Autumn 2024, the Nature and Forest Agency ( ANB) is thinning the next section of the Nieuwe Gemeentebossen. 'Thinning' is the removal of trees in the forest without the forest disappearing.
The Nieuwe Gemeentebossen is a forest of Corsican pines planted manually in the 1950s to make the 'wasteland' profitable. The trees were supposed to be cut down for mining in Limburg. But they were not yet fully grown when those mines closed. So they continued to grow and now form a lacklustre forest.
Thinning this type of forest every ten years makes it more natural and ecologically valuable. The trees that remain are 'future trees'. These get a blue dot and can grow old and thicker. This can only be achieved by removing the surrounding trees. In this way, more light shines on the soil, allowing new, young trees to grow. In doing so, ANB mainly gives a chance to native deciduous tree species such as rowan, spork, birch and oak. These species provide more biodiversity, as many animals prefer them to the non-native Corsican pines. In addition, a varied forest with more different species is much less of a fire hazard. In addition, the forest edge along the German Road will be set back a little to better counter any possible fire spread.
The logs will be stacked near Putsesteenweg for easy disposal. The wood will be processed into pallets in Belgium. The proceeds of the wood will be reused for nature projects within the Agency for Nature and Forests.
Walking route Forest will be temporarily closed as a result.
These works are included in an approved management plan: NBP-AN-18-0007G Integrated management plan type 4 De Kalmthoutse Heide
You can read more about why ANB is cutting down trees at www.natuurenbos.be/kappenvanbomen
Source: Agency for Nature and Forests