# data[].attributes.headline
Endangered plant species in your PlantArea

# data[].attributes.subject
Endangered plant species in your PlantArea

# data[].attributes.body
by using the list of Earth's Endangered Creatures (http://www.earthsendangered.com/plant_list.asp)
Disclaimer EEC: "Because many different governments and agencies keep different endangered species lists, there is not one official endangered species list, but many. EEC has chosen a select list of official lists, listing creatures with certain list-specific statuses (i.e. endangered (FWS), critically endangered (IUCN), etc.)"

Search result: No Belgian plants on the list.... : see PDF below

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
earthsendangered.com-Endangered Plants of Europe - List

# data[].attributes.body
Upload at least 3 characteristic photos of rich plant habitats of your wider area of residence.

I used the following websites to classify the habitats I use:
https://www.natura2000.vlaanderen.be/habitattypes (Flanders - Dutch)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/index_en.htm

# data[].attributes.body
This area of app. 1.000 ha, borders the Campine region. The region’s high geomorphological diversity includes several endangered habitats: the sand dune and dune-heath vegetation that grows on inland continental dunes; Atlantic wet heath with Rhynchosporion depressions; dry heath.....
Unfortunately, last centuries the area was largely planted with softwood and heavily drained by the construction of deep ditches.
Last decade however, the original habitats are being restored.
Read here more about the habitat restoration in that area thanks to a LIFE-project.

# data[].attributes.body
Drosera intermedia, an insectivorous, rosette-forming perennial herb has been found here on wet heaths. (Natura 2000: 4010 Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix)

# data[].attributes.body
Select two of your favourite medicinal plants in your PlantArea. Create an identification card

# data[].attributes.body
Situated 8 km south of Leuven (Flanders), in the valley of the middle course of the river Dijle. The valley contains a lot of wetland areas, which periodically flood due to the regime in the river.  Because the Doode Bemde nature reserve wetlands (300 ha) are predominantly fed by discharging groundwater, they are mainly characterized by specific vegetation, which are plant species that occur exclusively in or are limited to the sphere of influence of the groundwater table.

Here is a photo I took some years ago in the month of August, after heavy summer rainfall.

# data[].attributes.body
Lowland hay meadows: species-rich hay meadows on moderately fertile soils of river and tributary floodplains. Most are cut annually for hay, with light aftermath grazing. Seasonal flooding maintains an input of nutrients.
(Natura 2000: 6510)

# data[].attributes.body
The 50-hectare forest is sandwiched between a town, Egenhoven, in the west, a big road, the Koning Boudewijnlaan in the north, and grounds of the university of Leuven in the east and the A3 / E40 in the south. On the east side of the forest lies the river Dijle. The forest area belongs to the forest domain of the Meerdaalwoud, Heverleebos and Egenhovenbos.

Alluvial forest with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior. The habitat typically occurs on moderately base-rich, eutrophic soils subject to periodic inundation. Here: the Dijle. (In terms of Natura-2000: habitat 91E0).

# data[].attributes.body
The entire valley of the Dijle is greatly influenced by groundwater seepage.

# data[].attributes.body
Habitat "Doode Bemde"
Photo: http://www.kuleuven-kortrijk.be/bioweb/

# data[].attributes.headline
Filipendula ulmaria
         Identification card

# data[].attributes.subject
Filipendula ulmaria
         Identification card

# data[].attributes.body
Habitat Egenhovenbos

# data[].attributes.body
Identification card

# data[].attributes.body
My PlantArea (habitats chosen in theme 1) is situated in the Atlantic biogeographical region:
Ref.: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/report_2002_0524_154909/biogeographical-regions-in-europe/the_atlantic_region.pdf/view

This region is closely interacting with the bordering northeast Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea: the climate is mild and humid.

This region is highly urbanized and characterised by highly productive agriculture with extensive grasslands and pastures. The major part of the landscape is fragmented and natural areas are scattered:

o   Grasslands along rivers, in valleys and especially associated with the low coasts (fens, reedbeds, marshes) are characteristic, with decreasing coverage and deteriorating conditions.

o   Some forests with natural species composition still exist, including forest traditionally used e.g. by coppicing.

