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Area	Belgian Coast
Place	North Sea shoreline
Country	Belgia
Topics	Geographical cross-cutting; Sustainable housing; Green and blue infrastructure
Author(s)	Andra Birica; Ruxandra Mihalcea; Alin Pricop; Irina Rusu; Ionela Popa; Mariana Silivestru; Mariana Bodea

Rationale

One of Belgium’s smaller regions is Flanders, which in turn brings a grand resource for the country: it’s serene coast towards the North Sea, with 68 km in lenght, consisting of a gently sloping sandy beach, backed by coastal dunes. With time, erroneous planning and climate change in the area made people realize of the long-term risks. Thus, we must adapt and correct the challenges of rapid urbanization, urban sprawl, erosion and the rising sea level, balancing and uniting 1- the protection of the cultural and natural heritage with 2- economical gains from the productive landscapes and tourism.

Location and scope

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A Landscape System Analysis

A.1 Landscape layers and their system context

Geomorphology, landscape units and coastal typology

Description of evolution, status quo and driving forces, is the coastal typology changing? Why is that? (approx 200 signs)
add 1-2 graphical representations to the image gallery, you can add more if you like

Yourcase landscapeunits1.jpg

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Yourcase landscapeunits2.jpg

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Land use

settlements, infrastructure, agriculture, resource extraction, natural areas, energy production...
description of evolution, status quo and driving forces, is the land use likely to change? Why is that? (approx 200 signs)
add 1-2 graphical representations to the image gallery, you can add more if you like

Yourcase landuse1.jpg

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Yourcase landscapeunits2.jpg

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Yourcase landscapeunit3.jpg

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Green/blue infrastructure

What are the major potential elements of a green/blue infrastructure network? Are these likely to change/disappear? Why is that?
You find my background material on green infrastructure in our reading list
add 1-2 graphical representations to the image gallery, you can add more if you like

Green and blue infrastructure is particularly important because it has an impact on the environmental, social and economic level. This infrastructure can be encountered in various places, such as natural or semi-natural, urban, rural or marine areas. It can also include natural or man-made elements. On the Belgian coast the major potential elements of blue-green infrastructure network are represented by numerous natural and artificial parks, nature reserves and small lakes spread along the coastal area. Blue infrastructure is less represented than green infrastructure, meeting here Teteghem Lake, Spuikom, Vargeul, and other small lakes and canals.

The green infrastructure is represented by National Nature Reserve the Dune Marchand, Doornpanne Park, Maria Hendrikapark, Zeebos Park, Westhoek Nature Reserve, Sint-Pietersplas Park, Zwin Nature Park, etc., but also includes elements such as hedgerows, copses, bushes , orchards, woodlands, natural grasslands. Many of the natural parks have protection status and are integrated in the Natura 2000 Network due to the sand dunes and the special forests of the coastal area, among other elements of biodiversity. An important element of green infrastructure is agriculture, which covers an important area of the Belgian coast and which is essential for economic growth.

The main functions of the green-blue infrastructure are related to the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of ecosystems, the development of a sustainable economy and the promotion of health and wellbeing for the local communities, achieving a sustainable management of the area and maintaining a balance between the ecological functions and the multi-functional use of the lands.

All this elements representing the green and blue infrastructure are unlikely to disappear in the near future because most of them have natural landscape elements or represent important elements of the landscape, economy and society.

Green and blue infrastructure on the Belgian coast (Source: Google maps)

Actors and stakeholders

The main actors who play an important role in the coast of Belgium are politicians (authorities), entrepreneurs (energy and maritime industry) naturalist (environmental protection) and local people.A considerable power and influence is exercised by the authorities and industry because they make decisions without implicating the other actors.Those who are affected but with the least power are the naturalists because the coast is in a continuous degradation (especially construction of polders and uncontrolled agriculture affects the environment). Local people are ignored and badly treated, they do not have power but are very affected by the decisions of the others actors involved in the development of the coast. The biggest changes in the Belgian coast are made by urbanization products because tall buildings are built quite close to the beach and invades the protected areas. The tourism in development has effects on the coast because it has a low quality. Tourists set up tents illegally in protected areas and pollute the environment, leaving waste behind.The main problems on the coast of Belgium are produced by the powerful actors and for this bad influence Belgium has adopted since 2009 Blue Growth, supported by the EU. Blue Growth focuses more on the economic development of all sectors on the coast and less on protecting the environment.

Belgian Coast Actors

Sacred spaces and heritage

Which places/elements hold cultural value and to whom?
You may add a map and some images, please also explain in your caption why these elements are valuable

Fort Napoleon, 1811, Oostende
Mole Ooster (490 m) & Westerstakersel (543 m), 1865, Nieuwpoort
The map with natural reserves of dunes in Belgium
The Chapel ”Our Lady of The Dune”, 1720, Bredene

Visual appearance and landscape narrative

Which elements are essential for the landscape character?
Has the landscape been painted or otherwise depicted, when and whom? Which elements are essential?
Which narratives exist? Who has written about this landscape or depicted it in some way?
You can add text and images

Landscape character is defined as the distinct, recognisable and consistent pattern of elements in the landscape. It it these patterns that give each locality its 'sense of place', making one landscape different from another. Physical elements provide the fundamentally stable basic pattern of landscape, while cultural elements are superimposed on this and are more fluid, reflecting social and land use changes over time. Layered on top of this is the perceptual element – our own personal appreciation of landscape and how we relate to or make use of it, as individuals and communities.

