Why an LIFE "ArdennEislek" project ?
The essence of the project
The LIFE ArdennEislek project takes its name from the action area in which it was conceived. It covers the Eastern Ardennes, the Upper Ardennes and the Luxembourg Ardennes, known as the Eislek.
Its aim is to strengthen the cross-border connectivity of habitats and species of Community interest that are threatened at both Walloon and European level.
To achieve this, it aims to create and restore* 450 hectares of natural environments sheltering key habitats and species as represented in the drawing below (Olivier Kints) :
*restore = improve the conservation status of habitats or species habitats.
For more information about these habitats or species, please consult the tab "the nature we protect".
The objectives
The main aims of the project are to:
- Restore and/or recreate 450 ha of habitats (250 ha in RW and 200 ha in GDL) including: heaths and narderies; hay meadows, mullein meadows, butterfly meadows; forests (alluvial and peat bogs).
- To extend and/or create 110 ha of new nature reserve areas (100 ha in RW and 10 ha in GDL) via the purchase of new plots.
- Plant 20 km of hedgerows and 300 isolated trees in open areas to encourage shrikes (equally distributed in RW and GDL).
- Reintroduce at least 1 metapopulation of Marsh fritillary on sites favourable to the species' complex ecological requirements (in RW initially then in GDL as regards After-LIFE).
- Strengthen cross-border cooperation between partners to improve nature reserve management.
- To share the skills and knowledge acquired with the scientific community as well as the stakeholders involved in nature management and protection.
- To raise awareness among the general public of the issues targeted by the project.
Concrete actions
Over the next 7 years (2025-2031), the 7 main objectives of this LIFE project will be implemented through concrete actions on the ground:
- Establishment of a strategy for the restoration of targeted habitats, planning of operations and implementation of concrete restoration actions on the ground.
- Purchase of land in the project action area based on a biological rationale (connectivity, soil type, history of a site, ...).
- Identify areas favourable to shrikes in order to plant hedgerows and isolated trees.
- Setting up a group to think about the Marsh fritillary while drawing on the experience of project partners in this area. Identification of potential sites, restoration and improvement of habitats, reintroduction of a metapopulation and implementation of management favourable to its habitat over the long term.
- Sharing of experience and frequent exchanges between the belgo-luxembourg partners.
- Drafting of technical materials: technical notebooks, action plans, scientific or popularized articles. Awareness-raising activities: organisation of seminars, project opening and closing days, management work camps, guided tours of restored sites, etc.
- Creation of reading aids via: the website, the project presentation leaflet, bi-annual newsletters as well as regular publications on the LIFE Facebook page.
Setting up outside activities: nature reserve discovery days (from 2026), management workcamps, etc.
A symbiotic relationship
Far from being the only LIFE project in the area to act for objectives similar to other LIFE projects, LIFE ArdennEislek acts in symbiosis with other LIFE projects (completed or ongoing) such as:
- LIFE Arnika
- LIFE Papillons
- The LIFE Ardenne liégeoise
- The LIFE Nardus
- The LIFE Eislek
- The LIFE BNIP
- LIFE Vallées ardennaises
These previous projects have increased the experience and knowledge specific to the area, habitats and species of our project.
This new project reinforces the existing and previous actions, while ensuring the sustainability of the approach to protecting and maintaining biodiversity over time.