·        Geomorphology: All coasts are exposed to large tidal movements. The inland landscapes consist of hilly ranges and uplands or of large and relatively flat and low-lying plains. The region also has a history of land reclamation along the low-lying coasts for more than 1000 years.

·        Soils: The substrate of the plains and low-lying hills in the rest of the region are of sedimentary origin (limestone, sandstone, chalk, etc.). On top are considerable deposits of sand, clay, gravel and pebbles.

·        Flora: Two groups of taxa are particularly characteristic of the region: the heathers (Fam. Ericaceae) and many leguminous plants. The number of indigenous species as well as of endemics is not high, compared to other regions such as the Mediterranean region.

The Atlantic biogeographical region and climate change: It is generally expected that increases in temperature will continue, humidity will remain high and that occurrence of heavy storms and other extreme weather may increase. The high precipitation rates causes leaching of the soils and feeds the bogs and moors, among these specifically the raised bogs. Also the increased incidents of storms and heavy and prolonged rainfalls have caused huge problems of flooding.

# data[].attributes.headline
Environmental stress factors in my PlantArea

# data[].attributes.subject
Environmental stress factors in my PlantArea

# data[].attributes.body
Ref.:https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/7189716/file/7189717.pdf(Dutch)

# data[].attributes.headline
Area ‘Doode Bemde’: habitat degradation caused by too many floods and degraded water quality

# data[].attributes.subject
Area ‘Doode Bemde’: habitat degradation caused by too many floods and degraded water quality

# data[].attributes.body
The frequency, duration and depth of flooding have increased considerably in the past decade. The alluvial valleys in the loam region are 'naturally' a productive and therefore quite eutrophic system. These ecosystems are consequently sensitive to nutrient burden. In 'natural' floods, there are sometimes very large quantities of sediments deposited in which large amounts of nutrients are present. They certainly form one obstruction in the recovery, let alone maintaining, for example, the habitat type 6510.

# data[].attributes.headline
Area ‘Averbode bos & heide’: habitat loss caused by changing precipitation regimes

# data[].attributes.subject
Area ‘Averbode bos & heide’: habitat loss caused by changing precipitation regimes

# data[].attributes.body
Several characteristic species for moist heath are currently under pressure due to desiccation and nitrogen deposition. Typical types of moist heather are susceptible to groundwater subsidence during the summer. Erica tetralix will also disappear on further desiccation and grassland vegetation may develop.

# data[].attributes.headline
Area Egenhovenbos: Habitat loss caused by urbanisation, rising temperatures

# data[].attributes.subject
Area Egenhovenbos: Habitat loss caused by urbanisation, rising temperatures

# data[].attributes.body
Phenology:
·        In the 80-ties in April : http://edepot.wur.nl/375526 (Dutch)

·        Nowadays in March : https://waarnemingen.be/soort/info/7258 (Dutch)

·        In Egenhovenbos in 2019 already flowering on 21 February: https://waarnemingen.be/waarneming/view/167791932 (Dutch)

# data[].attributes.body
Alexander von Humboldt (1769 –1859) was a Prussian polymath, geographer, naturalist, explorer. Humboldt's career was shaped by his travels in South and Central America in the five years from 1799 to 1804. Humboldt said that his Cosmos was born on the slopes of the Andes. Beginning in Venezuela, he explored the Orinoco and upper Amazon valleys, climbed Mount Chimborazo (6.310 m). From the notes he gathered on this journey, Humboldt was able to produce at least thirty volumes based on his observations. His studies related to many scientific fields, including botany, zoology, geology, and geography, as well as narratives of popular travel and discussions of political, economic, and social conditions.
In 1828, after the Berlin lectures, Humboldt began formulating his vision in writing. His factual text -“Cosmos” – was heavily loaded with footnotes and references, was sent in proof sheets to all the various specialists for comments and corrections before publication. In total Cosmos took twenty-five years to write. The first volume was published in 1845 when he was seventy-six, the fifth volume, however, was only half-written when Humboldt died in 1859 and had to be completed from his notes and provided with an index over a thousand pages long. His basic purpose is outlined in the introduction to the first volume:

