Belgium

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Western EuropeApplies 2013–2020Source: Biodiversity 2020 — the update of Belgium's National Biodiversity Strategy 2006-2016

This NBSAP was submitted before the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (December 2022). Target mappings are inferred and were not part of the document's original scope.

1. Overview

Biodiversity 2020 — the update of Belgium's National Biodiversity Strategy 2006-2016 covers the period 2013–2020 [§5]. It translates commitments from the 10th and 11th Conferences of the Parties to the CBD into national policy, while aligning with the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 [§5]. The Strategy operates within Belgium's federal structure, where nature conservation is constitutionally a Regional competence; the Federal level retains competence for marine areas, CITES, trade of non-indigenous species, product standards, and policy levers including public procurement and taxation [§6].

The Strategy contains 15 national commitments*Belgium's NBSAP uses "strategic objectives" where this page uses "national commitments." The Strategy's 85 sub-level items are termed "operational objectives." and 85 operational objectives, eight of which were added in the 2013 update [§6]. These span protected areas, green infrastructure, pesticide reduction, genetic resource access and benefit-sharing, ecosystem service valuation, enforcement, local authority engagement, and resource mobilisation [§8]. The commitments map principally to GBF Targets 1–8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 19, 20, and 21. No specific actions or indicators are adopted in the Strategy itself; these were deferred to later implementation stages [§5][§6].

The Strategy's 2050 vision states: "By 2050, our Biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides — our natural capital — are valued, conserved, appropriately restored and wisely used for their intrinsic value and for their essential contribution to human well-being and economic prosperity, so that catastrophic changes caused by the loss of biodiversity are avoided" [§43].

Belgium's NBSAP is a coordination framework for three Regions and the Federal level, not a binding national plan. It sets a 17% terrestrial protection target aligned with Aichi rather than the KMGBF's 30%, while the North Sea Natura 2000 network already covers 35.85% of Belgian marine waters. Of 15 national commitments, two contain measurable targets and twelve are directional aspirations — with all specific actions, indicators, and budgets deferred to later stages.

Sources:

  • §5 — Colophon > Introductory context and document identity
  • §6 — The updated Strategy in a nutshell
  • §8 — 2050 Vision > New Operational Objectives
  • §43 — IV.1. Our ambition > Vision to 2050

2. Ecological Context

Belgium spans 30,528 km² on land and 3,462 km² of North Sea territorial waters, encompassing three biogeographic zones: the Atlantic region (Flanders, Brussels, and northern Wallonia), the Continental region (south of the Meuse and Sambre valleys), and the East Atlantic Boreal zone at sea [§12]. This compact territory supports 58 habitat types listed in the EU Habitats Directive, shaped by the Ardennes plateaus in the south, the Meuse and Scheldt river valleys, fertile loamy areas in the centre, and low-lying coastal polders [§12].

Recorded species number approximately 36,300, with expert extrapolations placing the actual total between 52,000 and 55,000. Less than two-thirds of species present in Belgium have been recorded, and fewer than 4% have been studied in detail [§13].

Conservation status is among the most unfavourable in the EU. Article 17 reporting under the Habitats Directive (2008–2013) found that only 9% of Belgian habitats of European interest have favourable conservation status, 17% have inadequate status, and 73% have bad status [§12]. For species, 43% have bad conservation status, 26% inadequate, and 19% favourable [§13]. Roughly one-third of plant and animal species are under threat, with dozens known from fewer than five populations [§13].

Land conversion — for urban, industrial, agricultural, transport, and tourism purposes — is the principal cause of biodiversity loss, producing habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation [§16]. Eutrophication constitutes the second main threat, placing pressure on fauna and flora across Flanders, Brussels, and the marine area [§16]. In the North Sea, overexploitation of commercial fish stocks and beam trawling have driven "a sharp decline in long-living and slowly reproducing species such as rays and sharks and many habitat-structuring species like oysters and other large invertebrates" [§16]. Invasive alien species form a predominant proportion of marine fauna in coastal waters, with Brussels a major entry point due to concentrated transport activities [§16]. Climate change has extended the growing season by 10 days between 1962 and 1995 and introduced new southern dragonfly species now breeding in Belgium [§16].

