BE2: Urban Wetlands

The Meirdam area (East Flanders) consists of a mix of former fish ponds, wet grasslands and ditches. The area is located barely 2 km from the city centre of Dendermonde. It has a high biodiversity value and is of great importance for infiltration and buffering of water for the wider environment. Unfortunately, the area has dried out and degraded considerably. However, there are unique opportunities to restore the urban wetland.

As part of this project, Natuurpunt will buffer extra water in the area and allow it to infiltrate, but also store CO2, by adjusting the water level management, placing weirs on the canals and reinforcing the blue-green network. Thanks to the cooperation of stakeholders, we can realize a new natural climate buffer.