"The most important aim of all physical science is this: to recognize unity in diversity, to comprehend all the single aspects as revealed by the discoveries of the last epochs, to judge single phenomena separately without surrendering their bulk, and to grasp Nature's essence under the cover of outer appearances." (Wikipedia)

# data[].attributes.headline
Alexander von Humboldt: Inportance of his work, concept, motivation offered to scientific community

# data[].attributes.subject
Alexander von Humboldt: Inportance of his work, concept, motivation offered to scientific community

# data[].attributes.body
Humboldt's Cosmos had a significant impact on scientific progress, as well as various scientists and authors throughout Europe and America. Humboldt's work gave a strong impetus to scientific exploration throughout the nineteenth century, inspiring many, including Charles Darwin. (1)

Humboldt is credited with broadening the science from description to explanation in the nineteenth century.(2) Humboldt combines emotion and analysis without mixing them up. He cultivates calculating admiration and admiring calculation. (3)

What if Humboldt were a researcher today, in 2019? He was a marketing genius. A networker who never stopped writing letters. He loved succinct sentences and punchlines. He held lectures for a wide audience. He took a stand on slavery, colonialism and environmental destruction. Today, he would probably tweet – against climate change sceptics and fake news mongers. (4)

References
(1) Wikipedia. Cosmos (Humboldt).

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos_(Humboldt), accessed 2 March 2019.
(2) Mapping the Nation. Alexander von Humboldt: master of infographics.

http://www.mappingthenation.com/blog/alexander-von-humboldt-master-of-infographics/, accessed 2 March 2019.
(3) Humboldt foundation. The Humboldt Code.

https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/The-Humboldt-Code.html, accessed 2 March 2019.
(4) Humboldt foundation. Humboldt today.

https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/Magazine-Humboldt-Kosmos.html#109, accessed 2 March 2019.
Photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Humboldt1805-chimborazo.jpg

# data[].attributes.headline
Compare your PlantArea with PlantAreas of your co-learners

# data[].attributes.subject
Compare your PlantArea with PlantAreas of your co-learners

# data[].attributes.body
Concerning the Mediterranean PlantAreas described by some of my co-learners (I haven’t looked at all of them, sorry), I noticed plants I did’t know their existence and that they were medicinal plants, used as a perfume or used in the kitchen (apart from the herbs). Although the Atlantic biogeographical region where I live in, is quite different of that of the Mediterranean or in the Alps, climate change is noticeable everywhere.

# data[].attributes.headline
ACTIVATE YOUR PRIOR KNOWLEDGE - assess the problem

# data[].attributes.subject
ACTIVATE YOUR PRIOR KNOWLEDGE - assess the problem

# data[].attributes.body
Tropical Andean trees migrate to higher altitudes where the air is cool enough to support their existence. Due to the fast climatic change they have to move faster in order to remain in equilibrium with their preferred temperatures.

# data[].attributes.headline
Recent records showing sign of climatic change

# data[].attributes.subject
Recent records showing sign of climatic change

# data[].attributes.body
The Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) is a federal scientific institute that offers meteorological services and researches weather and climate.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
climate atlas page uploaded by scripts from Alain Tuezney

# data[].attributes.body
In Belgium, the measurements also show a clear upward trend in average temperature. The trend line of the annual average temperature indicates that in Uccle it is on average almost 2.5 ° C warmer than in the pre-industrial period. The 21 warmest years since the beginning of the measurements in Uccle (1833) are all in the period 1989-2017. The absolute record year was 2014 with an annual average of 11.9 ° C.
Ref: RMI