Belgium's per-capita ecological footprint of approximately 4.9 hectares exceeds global biocapacity of 1.8 hectares per person — "the surface used by the average Belgian is over 170% larger than that which the planet can regenerate" [§60].

Sources:

  • §12 — I.3. Current status of biodiversity in Belgium > Habitats
  • §13 — I.3. Current status > Species
  • §16 — I.4. Threats to biodiversity
  • §60 — Objective 4: Sustainable use of components of biodiversity

3. National Commitments and GBF Alignment

The Strategy sets 15 national commitments listed in ascending order of their international dimension, with no priority ranking — "each body will have the power to determine the degree of priority given to the different strategic objectives" [§45]. All operational objectives are to be implemented by 2020 unless otherwise stated [§45]. The commitments group into four thematic clusters.

Conditions of nature (Commitments 1–4)

Commitment 1 — Identify and monitor priority components of biodiversity. Lists of priority habitats, species, and genetic components are to be drawn up using regional red lists and Natura 2000 designations [§46]. Maps to GBF Targets 4 and 21. Measurability: Directional aspiration — specifies what to identify but sets no quantified threshold or completion deadline.

Commitment 2 — Investigate and monitor threatening processes and their causes. Threats and their impacts are to be "further investigated and their effects monitored through sampling and other techniques" on a regular basis [§50]. Maps to GBF Target 21. Measurability: Directional aspiration — calls for monitoring without defined metrics or periodicity.

Commitment 3 — Maintain or restore biodiversity to favourable conservation status. This is the Strategy's most quantified commitment: at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water areas and at least 10% of coastal and marine areas conserved through effectively managed, ecologically representative, and well-connected systems of protected areas; and at least 15% of degraded ecosystems restored [§54]. The Natura 2000 network covers 12.77% of Belgian terrestrial territory and 35.85% of the North Sea [§56]. The 15% restoration target awaits agreed operationalisation of "restoration" and "degradation" with the European Commission. Maps to GBF Targets 1, 2, 3, 6, and 8. Measurability: Measurable commitment (partially) — area percentages are quantified, but the restoration target's operationalisation remains pending.

Commitment 4 — Ensure sustainable use of biodiversity components. Addresses the gap between Belgium's ecological footprint and global biocapacity but sets no quantified reduction target [§60]. Maps to GBF Targets 5, 9, and 10. Measurability: Directional aspiration.

Tools and integration (Commitments 5–8)

Commitment 5 — Integrate biodiversity into all relevant sectoral policies. Described as "the backbone" of the Strategy [§92], covering spatial planning, industry, transport, and energy. Includes phasing out subsidies harmful to biodiversity, adopting biodiversity criteria in public procurement, and environmental impact assessment [§93]. Maps to GBF Targets 14 and 18. Measurability: Directional aspiration — defers all specific actions and metrics.

Commitment 6 — Promote equitable access to and sharing of benefits from genetic resources. Belgium signed the Nagoya Protocol on 20 September 2011, with a ratification target of 2014, a functional ABS Clearing-House by 2015, and operational mechanisms for traditional knowledge protection by 2020 [§98][§174]. Instruments include the voluntary MOSAICC code of conduct for microbial genetic resources and participation in the International Plant Exchange Network [§100]. Maps to GBF Targets 13 and 22. Measurability: Measurable commitment — contains dated milestones with verifiable deliverables.

Commitment 7 — Improve scientific knowledge on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Calls for more investment in taxonomy and ecology, open access to biodiversity data, and improved coordination between policy and research [§105]. Maps to GBF Targets 20 and 21. Measurability: Directional aspiration.

