Climate change and landscape and heritage in Flanders (Belgium) – a spatial planning strategic research project

GEORGES ALLAERT, HANS LEINFELDER, BJORN VERHOFSTEDE
Centre for Mobility and Spatial Planning, Ghent University

VEERLE VAN EETVELDE, MARC ANTROP
Department of Geography, Ghent University

An interdisciplinary research Group at the University of Ghent started a 4 years research project to develop spatial planning strategies anticipating to possible effects of climate change in Flanders. The objectives are a qualitative exploration, through research by design, of possible spatial planning concepts for dealing with changes of spatial structures as a result of climate change, and an assessment of existing planning policy instruments and public governance procedures related to the implementation of such spatial adaptation strategies. One of the aims of the project is to define a relevant typology of landscape elements in Flanders region (Belgium) susceptible to be affected by climate change, and to assess their sensitivity. This will result in the development of adaptation strategies for spatial planning and landscape and heritage management.