# data[].attributes.headline
Increase in the number of days with heavy rainfall

# data[].attributes.subject
Increase in the number of days with heavy rainfall

# data[].attributes.body
For Belgium (Uccle), the series of days with heavy precipitation (at least 20 mm / day) shows a rather undulating trend: especially between the mid 1980s and the beginning of the year 2000 a marked increase in the number of days with heavy rainfall was recorded. A year now has 5 days with heavy rainfall, whereas in the beginning of the 1950s it was only 3. This increase is also significant. The record year was 2004 with 12 days of heavy rainfall. Intense precipitation usually occurs in the summer because of intense thunderstorms that fall within a few hours.
The RMI has already established that the wettest periods for longer than a week usually occur in the winter, and that the amount of precipitation in the winter that at least falls in a few days tends to increase.
Ref.: RMI

# data[].attributes.body
Report commissioned by Greenpeace and coordinated by P Marbaix and J-P van Ypersele, Université
catholique de Louvain, Belgium. July 2004.

# data[].attributes.headline
BELGIAN
NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGY

# data[].attributes.subject
BELGIAN
NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGY

# data[].attributes.body
And even een plan

# data[].attributes.headline
Climate expert Pieter Boussemaere: Climate change: why it matters (in Dutch)

# data[].attributes.subject
Climate expert Pieter Boussemaere: Climate change: why it matters (in Dutch)

# data[].attributes.body
Climate change: Belgium students skip school to demand action
Thousands of students have skipped school in Belgium to join a march demanding greater action on climate change.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'No point going to school if our world is dying'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Thousands of students skip school in Belgium to join a march demanding action on climate change.

# data[].attributes.headline
ACTIVATE YOUR PRIOR KNOWLEDGE - assess the problem

# data[].attributes.subject
ACTIVATE YOUR PRIOR KNOWLEDGE - assess the problem

# data[].attributes.body
The threat of climate change and the knowledge that it is related to CO2 emissions from fossil fuels has led scientists to look for alternatives for our energy needs, that is in the cultivation of biofuel crops.
BUT: Replacing fossil fuels with biofuels is highly controversial since it solves one problem but creates new ones.

# data[].attributes.headline
Endangered plant species in your PlantArea

# data[].attributes.subject
Endangered plant species in your PlantArea

# data[].attributes.body
Alternative source: European Red List of vascular plants

Menyanthes trifoliata (Waterdrieblad)
EU Wildlife Trade Regulations - Annex D (contains species listed in CITES Appendix III for which one or more EU Member States have entered a reservation as well as species for which Community imports warrant monitoring)
Main threat is changing of the water level by agricultural methods and water pollution from agriculture (eutrophication)

Anacamptis pyramidalis (Hondskruid)
Habitats Directive- Annexe II/IV
Decline caused by cessation of the management of before 1960 which was: extensive grazing of grass pastures and removal of cuttings. Entry by humans is an important threat.

Liparis loeselii
(Groenknolorchis)
Habitats Directive- Annexe II/IV
Near threatened: Cause: groundwater fluctuations due to water abstraction and reduced groundwater supply; eutrophication of ground or surface water.

# data[].attributes.headline
Business plan of a local volunteer organisation that aims to protect them

# data[].attributes.subject
Business plan of a local volunteer organisation that aims to protect them

# data[].attributes.body
In Flanders (Belgium) the remaining areas of high biodiversity are restricted to the nature reserves. The reasons of the decline of biodiversity here are:

1.      The current agriculture methods (in the neighborhood) of the protected area that cause:

·        Changing of the water level

·        Water pollution: eutrophication of ground or surface water is the result

·        Grasslands no longer managed like before: extensive grazing of grass pastures and removal of cuttings.

2.      But also entry by humans is a threat: more and more people live in the vicinity of the remaining nature. These people then increasingly want to use nature in their free time: mountain bike, nature trail runs, etc….

So, our business plan here is:
1) to make better deals with the farmers to reduce the impact of the agriculture methods and
2) to rise public awareness about the need to protect these areas.

However, our nature reserves are too small and too fragmented. As a result, there are sometimes remaining populations with a weak genetic basis. We need to connect them and to manage the areas well. And – when all the environmental circumstances are favorable – we might consider translocation of some species e.g. Fen orchid (Liparis loeselii).

