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Natural Monuments

Sonian Forest – Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests

Natural Monuments

Sonian Forest – Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests

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Sonian Forest – Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests

Name: Sonian Forest – Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests
Rating: 2

Recommended by 20 hikers

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Location: Uccle, Brussels, Belgium

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1. Vuilbeek Valley – Ganzepoot Pond loop from Boondael - Boondaal

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2. Vallei van de Vuilbeek – Ganzepootvijver loop from Groenendaal

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3. Hoefijzervijver – Vallei van de Vuilbeek loop from Boondael - Boondaal

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United Nations Brussels

January 14, 2025

Conserving the diversity of life on Earth is crucial to global human well-being. With the support of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (1972), natural sites around the world are internationally recognized, making their protection a duty of the entire international community. The World Heritage List can therefore access technical and financial assistance to address threats such as agricultural encroachment, alien species and poaching.

The World Heritage Convention is one of the most effective international instruments for protecting the most extraordinary natural places on the planet, characterized by their natural beauty or remarkable biodiversity, ecosystems and geological values. The Convention has granted international recognition to approximately 3,500,000 km², spread across more than 250 land and sea sites in over 100 countries. Although some gaps remain in the World Heritage List, it now protects an extremely valuable part of our natural heritage.

To be inscribed on the World Heritage List, a site must present exceptional natural phenomena, represent the main states of the Earth's history, bear witness to significant ecological and biological processes and contain important natural habitats.

Since 2017, the best-protected parts (strict forest reserves) of the Sonian Forest have been included in the World Heritage List "Primeval and Ancient Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe", consisting of 94 beech forests in 18 European countries. Since the end of the last ice age, the European beech has spread from a few isolated refuge areas in the Alps, the Carpathians, the Dinarides, the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees, over a short period of a few thousand years, in a process that continues to this day. The successful expansion of the beech across an entire continent is linked to the tree's adaptability and tolerance to different climatic, geographical and physical conditions. The World Heritage Committee has recognised the site as a shared testimony to the exceptional evolution and impact of the beech ecosystem in Europe since the last ice age.

Source: UNESCO

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Elevation 140 m

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Saturday 15 November

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Max wind speed: 5.0 km/h

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Location: Uccle, Brussels, Belgium

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Sonian Forest – Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests

1. Vuilbeek Valley – Ganzepoot Pond loop from Boondael - Boondaal

2. Vallei van de Vuilbeek – Ganzepootvijver loop from Groenendaal

3. Hoefijzervijver – Vallei van de Vuilbeek loop from Boondael - Boondaal

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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