• Theme

    The field of application of the law

       Plans and programmesWhich documents will be subject to the law of 13 February 2006 (.PDF)? In other words, which types of plan and programme will need to be assessed and entail...
  • Theme

    Advisory committee

    In order to find out whether the implementation of its plan or programme will have effects on the environment, the preparing authority submits it to the advisory committee. After...
  • Theme

    Environmental report

    This is the main new contribution of the law of 13 February 2006 (.PDF): a report on the environmental effects of the draft plan or programme must be compiled. This report is...
  • Theme

    Public participation

    This is one of the very important stages of the law. During the assessment, public consultation is organised about the draft plan or programme as well as about the environmental...
  • Theme

    After the consultation

    All of this information is analysed by the competent authorities, which take a decision and follow up on it. In particular, they will issue a declaration summarising the way in...
  • Theme

    Our sea in a nutshell

    The Belgian part of the North Sea is about as big as an average Belgian province (3,454 km2). It covers about 0,5% of the total area of the North Sea and includes the territorial...
  • Theme

    Biodiversity of the North Sea

    BIODIVERSITY OF THE NORTH SEA The North Sea is home to a rich biodiversity. It is teeming with life: from sea anemones and seahorses through cod and porpoises to seals and many...
  • Theme

    Nuisance because of ultrasound and infrasound

    Because infrasound and ultrasound are difficult to hear, they do not cause noise nuisance in the ordinary sense of this word. Yet they can cause physical complaints such as pain,...
  • Theme

    Habitat types to be protected

    Sand banks Description and occurrence Sand banks occur in many places in Europe, but we find these more abundant in the southern North Sea (North-French, Belgian and South-Dutch...
  • Theme

    To protect sea birds

    The great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) Description and occurrence of the species The great crested grebe is a medium sized bird with a slender neck and pointed beak. In...