# data[].attributes.headline
Two alcoholic drinks we drink in Belgium

# data[].attributes.subject
Two alcoholic drinks we drink in Belgium

# data[].attributes.body
1. Beer: made of malted barley + hops (+water and yeast)
In my PlantArea, the Doode Bemde is a fine local brewery with excellent beer: De Kroon

How to Brew Beer

# data[].attributes.body
2. Wine: 90 % of the production is white wines, made of Grapes (look at Wikiipedia for the name of the grapes).
We even have a visitor centre in the neighbourhood of Leuven to tell you all about it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In this visitor's centre, you'll discover all there is to know about Hageland wines, the Wijngaardberg, and the Hageland region. You can also sample and purchase Hageland wines.

# data[].attributes.headline
Main tree species decorated during Christmas

# data[].attributes.subject
Main tree species decorated during Christmas

# data[].attributes.body
1) Abies nordmanniana 2) Abies fraseri 3) Picea omorika 4) Picea abies

# data[].attributes.body
Crop cultivation (cereals like wheat and barley) is the largest activity in arable farming, growing potatoes in second place.

# data[].attributes.headline
Two common spices together with their origin

# data[].attributes.subject
Two common spices together with their origin

# data[].attributes.body
1) Black pepper: native to India, and is extensively cultivated there and elsewhere in tropical regions. Vietnam is the world's largest producer and exporter of pepper. The plant is: Piper nigrum

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
🔵 All About White Pepper & Black Pepper || Glen & Friends Cooking

# data[].attributes.body
2) Nutmeg:  is the seed or ground spice of several species of the genus Myristica. Myristica fragrans is an evergreen tree indigenous to the Moluccas (or the Spice Islands) of Indonesia. It is widely grown across the tropics.

# data[].attributes.headline
Theophrastus 'Enquiry into Plants' , and 'On the Causes of Plants'

# data[].attributes.subject
Theophrastus 'Enquiry into Plants' , and 'On the Causes of Plants'

# data[].attributes.body
Theophrastus:

Described more than 500 plant species and varieties

Classified them as trees, shrubs, undershrubs, and herbs

Recorded the different ways plants can reproduce (from seed, cuttings, or roots)

Described seed germination and the anatomy of different types of flowers.

Theophrastus did not use special methods other than his observations to do this.
I would say: He certainly can be considered the forerunner of plant physiology.
Ref. Wiikipedia, Geography and NCBI

# data[].attributes.headline
5 plants on the Red List of my PlantArea IUCN - Europe

# data[].attributes.subject
5 plants on the Red List of my PlantArea IUCN - Europe

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Greet Sienap
Affiliation: volunteer nature guide and teacher VHM and Natuurpunt
Date: 15/03/2019

I would like to introduce the following plants:

1. Drosera intermedia

2. Liparis loeselii

3. Fraxinus excelsior

4. Pedicularis palustris

5. Baldellia ranunculoides

All of them (exc. 4:  Continuing decline of mature Individuals) are near threatened on the scale of Europe.
In Belgium one of these plants is considered as 'critically endangered', some are threatened, one is 'not in danger' (3).

According to the information I collected from the internet, the reasons for the decline of these 5 plants is not always quite the same.

For some plants the level or/and the composition of the groundwater is decisive. If there are major changes here, the species cannot sustain itself. It is a case of habitat degradation.

for others: loss of habitat and lack of good management is the cause.

Mostly, it is a combination of factors, in some cases there are other problems (Fraxinus excelsior) to count with. Ash dieback affects ash trees and is caused by the fungus. This disease was first described in Poland in 1992 and has since swept westwards throughout Europe.

# data[].attributes.body
Since 1973, plants in Belgium have been protected by law. Today, protection measures are almost entirely based on European guidelines. The following actions were taken:

1. The Habitats Directive

2. Natura 2000 ecological network of protected areas

3. Designation of special areas of conservation (SAC)

4. Establish and monitor conservation objectives

In my opinion, these are some elements to study, discuss and come to a conclusion in this topic.

# data[].attributes.body
Read overview "Europe and environment"
Read "Major threats'

# data[].attributes.body
Protected areas

Green infrastructure

LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity Projects