Commitment 8 — Involve the community through communication, education, and training. Addresses public awareness and educational programmes but sets no metrics for participation levels [§174]. Maps to GBF Target 21. Measurability: Directional aspiration.

Enforcement and international cooperation (Commitments 9–13)

Commitment 9 — Environmental liability enforcement. Calls for inclusion of biodiversity in security priorities and training programmes for judges, prosecutors, and customs officials [§117][§174]. Maps to GBF Target 14. Measurability: Directional aspiration.

Commitments 10–13 — International cooperation, forest management, and development. These address cooperation through international organisations, sustainable forest management in developing countries, capacity building, and mainstreaming biodiversity into development cooperation [§174]. Maps to GBF Targets 10, 14, 19, and 20. Measurability: Directional aspiration — general commitments without measurable domestic thresholds.

Local engagement and resources (Commitments 14–15)

Commitment 14 — Promote the commitment of local authorities. The sole new commitment added in the 2013 update, addressing provinces, cities, and municipalities [§45]. Maps to GBF Target 14. Measurability: Directional aspiration.

Commitment 15 — Ensure adequate resources for biodiversity. For international flows: Belgium commits to "contribute towards the doubling of the total biodiversity-related financial resource flows to developing countries" by 2015, using 2006–2010 as the baseline [§134]. For domestic resources: "substantially increased" mobilisation by 2020, with no defined threshold [§133]. Maps to GBF Target 19. Measurability: Measurable commitment (international flows, with defined baseline and target) / Directional aspiration (domestic mobilisation).

Sources:

  • §45 — IV.2. Strategic and operational objectives
  • §46 — Objective 1
  • §50 — Objective 2
  • §54 — Objective 3
  • §56 — Objective 3 > Operational objectives (protected areas)
  • §60 — Objective 4
  • §92–§93 — Objective 5
  • §98, §100 — Objective 6
  • §105 — Objective 7
  • §117 — Objectives 8–9
  • §133–§134 — Objective 15
  • §174 — Appendix 3/4: Concordance tables

4. Delivery Architecture

The Strategy's action portfolio distributes across four governance levels, each operating distinct legislative and planning frameworks.

Key legislation. The Law on nature conservation (law of 12 July 1973, modified 2012) safeguards the character, diversity, and integrity of the natural environment [§23]. The Law of 20 January 1999 on the protection of the marine environment conserves biodiversity in Belgian marine jurisdiction, including a prohibition on deliberate introduction of genetically modified organisms [§23][§78]. Federal sustainable development plans have driven sectoral integration since 2000, culminating in the Federal Plan for the Sectoral Integration of Biodiversity in four key sectors 2009–2013, which identifies responsible actors, implementation calendars, and budgets for each action [§23].

Flagship programmes. The NAPAN (Nationaal Actie Plan d'Action National) coordinates pesticide reduction across one federal and three regional sub-plans, implementing the Phytolicence certification system and a split between professional and non-professional pesticide markets [§73]. The Master Plan for the North Sea governs sustainable marine management with legally binding Marine Spatial Planning [§23][§56]. The BRAIN-be research programme (approved October 2012) funds biodiversity research under its "Ecosystems, biodiversity, evolution" thematic area [§23].

Market mechanisms. Forest certification operates through two schemes: FSC is encouraged in Flanders and Brussels-Capital Region, while PEFC is favoured in Wallonia [§80]. CAP Greening Payments assign 30% of direct payments to climate and environmental practices, including ecological focus areas of at least 5% of arable land for farms over 15 hectares [§68]. Regional subsidies support private sustainable management of nature reserves, agri-environment measures, and sustainable forestry [§93].

Subnational instruments are detailed in the flex section below.

