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close| Location | Belgium, Vlaams Gewest |
| Central coordinates | 5o 26.00' East 51o 3.00' North |
| IBA criteria | C6 |
| Area | 2,798 ha |
| Altitude | 77 - 82m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information A breeding and staging site for woodland and heathland species.
Site description An extensive area of dry and wet heathland on the Kempen plateau, encompassing ponds, marshes, inland dunes, and conifer plantations.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix | breeding | 1996 | 3 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Wood Lark Lullula arborea | breeding | 1993 | 10-15 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bocholt, Hechtel-Eksel, Meeuwen-Gruitrode, Neerpelt en Peer - BE2217310 | Birds Directive | 9,863 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 | |
| Houthalen-Helchteren, Meeuwen-Gruitrode en Peer - BE2220313 | Birds Directive | 2,851 | protected area contains site | 2,798 | |
| Mangelbeek en heide- en vengebieden tussen Houthalen en Gruitrode - BE2200030 | Habitats Directive | 3,768 | protected area overlaps with site | 2,409 | |
| Valleien van de Laambeek, Zonderikbeek, Slangebeek en Roosterbeek met vijvergebieden. - BE2200031 | Habitats Directive | 3,627 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Broadleaved deciduous woodland | 5% |
| Shrubland | Heathland | 70% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Fens, transition mires and springs | 5% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land; Forestry plantations | 25% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| military | 80% |
| agriculture | 20% |
Management considerations 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).
Protection status National None International High2,789 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Houthalen, Helchteren, Meeuwen, Gruitrode en Peer, 2,789 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Gebieden gelegen te Houthalen-Helchteren en Meeuwen-Gruitrode. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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