An important project is taking place on the coast of Belgium, named Beaufort - an art project, triennial, in which the main role is played by the sea, an uncontrollable but unifying place. Every participating artist comes from a country that borders on the sea, which creates monuments that have different symbolisms, such as honoring characters who have made a significant contribution to society, illustrating tragic events or the connection between nature and man. The first edition of Beaufort took place in 2003 and was organised by then director of the Ostend Provincial Museum for Modern Art Willy Van den Bussche who would also remain the triennial’s curator in 2006. Monumental works found their place against the unique backdrop of the Coast, resulting in embodying the relationship between society and the environment and paying homage to both past times and events, as well as to the supremacy of the sea. For example, on the beaches of De Panne, Nieuwpoort and Oostende have been raised monuments that symbolize the power of people and nature. "Three Wise Noses of De Panne” are part of a tradition of realistic public sculptures that have a heroic function, like the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, the Cristo Redentor in Rio De Janeiro or the ancient Colossus of Rhodes. They stand there as protectors or guardian angels of all seafarers, as symbolic defenders of a harbour or coastal city. They are statues that initially served as a welcome beacon or signpost, and over time have become tourist attractions, no longer just a waymark but a destination in their own right.

"Men" is an equestrian sculpture that is part of an ancient Belgian tradition of placing equestrian monuments on the coast. Men on horses represent power and war. By putting them in the unusual setting of the sea and echoing the motif, the element of prestige is replaced by drama, and the statues look as if one moment in a forgotten battle at sea has been cast in bronze. This allusion to an army absurdly draws lines across time and place, as the statues disappear and reappear with the tide. A daily vanishing ritual as the ocean slowly swallows the sharp edges of the sculptures until they eventually disappear into anonymity.

The "Monument for a Wullok" is a monument to the sea, and ode to its power and indomitable nature, and to the secrets that it refuses to reveal. The bronze thus acquires a brownish-green pockmarked surface which contrasts with the soft, smooth and accessible inner side, in which as children we thought we could hear the sound of the sea. The coast of Belgium has been immortalized in postcards since 1926, but also in books describing both the historical events in this area and its tourist secrets.

The map with Beaufort locations and monuments, 2018
Postcard and books about Belgian coast

A.2 Summary of your landscape system analysis and your development targets

Tourism, urbanization, maritime activity, climate change, industrialization are the main drivers on the Belgian coast. That driver is exerting pressure on the area. The results of these pressures can be considered negative because there are effects such as the increase of the water level, the geophysical pressure, the deterioration of the environment, the popularity of the area. Also, there are effects on the environment, such as erosion of shoreline, flooding area, pollution (air by industry, audio by construction of various buildings, environment by tourism, and water by maritime industry). All this force has a negative impact, so the quietness of place disappears, land and water are damaged, and biodiversity will lose and decline in the quality of life.To stop the negative impact on the Belgian coast we thought that the Belgian state could have the following answers to the problems: a biodiversity strategy resulting by creating an integrated coastal management, environmental policy an efficient nature protection and conservation plan, strict application of structural plans and rules, nature restoration (integration of coast and polder) and strict control of tourism.

Link back to the Sustainable Development Goals: Which goals are at risk?
What is your hypothesis for this landscape?
Visualise your hypothesis with one graphic/pict
Are there any existing initiatives taking action in this landscape? Do you have a critical perspective on that?
Add text and visuals

System Analysis of Belgian Coast

Your case your hypothesis visual.jpg

explain your hypthesis briefly in the caption

A.3 Theory reflection

Reflect on at least three international policy documents in relation to their local landscape case
choose one international, one European and one national document
You can choose references from our reading list
Scope: 250 words

A.4 References

give a full list of the references you have used for this section

Phase B: Landscape Evaluation and Assessment

B.1 Assessment Strategy

Based on the hypothesis derived from your previous landscape systems analysis you are now asked to define the goals for assessing the landscape. Your assessment is the basis for evaluating the landscape status.
Which elements and phenomena need to be mapped, why and how?
This a text contribution, max 250 words

B.2 Mapping

As defined by your assessment strategy you conduct the mapping and present your findings here
As a minimum, at least three different themes need to be mapped, you may choose more if needed

Your case your assessment mapping themel.jpg

briefly explain the findings of your mapping
Your case your assessment mapping theme2.jpg

briefly explain the findings of your mapping
Your case your assessment mapping theme3.jpg

briefly explain the findings of your mapping

B.3 Problem definition and priority setting

Give a summary of the major findings of your mapping process, what are the problems/potentials identified?
Draw a problems/potentials map
Set priorities for the most relevant issues

Your case problems potentials map.jpg

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B.4 Theory reflection

Please reflect the assessment and evaluation methods used based on at least three readings
Did you encounter limitations'
200 words test contribution

B.5 References

give a full list of the references you have used for this section

Phase C – Strategy and Master Plan

C.1 Goal Setting

Define strategic planning objectives based on the evaluation findings
Link back to your original targets from section one and the Development Goals
150 words text contribution

C.2 Spatial Strategy and Transect

translate your strategic goals into a vision
develop a spatial translation of your vision
exemplify your vision in the form of a transect with concrete interventions
add map(s) and visualizations

Your case spatial translaton vision.jpg

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Your case transect.jpg

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C.3 From Theory of Change to Implementation

For implementing your vision: Which partnerships are needed? Which governance model is required?
Who needs to act and how? Draw and explain a change/process model/timeline
Which resources are needed? On which assets can you build?
add 150 words text and visuals

Your case spatial your governance model.jpg

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Your case spatial your process model.jpg

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C.4 References

give a full list of the references you have used for this section

D. Process Reflection

Reflect in your intercultural and interdisciplinary team on the outcomes of your study
Which limitations were you facing?
What have you learnt from each other?
What would you do differently next time?
You can also use diagrams/visuals
250 words text

COLAND Case Study 2020 - Belgian Coast

Contents

Rationale

Location and scope

A Landscape System Analysis

A.1 Landscape layers and their system context