Sources:

  • §23 — The Federal Level
  • §56 — Objective 3 > Marine protected areas
  • §68 — CAP Greening Payment
  • §73 — NAPAN pesticide reduction
  • §78 — Marine GMO prohibition
  • §80 — Forestry certification
  • §93 — Objective 5 > Incentive reform

4a. Belgium's Federal Architecture: How Three Regions Share One Strategy

Nature conservation in Belgium is "essentially a Regional competence" [§6]. The Strategy is explicitly a coordination framework — it "mainly builds on existing plans" and provides "strategic political orientation in order to improve implementation of biodiversity commitments as well as create more coherence" [§19]. Competence splits appear throughout:

Flanders operates under the Flemish Environmental Policy Plan (MINA-4), drawn up every five years under the General Environmental Policy Provisions Decree. MINA-4 sets its own operational targets, including that by 2020 "sufficient habitat will have been established, re-designated, improved or demarcated to achieve 70% of the conservation objectives" for EU-protected species and habitats [§20].

Brussels-Capital Region adopted a coordinated regional law on nature in March 2012 comprising 119 articles and 8 annexes [§21]. Two dedicated programmes — the Green Network Programme (parks, woods, and green corridors) and the Blue Network Programme (rivers, ponds, and marshes) — form the Region's ecological infrastructure [§21]. Hunting has been completely prohibited since 1991.

Wallonia operates under the Marshall Plan 2.Green and its successor Marshall Plan 2022, with biodiversity conservation guided by the Environmental Plan for Sustainable Development (PEDD, 1995) and the Walloon Environment Code [§22]. Facing difficulty in producing a comprehensive Nature Plan, Wallonia instead created "a progressive catalogue of concrete and realistic actions" presented to the Walloon Government in July 2013 [§22].

The Federal level coordinates Belgian positions in international fora and retains competence for CITES, product standards, the marine environment, development cooperation, finance, and taxation [§18]. The Coordinating Committee for International Environmental Policy (CCIEP) streamlines positions across all administrations [§146]. This architecture produces parallel but non-identical instruments — different forest certification preferences by Region, separate climate adaptation plans, separate advisory councils, and different hunting regimes — all operating under a single Strategy that cannot set priorities for its constituent bodies [§45].

Sources:

  • §6 — The updated Strategy in a nutshell
  • §18 — II.2. Competent authorities in Belgium
  • §19 — II.3. Place of the Strategy in the political context
  • §20 — II.3 > The Flemish Region
  • §21 — II.3 > The Brussels-Capital Region
  • §22 — II.3 > The Walloon Region
  • §45 — IV.2. Strategic and operational objectives
  • §146 — Appendix 1: Actors for biodiversity > Federal level

5. Monitoring and Accountability

Oversight structure. The Steering Committee "Biodiversity Convention", operating under the CCIEP, is responsible for developing milestones and indicators for NBS implementation follow-up [§136][§182]. The CBD National Focal Point, housed at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences since 1995, coordinates with regional focal points at ANB (Flanders), Brussels Environment, and DGARNE (Wallonia) [§182].

Monitoring framework. The Strategy establishes four support mechanisms targeted for 2015. SM1 requires adoption and publication of indicators to measure progress against each national commitment, using the EU Baseline country study (2010) and the mid-term state of play (2011) as baselines [§136]. SM2 calls for implementation of the EU reporting tool for NBSs on the Clearing-House Mechanism website [§136]. SM3 targets a functional CHM including a database and practitioner network [§136]. SM4 requires functional clearing-houses for the CBD and its protocols, including the Biosafety Clearing-House and the ABS Clearing-House [§136].

Indicators. No indicators are adopted within the Strategy itself. The Strategy commits to contributing to the development of CBD headline indicators and the SEBI initiative, with SEBI indicators used for reporting to the European Commission on the EU Biodiversity Strategy [§136]. The monitoring approach proposes using the Pressure–State–Response or DPSIR method, and calls for "a short set of common indicators and evaluation criteria" to enable national-level evaluation [§48].

