LIFE-project HELA (HEideherstel op LAndduinen)

Restoring moorland and 'reconnecting' open areas, is what this project is all about. For years now, a wooded area forms the natural barrier between the Netherlands and Flanders, besides the administrative border. Now, the 'Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos' (The Agency for Nature and Woods, ANW) and the association 'Natuurmonumenten' (Nature Monuments), are going to restore the area of dry and wet heath, open sand and pools. The wood edges will be managed in such a way that heath will merge into open woods and then closed woodland. More heath, more sand and more slanting pool banks. Open areas on both sides of the border are finally reconnected.

This project is part of Natura 2000 and is partly financed by LIFE. LIFE is a European fund for nature-, environment- and development projects.

The project will last for 5 years; from 2006 until 2011. The total budget for this project is 1,896,047 Euro, half of the amount is financed by the European LIFE-fund.