Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
An extensive area of dry and wet heathland on the Kempen plateau, encompassing ponds, marshes, inland dunes, and conifer plantations.
A breeding and staging site for woodland and heathland species.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
One of the most significant threats to the extensive heathland and inland dunes is the future use of the military area (`Other' threat), as an increasing number of military areas are being sold and developed. 2,802 ha of IBA covered by proposed Site of Community Importance (Heide- en vengebieden tussen Houthalen en Gruitrode, 3,882 ha).
National None
International High2,789 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Houthalen, Helchteren, Meeuwen, Gruitrode en Peer, 2,789 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Gebieden gelegen te Houthalen-Helchteren en Meeuwen-Gruitrode (Belgium). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/gebieden-gelegen-te-houthalen-helchteren-en-meeuwen-gruitrode-iba-belgium on 24/12/2024.