Reporting cycle. National reports to the CBD were submitted in 1998, 2001, 2005, 2009, and 2014 [§182]. Evaluation and reporting on progress are published every four years through the CBD national reporting procedure [§137]. An independent review of the NBS outcome was scheduled for 2020, addressing "environmental as well as socio-economic impacts" [§137].

Adaptive management. Monitoring of priority biodiversity components is described as "the key to adaptive management and for improving management policies and practices by learning from the outcomes of operational programmes" [§49]. The Steering Committee reviews effectiveness of measures and identifies priorities for further action at each reporting cycle [§137].

Sources:

  • §48 — 1.1 Common methodology for identification and monitoring
  • §49 — 1.2 Identify and monitor priority species
  • §136 — V.2. Monitoring and support mechanisms
  • §137 — V.3. Duration, reporting, evaluation and review
  • §182 — CBD milestones in Belgium

6. Finance and Resource Mobilisation

The Strategy contains no aggregate budget figures, no currency-denominated domestic spending target, and no costed implementation plan [§133].

Domestic mobilisation. National commitment 15 calls for financial resources from all sources to "increase substantially" by 2020 compared to average annual biodiversity funding for 2006–2010, in line with CBD Decision XI/4 [§133]. Financing avenues to investigate include specific funds for biodiversity, integration of biodiversity into sectoral budgets (particularly R&D), and partnerships with the finance and business sectors. The Flemish Minafonds is identified as an existing dedicated fund [§133].

EU instruments. Belgium commits to fully using EU financing mechanisms including LIFE+, the European Fisheries Fund, the Cohesion Fund, Structural Funds (ERDF and ESF), and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development [§134]. At least 30% of rural development programme budgets must be allocated to agri-environmental measures, organic farming support, or forestry measures under the 2014–2020 CAP framework [§71].

International flows. Belgium commits to "contribute towards the doubling of the total biodiversity-related financial resource flows to developing countries" by 2015, maintaining that level until 2020, using average annual funding for 2006–2010 as the baseline [§134]. The Strategy references potential use of debt-for-nature swaps and commits to developing a strategy to double the baseline with federal, regional, private sector, NGO, and academic involvement [§134].

Subsidy reform. The Strategy calls for eliminating, phasing out, or reforming incentives harmful to biodiversity [§93]. No specific subsidies are named for elimination, and no timeline is given. Existing positive incentives include subsidies for private nature reserve management, agri-environment measures, sustainable forestry subsidies linked to management plans, and tax exemptions for land in the Flemish Ecological Network and Natura 2000 Walloon sites [§93].

Sources:

  • §71 — Rural development policy
  • §93 — Objective 5 > Harmful subsidies and incentive reform
  • §133 — Objective 15.1: Domestic resource mobilisation
  • §134 — Objectives 15.2–15.4: EU instruments and international flows

7. GBF Target Coverage

Target 1: Spatial planning — Addressed

The Strategy addresses spatial planning through its ecological network concept and green infrastructure approach. Land use planning is to "seek to limit land conversion" for urban, industrial, agricultural, transport, and tourism purposes. Green infrastructure is defined as a strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas, including green roofs and trails in urban settings. Small landscape elements — hedgerows, ditches, field margins, small streams — are identified as playing a key role in connectivity. Core areas are to be connected by buffer and corridor zones to merge fragmented reserves into larger interconnected units.

Target 2: Ecosystem restoration — Addressed

Operational objective 3.3 sets an explicit target: "restoring at least 15% of degraded ecosystems" through green infrastructure. Belgium is working with the European Commission on operationalising the terms "restoration" and "degradation." The baseline is the EU 2010 Biodiversity Baseline Study. Restoration is treated as a process rather than a binary state, allowing different stages to count, including on completely transformed sites such as intensively farmed land. Adaptive management is recommended for slow-changing processes such as nitrogen deposition.

