KempenBroek 2nd UNESCO Man & Biosphere Site in the Netherlands

The Maasheggen is no longer the only Human & Biosphere Area in the Netherlands. In early July, UNESCO also recognized KempenBroek as a Human & Biosphere Area. KempenBroek is an area located partly in the Netherlands and partly in Belgium. For Belgium this is the first Biosphere Reserve, for the Netherlands the second, after De Maasheggen.

In recent years, the initiators of the UNESCO application for KempenBroek have been in regular contact with the program team of Maasheggen UNESCO. Sometimes to ask for advice, sometimes to catch up on the status of the, now approved, application.
KempenBroek is a mosaic of landscapes with marshes, brook valleys, fens, forests, heathland and agricultural land. Some 75,000 people live in the villages and towns of KempenBroek.
The area has a rich biodiversity and plays an important role in the conservation of habitats and species in Flanders and the Netherlands. For the conservation of some species, the area even plays an essential role.
Economically, the area, both the Flemish and Dutch parts, is an important agricultural area. In recent years, the importance of tourism as part of a sustainable rural economy has been increasing significantly.