The cross-border Natura 2000 – network and the target habitats and species

The project area 'Dunes of Flanders', the coastal dune belts between Dunkerque and Westende with a total area of approximately 3.285 hectares, is for the largest part included in the European Natura 2000 network:

• On the Belgian side (Flanders): 2,200 hectares within the delimitations of the special protection area in the framework of the European ‘Bird’ Directive 'West Coast' (code BE2500121) and the Site of Community Importance in the framework of the European ‘Habitat’ Directive 'Dune areas including the Yzer Estuary and Zwin' (code BE2500001)
• On the French side: 1.085 hectares in and around the Sites of Community Importance in the framework of the European ‘Habitat’ Directive ' Dunes of the Flemish Maritime Plain' (code FR3100474) and 'Decalcified Flandrian Dunes of Ghyvelde' (code FR3100475).

The habitat types and species of which the project wants to improve the conservation status are:

• 2110 Embryonic walking dunes
• 2120 walking Dunes on the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria (white dunes)
• 2130 * Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (grey dunes)
• Eu-2150 * Atlantic decalcified fixed dunes (Calluno-Ulicetea)
• 2160 dunes with Hippophaë rhamnoides
• 2170 dunes with Salix repens SSP. Argentea (Salicion arenariae)
• 2180 Wooded dunes of the Atlantic, Continental and Boreal coastal area
• 2190 Humid dune slacks
• 1014 Narrow mouthed whorl snail (Vertigo angustior)
• 1166 Great crested Newt (Triturus cristatus)
• 1614 Creeping Marshwort (Apium repens)
• 1903 Fen Orchid (Liparis loeselii)
• 1202 Natterjack Toad (Bufo calamita)

                           natterjack toad (Peter Watthy)                                                           great crested newt.

                                       Humid dune slacks                                                                         Grey dunes