Target 3: Protected areas (30x30) — Addressed

The Strategy sets quantified targets: at least 17% terrestrial and at least 10% marine area protection. The Natura 2000 network covers 12.77% of terrestrial territory and 35.85% of the North Sea. Marine Spatial Planning includes fishery measures to reduce bottom-fishing effects in approximately 8% of Belgian waters. Additional terrestrial coverage is provided through OECMs including agri-environment measures, late mowing of road banks, and sustainable forest management. The 17% target is aligned with Aichi Target 11, not the KMGBF's 30%.

Target 4: Species recovery — Addressed

Action plans are to be developed to ensure maintenance or rehabilitation of the most threatened species to favourable conservation status. Priority species lists are drawn from regional red lists and Natura 2000 designations. For agricultural genetic diversity, in situ conservation covers local varieties and breeds — including named breeds such as Blanc-Bleu mixte cattle and mouton ardennais roux sheep in Wallonia — alongside cryo-banks for ruminant rearing. No comprehensive overview of genetic resources has been conducted.

Target 5: Sustainable harvest — Addressed

The Strategy addresses sustainable harvest across fisheries, hunting, and forestry. The Common Fisheries Policy targets Maximum Sustainable Yield by 2020. Regional hunting laws require compulsory exams (since 1978 in Flanders and Wallonia), with annual cull plans approved by the Regions. Hunting is completely prohibited in Brussels-Capital Region since 1991. Lead shot is banned in Flanders since 2008 and in wetlands in Wallonia since 2006. Belgium supports the EU FLEGT Action Plan and Timber Regulation to combat illegal logging.

Target 6: Invasive alien species — Addressed

Operational objective 3.7 commits to identifying and prioritising IAS and pathways, controlling or eradicating priority species, and managing pathways. Seven operational recommendations from the Belgian Forum on Invasive Species cover coordination structures, risk assessment, early detection, legislation revision, and awareness-raising. The complex institutional framework — with competences fragmented across environment, health, and agriculture — is identified as a challenge. Introduction of wildfowl has been prohibited in Flanders since 2001.

Target 7: Pollution reduction — Addressed

The NAPAN coordinates pesticide reduction across federal and three regional plans. The Phytolicence certifies required knowledge for users, vendors, and advisors of plant protection products, with a split between professional and non-professional markets. Broader measures address air, soil, and water pollution reduction, eutrophication, and acidification through integrated water management under the Water Framework Directive and the polluter pays principle.

Target 8: Climate and biodiversity — Addressed

Operational objective 2.2 calls for investigating and monitoring climate change effects on biodiversity. Belgium adopted its national climate adaptation strategy in 2010, with three Regions developing separate adaptation plans: Flanders (2013–2020), Wallonia (Plan Air-Climate, 2007), and Brussels (pre-project for air-climate-energy plan, 2013). Evolving climate factors are to be taken into account in ecosystem restoration, with adaptive management recommended.

Target 9: Wild species use — Mentioned

The Strategy discusses sustainable fishery and hunting management, but these are framed as leisure activities or commercial operations rather than in terms of benefits to vulnerable or dependent communities as GBF Target 9 envisages.

Target 10: Agriculture / forestry — Addressed

The Strategy addresses Belgium's agricultural sector — described as among the most intensive and specialised in Europe — through CAP Greening Payments, agricultural diversification, and genetic resource conservation. For forestry, sustainable management is promoted through FSC certification (Flanders, Brussels) and PEFC certification (Wallonia), nature-oriented forestry in public and private forests, and financial incentives linked to management plans. Between 2000 and 2010, 30.8% of Belgian farms ceased activities while total agricultural area decreased only 2.6%.

Target 11: Ecosystem services (NbS) — Addressed

Green infrastructure is placed at the centre of the Strategy's ecosystem services approach, characterised as a cost-effective alternative or complement to grey infrastructure. Under operational objective 7.4, Belgium committed to mapping and assessing the state of ecosystems and their services at national level by 2014, and assessing their economic values by 2020, aligned with the EU MAES initiative. A Belgian MAES working group was established in 2012.

