The Belgian Coast: A Balance Between Nature, Culture, and Urbanization

We are pleased to announce that online survey data gathering in BBT7 has been successfully completed. As described in the preliminary article 'The Belgian Coast: A Balance Between Nature, Culture, and Urbanization' , this effort explored how coastal environments contribute to socio-cultural values such as recreation, identity, and community cohesion. VLIZ led the survey, distributing it to approximately 1500 local associations via municipal contact databases. The result: 285 valuable responses, offering rich insights into how people perceive and interact with their coastal environment. The findings highlight the significance of both natural and urban coastal elements, alongside growing concerns about pollution and tourism. These results will feed into broader cross BBT comparisons and an upcoming scientific publication in collaboration with the tool developers.

Thank you to everyone who participated!