Geomorphosites : Function and Geoheritage Preservation in Belgium

This chapter opens with stressing the need for geomorphosite recognition, and situating theconcept of geomorphosite in the broader context of geosites and the relations betweengeodiversity and biodiversity. Then, after mentioning the measures taken at the nationallevel, notably with the creation in 1835 of the Royal Commission for Monuments, whoseresponsibilities were extended to sites in thefirst half of the twentieth century, it reviews theseparate legislative evolution for site protection in Wallonia and Flanders after thecompetence had been transferred to the regional level in the 1980s. In parallel, the sites witha major geomorphic component listed as protected exceptional heritage in Wallonia arebriefly reviewed and other sites so far unlisted but worth of interest are also pointed.A similar list of protected geosites is presented for Flanders, where the situation is howeververy different. Flat landscapes and densely populated areas make geosites far lessspectacular there. The number of protected sites with a geologic or geomorphic componentis nevertheless similar in Flanders and Wallonia, in each case about 20. Flanders promotesinitiatives taken to arouse public interest for geosites by, e.g. integrating them in hiking orcycling trails. Recently, local groups of mixed lay people and geoscientists are also highlyactive in attempts to create geoparks, which in some cases gather all conditions required byUNESCO for a nomination as Global Geopark.