Amid the charred plains of the High Fens, small areas have been largely spared by the fire that has ravaged the nature reserve over the past week. Conservationists have been able to confirm this now that the situation on the ground is under control. These “islands of biodiversity” are important for recovery in the coming years.
‘Islands of biodiversity’ offer hope for recovery after High Fens fire
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Over the past week, 3,000 hectares of the High Fens in Liège province have been reduced to ashes by the fire that began on Friday. The impact is enormous, but not everything has been destroyed.
Small pockets of nature have been spared in the affected area. These form when the wind suddenly drives the fire in a different direction. The exact extent of the ecological damage will become clear in the coming weeks and months.
“Based on visual footage alone, it is difficult to form a clear picture of what the real impact is,” says Kris Verheyen, professor of forest ecology and forest management at Ghent University. “One of the things that is difficult to see is how much of the peat has actually been burnt or damaged.”
It is already clear, however, that the affected area is not a uniform whole. Some zones have been severely affected, others less so. The ground is still smouldering in various places, meaning the situation continues to evolve.
Based on visual footage alone, it is difficult to form a clear picture of what the real impact is
According to Verheyen, the fact that some areas have survived could play a key role in the area’s recovery. “If populations of certain species are still present in those areas, then the recolonisation of the burnt areas will be a lot easier,” he says. This applies not only to animals but also to rare plant species.
An iconic species of the High Fens is the extremely rare black grouse. It is doubtful whether that population survived the fire, but a male was found alive by the fire brigade on Thursday.
The exact impact on the fauna and flora will only become clear after extensive field research. Drones and aerial photographs will be used to map the site in detail.
The fact that the area has been severely affected does not mean it will remain black for years. “It will probably turn green again relatively quickly,” says Verheyen. “But that greenery will mainly be dominated by purple moor grass.”
This is a type of grass that is common in heathland and peatland areas and even benefits from large wildfires to spread further. As it is highly flammable, it increases the risk of fire during dry periods.
However, controlling the plant – for example, through grazing – is difficult in such a vast and inaccessible reserve.
“Anyone going for a walk in the High Fens in a few years’ time will, apart from the burnt trees, not notice much of the fire at first glance,” Verheyen says. “If you look more closely at the rarer species and at the peat itself, you will continue to see the traces for a very long time.”