Target 12: Urban biodiversity — Mentioned

The Strategy references urban biodiversity within its green infrastructure and protected areas coverage, noting the importance of nature in urban and peri-urban areas for both biodiversity and quality of life. Measures include ecological management of parks, municipal nature development plans, green roofs, and hosting wildlife in attics and belfries. No quantified urban greening target is set.

Target 13: Genetic resources / ABS — Addressed

Objective 6 is entirely devoted to access and benefit-sharing. Belgium signed the Nagoya Protocol on 20 September 2011, with ratification targeted for 2014 and a functional ABS Clearing-House by 2015. Five operational objectives set dated milestones for awareness-raising, ratification, national and global cooperation mechanisms, traditional knowledge protection, and clearing-house operations. Existing instruments include the MOSAICC voluntary code of conduct for microbial genetic resources and IPEN membership through the Royal Botanic Garden.

Target 14: Mainstreaming — Addressed

Mainstreaming is a cross-cutting theme. The Strategy calls for integrating biodiversity into policies on natural resources, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy, spatial planning, transport, tourism, trade, and development. Specific instruments include biodiversity criteria in public procurement, communication strategies for the private sector, Company Biodiversity Action Plans, and environmental and strategic impact assessment procedures incorporating biodiversity criteria.

Target 15: Business disclosure — Not identified

Content addressing GBF Target 15 was not identified in this NBSAP.

Target 16: Sustainable consumption — Mentioned

The Strategy references the impact of Belgian household consumption patterns on biodiversity and calls for public awareness of the necessity to evolve towards sustainable production and consumption. No quantified food waste, consumption reduction, or ecological footprint reduction targets are set.

Target 17: Biosafety — Addressed

The Strategy addresses biosafety across agriculture, fisheries, and forestry. Operational objectives call for preventing genetic introgression from cultivated GMOs into local varieties and wild flora, with case-by-case environmental risk studies. The marine environmental law prohibits deliberate introduction of GMOs in marine areas. GM trees are not allowed in certified forests. Research is to be promoted on effects of GMOs and synthetic biology products on biodiversity.

Target 18: Harmful subsidies — Not identified

Content addressing GBF Target 18 was not identified in this NBSAP.

Target 19: Finance mobilisation — Addressed

The Strategy commits to doubling biodiversity-related financial flows to developing countries by 2015, using 2006–2010 as the baseline. Belgium commits to fully using EU financing instruments including LIFE+, the European Fisheries Fund, Structural Funds, and EAFRD. Domestic mobilisation is to increase substantially but carries no defined threshold. Debt-for-nature swaps are referenced as a potential mechanism.

Target 20: Capacity and technology — Addressed

The Strategy calls for including biodiversity in educational programmes at all levels, providing research and training support to developing countries, and enhancing the Belgian CHM's partnering role with national CHMs in developing countries. The BRAIN-be research programme funds biodiversity science under its "Ecosystems, biodiversity, evolution" thematic area.

Target 21: Data and information — Addressed

Common standards for biodiversity inventories and monitoring are to be defined, aligned with EU headline indicators and the SEBI initiative. A web portal in accordance with GBIF obligations is planned as a basis for a national species register. Four support mechanisms target functional clearing-houses, indicator publication, and integrated online reporting by 2015. Multiple CHMs are required: CBD, Biosafety, and ABS.

Target 22: Inclusive participation — Mentioned

The Strategy addresses participation of indigenous and local communities primarily through ABS provisions. Operational objective 6.4 commits to protecting knowledge and practices of indigenous and local communities by 2020. The Tkarihwaié:ri Code of Ethical Conduct is adopted as a participation framework. No specific provisions address women, youth, persons with disabilities, or other groups.

Target 23: Gender equality — Not identified

Content addressing GBF Target 23 was not identified in this NBSAP.