Belgium takes next step in the fight for biodiversity

Belgium is strengthening its commitment to nature conservation with the official adoption of the National Biodiversity Strategy 2025–2030. This updated strategy, the result of close collaboration between the regions and the federal government, forms the reference framework for Belgian nature policy for the next six years.

Kelle Moreau

The strategy translates Belgium's international commitments within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (Rio, 1992) and integrates the priorities of the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework and the European Biodiversity Strategy 2030.

A national ambition, a shared vision

The strategy includes 16 strategic and 82 operational objectives to protect and restore biodiversity in Belgium and beyond. It aims to:

• protect biodiversity in Belgium and beyond;
• restore degraded ecosystems;
• integrate biodiversity into sectoral policies such as agriculture, economy, energy and health;
• promote the sustainable use of natural resources and strengthen participation of all stakeholders, including young people.

This action plan reflects the Belgian ambition to live in harmony with nature by 2050.

As part of the updated National Biodiversity Strategy 2030, the federal government wants to strengthen Belgium's commitment through two ambitious actions, in addition to many other measures included in the strategy. Firstly, the development of a national financing plan for biodiversity to increase the mobilisation of public and private resources based on clear, shared priorities. In addition, the BiodiversiScape programme, which focuses on the ecological management of federal estates, supports the expansion and interconnection of areas favourable to biodiversity.

The strategy must now be translated into regional and federal action plans, with structured monitoring, a financing plan and broader involvement of all stakeholders for concrete implementation by 2030.

A strategy enriched with public participation

The strategy was enriched by a broad public consultation between June and September 2024, which gathered 190 contributions from citizens, non-profit organisations and NGOs. This process led to the introduction of a new measure to reduce the ecological footprint of Belgian consumption, more attention to the impact of mining activities on biodiversity, clearer and more measurable objectives and a strengthened role for young people in environmental policy and management.

On 30 January 2025, the strategy was unanimously adopted by the extended Interministerial Conference on the Environment, and builds on previous Belgian commitments, with an ambitious and coordinated implementation. All actors involved – governments, civil society, academia and the private sector – will be mobilised to anchor biodiversity as a cross-cutting priority, both nationally and internationally.

The National Biodiversity Strategy for 2025-2030 and the results of the public consultation, including an overview of all comments received and how they were taken into account, are available on the website of the FPS Public Health. An English version of the strategy is available on biodiv.be.

With this strategy, Belgium is sending a strong signal: biodiversity is a priority. We are not only protecting our nature, but also ensuring a sustainable future for the next generations. 

The National Biodiversity Strategy for 2025-2030 was prepared by the contact group ‘National Biodiversity Strategy’ established within the Steering Committee ‘Biodiversity Convention’, acting under the supervision of the Belgian Coordination Committee on International Environmental Policy. The coordination was provided by Marie Baeckelandt, Hendrik Segers (National Focal Point Convention on Biological Diversity, Institute of Natural Sciences) and Anna Heck (Biodiversity Platform, INBO).