National strategy

Belgium's National Biodiversity Strategy 2006-2016 (NBS) has been developed as a direct response to Article 6 of the Convention on Biological Diversity. It was adopted on 26 October 2006 by the Interministerial Conference for the Environment, which is composed of the competent ministers of the Federal Government and the three Regions of Belgium (Flanders, Brussels, Wallonia).

The Strategy spells out a range of priority objectives to anticipate, prevent and reduce the causes of biodiversity loss in Belgium. It is the unique national document on biodiversity that is applicable both at the federal and regional levels in order to comply with the European and international commitments made by Belgium. It offers a framework for the policy to follow and for the subsequent implementing actions to be developed.

In 2012, the Strategy underwent a mid-term assessment of its implementation up to 31/12/2011 and recommendations where formulated for its updating in 2013. A public consultation on the pre-project of update will take place between 14/05/2013 and 12/07/2013. More information at www.biodiv.be/public-consultation.