares of contiguous old beech forest, a rich spring complex and virtually no exploitation pressure, the area scores optimally for both breeding and terrestrial habitat. It is an excellent candidate for the possible re-establishment of the species.<\/p>\n

In the intermediate area, currently largely agricultural land with hedges and young forests, three scenarios were developed for the creation of an ecological corridor:<\/p>\n