Flora

Flanders is a densely populated, dynamic region with a very fragmented landscape. For this reason, wildlife is under immense pressure. Approximately half of its plants and animals are on the 'Red List', an inventory of endangered species, that includes the Red List of higher plants (xls, 173 kB) and the Red List of mushrooms.

On the website of the Institute for Nature and Woodland you will also find:

• more information about the Flora bank, a databank that has approximately three million data on the distribution of vascular plants in Flanders. The Florabank (in Dutch) also describes one hundred characteristics per species, including the Red list.
• more information about the tree diagnostic center of the INBO (in Dutch), which offers practical and educational advice on trees and problems with trees in both urban and non urban areas of Flanders.

Flora in the Brussels Capital Region

In spite of major urbanization, 53% of the area of the Brussels Capital Region consists of green spaces. You find trees and plants everywhere, in parks and gardens, in the streets and along the motorways. Numerous inventories by Leefmilieu Brussel and other organizations have led to the identification of 700 different species of plant: half of all Belgian flora.

More information about green Brussels (in French or Dutch) and the flora in the Brussels Capital Region (in French or Dutch) can be found on the Brussels Institute for Environment Management website.

Flora in Wallonia

The Wallonia region’s environment portal offers all you need to know about the protection of species (in French) in Wallonia. You can consult the Red List of protected and endangered plants in Wallonia (in French) via the biodiversity portal.

International Conventions

Natura 2000
'Natura 2000' is a European network of protected natural areas. It covers all areas designated by the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive.

More information about 'Natura 2000' can be found on the website www.natura.org.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
CITES is an agreement between 172 countries that controls the trade in endangered species of animals and plants.  
Its aim is to ensure that endangered animals and plants do not become extinct. More than 800 species of animals and plants may no longer be sold anywhere in the world. Special licences are necessary to trade aproximately 25,000 species. Animal by-products (such as ivory, caviar, wood, seeds and plants, etc.) are also protected under this convention and therefore cannot be freely traded.

More information about CITES can be found on the website www.cites.org.