REGION WALLONNE - Environment
State of the environment in Wallonia
At the beginning of this century, the state of the Walloon environment shows appreciable improvements, generally resulting from measures undertaken, but also situations which remain worrying or which continue to deteriorate.
Air :Reduction of emissions to be pursued
In the course of the last decade, emissions of acidifying substances in the Walloon Region fell by 24 %, which led to an improvement of air quality. Significant progress was also observed with regard to metallic trace elements. Emissions of the six greenhouse gases targeted by the Kyoto process rose by 1% in 2000 compared with 1990. Levels of tropospheric ozone often exceed the target value fixed for 2010 for the protection of human health, as well as the target value fixed for vegetation, mainly in rural areas.
The improvements observed are mainly due to the substitution of solid fossil fuels by other less polluting fuels, to the higher quality of petroleum products, to improved engine performance as well as to technological advances in production processes. Conversely, the historical importance of heavy industry in the Walloon region and the significant rise of road transport are unfavourable factors. The measures undertaken by the Walloon Region in order to meet the various assigned objectives have led to encouraging results. However, the effort should be maintained or even reinforced in certain areas. For example, as in most of industrialised countries, the objective of reducing greenhouse gases emissions will not be met without further efforts. The same holds true for airborne particles and tropospheric ozone.
Water : quality improvement and treatment efforts
Resources of surface water as well as groundwater are quite abundant in the Walloon Region.
Water abstractions are rather stable and do not compromise resources, in spite of losses (15%) and substantial exportation of drinking water to Brussels and Flanders (45%). Walloons use on average 132 litres of water per day for their domestic and industrial needs, which is much lower than the European average. As far as water quality is concerned, nitrates contamination remains a cause for concern. A rising trend in nitrates concentrations was observed in some groundwaters, while stabilisation was noted for surface waters. Contamination with pesticides is not increasing much in groundwater and seems to be progressively falling in surface water. Organic pollution is decreasing in watercourses. These substantial improvements were marked by a recovery in biological quality. Improvement in water quality mainly results from the implementation of several measures. For example, loads of industrial waters in surface waters fell by a quarter in six years. A considerable effort, structural as well as financial, has been made in recent years to reduce the considerable delay in treating urban wastewater.
Land use :a cramped region under great pressure
With a population density of two inhabitants per hectare, the Walloon region is one of the most densely populated regions in Europe. The relative crampedness of the territory, the expansion of transport networks and the way of life encourage the spread of urbanisation. Built-up land currently accounts for 13.5 % of the territory. Over the last twenty years, it increased by 48,000 ha (+27 %) whereas agricultural land showed a decline of 58 000 ha (-6 %). On the other hand, forest areas remained stable.
Fauna, flora and habitats : nature conservation and Natura 2000: the turning point?
Studying the bird population shows that measures taken with respect to nature conservation have a certain effectiveness, as witnessed by the clear improvement in the status of several bird species. However, these measures were not sufficient to curb totally the process of biodiversity erosion, and there is still an unfavourable evolution for a number of species. The causes are essentially to be found in the disappearance, fragmentation and inadequate management of habitats.
The increased attention paid to habitat protection in the last twenty years is an essential and indispensible development. In this respect, 2002 saw a major turning point by the designation of 220 000 ha of Natura 2000 sites (13% of the Walloon territory). This important step, together with the continued granting of protected status to the most interesting sites from a biological viewpoint and the implementation of agricultural, forestry and public-space maintenance practices that are more favourable for wildlife, augurs well for an improvement in the situation in the near future.
Forest management: towards sustainable management of Walloon forests
Forests occupy a third of the Walloon territory. Almost half of this area is public property and is managed by the Division of Nature and Forests. Forest management has markedly evolved in the course of recent years in order to comply with the principles of sustainable management set up during the Rio and Helsinki conferences. The objective is to take simultaneous account of the different economic, ecological and social functions of forest, respecting natural balances in forest management planning.
