Leveraging the No Net Land Take Policy through Ecological Connectivity Analysis: The Role of Industrial Platforms in Flanders, Belgium

Dorothy Julian Nalumu (), Daniel Otero Peña and Daniela Perrotti
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Dorothy Julian Nalumu: Urban Metabolism Lab, Louvain Research Institute for Landscape, Architecture, Built Environment, 1060 Brussels, Belgium
Daniel Otero Peña: Urban Metabolism Lab, Louvain Research Institute for Landscape, Architecture, Built Environment, 1060 Brussels, Belgium
Daniela Perrotti: Urban Metabolism Lab, Louvain Research Institute for Landscape, Architecture, Built Environment, 1060 Brussels, Belgium

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 22, 1-13

Abstract: Land take for urbanisation has become a significant problem in many parts of the world due to environmental, social and economic impacts associated with the rapid depletion of blue and green spaces. In Europe, literature reveals a massive loss of ecosystems due to land take. The European Union has formulated a “No Net Land Take Policy” to stop new development activities on the available urban lands by 2050 within its member countries. In this paper, we highlight opportunities for mainstreaming green infrastructure planning in the industrial areas located in Flanders, Belgium, to enhance ecological connectivity towards the No Net Land Take Policy. The ecological connectivity was analysed using a blended methodology combining spatial analysis at the scale of the entire region and that of sixteen sub catchments within using the Patch-Corridor-Matrix model. A multifunctionality framework for assessing green infrastructure implementation was designed based on an analysis of the scientific literature discussing the ecological benefits of green infrastructure networks within industrial platforms. Our results show that industrial platforms might provide a broad spectrum of implementation opportunities reflecting the multi-functionality of green infrastructure networks while highlighting to what extent the underdeveloped areas laying within the boundary of industrial platforms are suitable for green infrastructure expansion.

Keywords: net land take policy; green infrastructure; Bouwshift; patch-corridor-matrix model; industrial areas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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