The opening of the new UN trail in the Sonian Forest in Brussels was organised on 20 October 2024 by the United Nations, in partnership with the Sonian Forest Foundation and Brussels Environment.
The Sonian Forest, the green lung of Brussels, covers over 5,000 hectares in all three Belgian regions: Brussels-Capital, Flanders and Wallonia. First of its kind in Belgium, the UN Trail offers information on the forest’s unique history and biodiversity along its route, via the RouteYou application.
The UN selected this trail for two main reasons: it highlights the importance of environmental protection and ecosystem restoration and emphasises the significance of UNESCO’s recognition of parts of the forest as Natural World Heritage.
This initiative is part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a global campaign co-led by UNEP and FAO, which aims to address the triple planetary crises: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Protecting biodiversity
Forests hold many of the Earth’s terrestrial species, and protecting them is essential. The trail invites visitors to learn, reflect, and get involved in protecting biodiversity, with chances to see some of the forest’s animals (foxes, bats, squirrels, birds, etc.). Restoring ecosystems requires everyone’s participation.
Scientists say the period from 2021 to 2030 is crucial in combating climate change and preventing species loss. Currently, one million species are at risk globally, with 1,677 endangered in Europe alone, including many pollinators and trees.
But there is hope. With better forest management, biodiversity has increased in the Sonian Forest. Moreover, beech forests like the Sonian Forest are experts at creating their own microclimate to protect themselves from climate extremes.
A forest recognised and listed by UNESCO
The Sonian Forest gained UNESCO World Heritage status in 2017, highlighting its ecological and historical value. It is the only natural site in Belgium with this recognition. Five areas are designated as integral forest reserves. They can be found in the Joseph Zwaenepoel Reserve, Grippensdelle and the Ticton Forest Reserve.
These areas are part of a group of ancient and primeval beech forests across 18 European countries, covering about 980 square kilometres. The Sonian Forest represents an invaluable link in the ecological chain, showcasing the evolution of European beech ecosystems since the last Ice Age.
Even though the actual reserves are not on the UN trail itself, visitors will still discover a significant feature of the Sonian Forest: its vast number of beech trees covering more than half of its surface. In addition, the forest is home to many trees with trunks over 80cm wide – on average, five such trees per hectare.
The new UN Trail shows how the UNESCO status supports the forest’s mission to promote ecosystem restoration and environmental protection. The site’s forest management allows diverse species to coexist, highlighting the importance of preserving natural heritage.