From the economic viewpoint, wood harvesting remains lower than tree growth, leading to an increase in standing volume (25 % in 20 years). Wood harvesting will likely increase during the next years, in order to move towards less dense forests but also to harvest trees from mature stands. From an ecological viewpoint, a more appropriate consideration of natural balances results in a slight increase in the diversity of forest areas and of the extent of deciduous stands. Moreover, the non-reforestation of plots strongly affected by storms in the 1990s and not very suitable for coniferous monoculture illustrates the same tendency.
Agriculture: an intensive agriculture which progressively takes environmental concerns into account
The intensification level of Walloon agriculture remains high compared with the average in European countries but the balance between livestock density and valorisation of livestock effluents on agricultural land has up to now been maintained at the regional level and in 75 % of the farms. The consumption of mineral fertilisers is however decreasing. The same holds for the quantities of active substances in the pesticides used in agriculture, but without more precise information about their characteristics, it is difficult to interpret this evolution in terms of environmental pressure. Organic farming, although developing, is still marginal (2.6% of the utilised agricultural area) and concerns mostly livestock. Agri-environmental measures are increasing: globally, these measures currently involve 14.5% of the utilised agricultural area and 36% of the farmers.
Enterprises: a past to live with but significant improvements in the industrial sector
In the Walloon region the economic context is still influenced by the importance of heavy industry, the heritage of the intense industrial activity in the 18th, 19th and first half of the 20th centuries, by a progressive conversion to high-technology sectors and by the development of the tertiary sector. A significant part of industrial production is exported.
From an environmental viewpoint, this economic profile determines the energy requirements and the pollutants releases into the atmosphere. A slight decoupling between industrial production and emissions can nevertheless be noticed. It originates from the re-orientation of the Walloon economy towards higher added-value products as well as from efforts to reduce pollution. These efforts are mainly driven by the strengthening of legislation. However, the potential role of awareness and competitive spirit (ISO and EMAS certification) should not be neglected as driving forces for the development of environmentally friendly behaviour in the industrial world. Investments relate more to "end-of-pipe" solutions than to modifications of the production processes.
Transport :major efforts to be made
Transport keeps growing for several reasons. This growth concerns mostly road traffic and the two Walloon airports. The transport sector weighs heavily on the region's environmental balance sheet, since it is the second largest energy consumer, the second most important source of greenhouse gases and acidifying substances, a major source of noise, a significant cause of direct mortality, etc. In view of these impacts, the trend to increased road traffic (+10% for passenger and +16% for freight between 1995 and 2001) and the difficulty of controlling the phenomenon, road transport is undoubtedly at the top of the priority list of environmental problems to be solved.
Energy: growing consumption and quasi-total dependence regarding fuels supply
Energy consumption is very high in the Walloon region, notably due to the importance of industry (50% of the total consumption). Currently, imports account for 97% of primary energy needs. Although a slight decoupling may be noticed compared with economic growth, final energy consumption is increasing, mostly because of the growth of transport and the development of the tertiary sector. Domestic energy consumption is also rising. The demand for electricity is especially increasing (+32% for households compared with 1990). Atmospheric emissions from the sector of electricity production are decreasing, mainly because of the use of less polluting fuels (substitution of coal by natural gas). Currently, nuclear power provides nearly 60% of electricity consumption. The Walloon region is currently trying to increase the share of renewable energy and to promote the rational use of energy. This intention faces however, on the one hand, the limited potential of renewable resources, and on the other, the relatively low cost of fossil fuels.
Waste :increased quantities but improved management, without however reaching the target objectives
The major objectives of waste policy are, in order of priority, prevention of waste generation, material and energy recovery and safe disposal leaving landfilling to final waste.
At present, waste generation is increasing. Regarding hazardous waste and sewage sludge, this reflects an improved follow-up and intensification of cleaning efforts. On the other hand, for industrial and domestic waste, it reveals a limited implementation of the prevention principle. Production, distribution and consumption patterns have not been significantly modified with a view to reducing waste generation. Meanwhile, consistent efforts have been implemented in order to improve waste management. Most industrial waste is recovered and separate collection of domestic waste makes progress. This results from specific efforts (extension of door-to-door separate collections and the number of drop-off centres, application of the compulsory take-back rule for several articles).
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