The Soil Protection Service is responsible for the soil protection policy in Flanders. The Soil Protection Service focuses its activities on the protection of the soil against damage resulting from erosion, landslides, loss of organic matter, compaction and loss of basic soil functions. Soil erosion mainly occurs in the southern part of Flanders, where silty to loamy soils and a hilly topography are responsible for high soil loss rates on arable fields and muddy floods in build-up areas. The soil erosion policy in Flanders provides both financial incentives and obligations for the implementation of soil erosion prevention and combating measures by farmers and municipalities. Through the Flemish Plan for Rural Development, farmers can obtain grants for grass buffer strips, grassed waterways, small dams with retention pond, conservation tillage and no till. On parcels with a high erosion risk, farmers are obliged to take soil erosion prevention or combating measures. On lower risk parcels, measures are recommended. Read More
