Landscape research in Belgium

Abstract

In the federal state Belgium, landscape research evolved from regional geographical monographs to more applied research that focuses upon the specific problems in each of the regions. In the highly urbanized Flanders region in the north, aspects of suburbanization and fragmentation are the most important Landscape research involves geographers, historians, archaeologists, agronomists, foresters, ecologists and nature conservationists all dealing with specific goals and tasks. The integration is mainly achieved in spatial planning. In the Walloon region large areas are still rural and have a large forest cover while urbanized zones are rather concentrated. Landscape research focuses here mainly upon the rural involving geographers, agronomists and planners. The natural and scenic aspects of the landscape dominate and the study of the historical development of the landscape is less pronounced. In Brussels Capital region little attention is given to landscape aspects, as social and typical urban problems dominate Consequently, different landscape typologies are used in Belgium.