Heidedrones

Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide is a dynamic nature reserve, where nature is constantly changing and bringing new challenges. To properly map and regularly monitor the health of the landscape, we work with Heidedrones, an innovative project in which drones help with monitoring. From the air, we get a faster and more complete picture of changes in nature, without having to physically go on site everywhere.

Image credit: DJI

Three key applications for nature monitoring
With Heidedrones, we focus on three key applications that tie in with the three basic spatial elements:

• Points: Using 360° photo-monitoring of nature development and aerial recordings of fixed vegetation quadrants, we are looking at the extent to which drone imagery matches traditional monitoring recordings in the field.
• Lines: Flights over firebreaks and paths allow us to check for vegetation overgrowth and, in particular, invasive exotics, as well as the occurrence of litter.
• Surfaces: drones can be used to map changes in fens and pools over time, and to monitor development after management works. They can also be used to monitor other dynamic systems such as land dunes.

Open data and collaboration with stakeholders
The drone images will be processed on an online platform where stakeholders can also analyse and annotate the results together, and from where the data can be made openly available. This information will help us better understand how the landscape is developing and where managers can take targeted actions.

Responsible drone use in nature reserves
Besides nature management, we also want to raise awareness about drones in nature reserves with this project. Although they offer many advantages, they are not allowed to fly just anywhere. By sharing knowledge about responsible drone use, we hope to reduce illegal flights and make visitors aware of the balance between technology and nature conservation. For example, at the bottom of this page you will find an overview of what the law actually says about drones in nature reserves. The flights as part of the Heidedrones project will all follow these rules, outside the breeding season, within sight range of the pilot and respecting privacy laws. The drone pilots working with Heidedrones will be recognisable by their green vests.

In the Heidedrones project, we only work with lightweight consumer drones. We do this to keep the impact as low as possible and the technology as accessible as possible. In this way, after a test phase, monitoring with drones can eventually be integrated into volunteer work. On the other hand, the flight plans and methodology will also serve as a model for a roll-out to other nature parks and a possible scale-up to automated drone systems.

Want to know more?
Curious about the first results or want to know more about Heidedrones? We will share regular updates on this page. Heidedrones is a sub-project of the Horizon Europe ICAERUS project under the second PULL Open Call, funded by the European Union (grant agreement No 101060643). Heidedrones started on 1 February and runs until 31 January 2026.

Interesting links
drone flights in nature reserves: regulations and permissions
Report by ZuidWest TV with project leader Klaas Pauly