Historical permanent grasslands (HPG) and other permanent grasslands in Flanders protected by nature legislation

The GIS layer contains all historical permanent grasslands (HPG) and all permanent grasslands (in VEN) in Flanders protected by nature legislation, albeit by a prohibition, albeit by the obligation to authorise the modification of these grasslands (Articles 7 and 8 of the BVR of 23/07/1998 for historical permanent grasslands, Article 25(3)(2) of the Nature Decree and Article 6 of the Measures Decree for permanent grasslands located in VEN). Within the agricultural region of the polder, the historical permanent grasslands and their protection status were established by the VR on 27/11/2015. Outside the agricultural area, the VR has not legally anchored the HPG on map, so this is merely an informative map. Outside the agricultural region of Polder, the organic valuation card in accordance with the BVR of 23/07/1998 (Annex IV and V) was used as a basis for the designation of grasslands, corrected by the cultivation plans of the single agricultural application for the period 2011-2016. The HPG which is prohibited from changing the grassland is indicated in red, those subject to authorisation are indicated in orange colour. The grasslands covered only by the environmentally sensitive permanent grasslands (EKBG) regulations of agriculture are designated by a dotted red shading. The protection status can be consulted in the “Staff Regulations” field and on the basis of the above mentioned colour legends. The following protection statuses occur: • Prohibition (red): protected by nature legislation (HPG by Article 7 of the BVR of 23/07/1998, permanent grasslands by Article 25 of the Nature Decree and Article 6 of the Measures Decree): prohibitions to modify, mechanically, chemically or by burning, as well as prohibition of alteration of relief and ban on sowing • Authorisation (orange): protected by nature legislation (Article 8 of the BVR of 23/07/1998): nature permit for modification, both mechanically, chemically and by burning, as well as for changing the relief and sowing. • EKBG (red shading in dotted line): protected by agricultural legislation (EKBG): modification prohibited both for mechanical modification and for changing the relief. The “basic_statute” field shows the legal basis on which the protection of the HPG and permanent grasslands and the locations in regional planning destinations and overprints (Habitats Directive, Birds Directive, Protected Landscape, VEN) is based. The field “restrictions” indicates which operations are prohibited or subject to authorisation.