26 November 2024
Natuurpint
Natuurpint: The Inner Dyle has a voice
Talk about the participation process of the Inner Dyle Masterplan, on biodiversity and how to give a voice to nature.
Thursday December 5th, 19.45-21.30h
Hendrik en Co (Coxiestraat tegenover Natuurpunt)
The Dyle, which flows right through our city, used to be a river teeming with animals and plants. It was a place where you could enjoy a refreshing swim and relax on its banks.
With the Inner Dyle master plan, we are restoring this natural beauty, strengthening biodiversity, making the area around the river more attractive and, in various subprojects, creating space where you can meet, swim in open water or simply linger.
We are doing this together with residents, artists, entrepreneurs, organisations and many other partners. In a broad participation process, we try to capture the needs and wishes of all residents: people, plants and animals. We also bring the biodiversity view on board.
During a citizens' panel, which formulated 15 basic principles for the master plan, the city of Mechelen set up a unique experiment. We gave ‘a voice’ to nature. Nature became ‘involved’ as a stakeholder. In this way, the citizens‘ panel transformed into a residents panel.
During Natuurpint, Mark Van der Veken (City of Mechelen, participation in Inner Dyle Master Plan) explains how the ‘voice of nature’ came about and how the city plans to use it further on.
Michiel Van Mele, City Ecologist in Masterplan Binnendijle, looks back on the Bioblitz and immediately anticipates an ongoing ecological study to enhance biodiversity in and around the Dyle, the various wharfs.
What is Natuurpint?
From the Mechelen centre, one of the four centres of Natuurpunt Mechels Rivierengebied, we organise a session every month around a theme that interests us. The perfect time to meet others and have a good time together. Whether you are just interested in Natuurpunt, are a member or have been volunteering for years: everyone is welcome!
