Ghent students discover 'historic' swamp and 40 protected species on site ready for development

The Wissenhage site covers 14 hectares. A new depot with parking for 120 buses and 40 trams has been planned for years. De Lijn needs an extra depot because capacity in Gentbrugge (Ghent) and Destelbergen (East Flanders) is no longer sufficient.

The transport company has already been given permits, but has let them expire. New vegetation has meanwhile grown on the site, in addition to the flora that was already there. 2 years ago De Lijn decided to revisit its plans for the site and has submitted a new application.

Flemish environment minister Zuhal Demir (nationalist/N-VA) refused the permit requesting that De Lijn first compensate elsewhere for the woodland that will disappear. The plans have been adapted and resubmitted: a 3-hectare green area will be preserved, additional trees will be planted at various locations in East Flanders. De Lijn is hoping for approval and wants to start the works before the summer.

Alpine newts and wall lizards

A group of over 50 biology students from Ghent University is now asking the Flemish authorities to review the ecological value of the site. They have been researching the site for weeks and say they discovered a very special ecosystem and high biodiversity.

Finds surfaced that, according to the students, point to an historical 'wetland'. "Part of the area has never been built on. It is wetland and wet reed land."

"During a field survey lasting barely eight hours we identified 194 species. We saw 39 Flemish and 3 European protected species including wall lizards and kingfishers. Large populations of alpine newts and many small newts were found. This is very exceptional."

Ancient swamp or polluted industrial land?

The Flemish authorities are allowing the site to be repurposed for "public utility and community facilities". There used to be a textile factory, an electrical parts manufacturer and a landfill on the site. According to the Flemish waste agency the soil was contaminated with asbestos and 'volatile organic compounds'.

A bus depot can be accommodated in the Flemish redevelopment plans. The pollution has been partially addressed and De Lijn had the soil decontaminated nine years ago. To deal with groundwater, trees have to be cut down. That would only happen when the depot is constructed.

However, the students see little impact of the pollution on the current ecological value of the area. "The planned works may pose a problem. In fact, the marshlands contain the pollution well, which also happens in other places in Ghent, for example in the Bourgoyen nature reserve" the students note.

The students say the observations are an indication that the wetlands that used to be there never disappeared as a result of industrial activity. "Such habitats and species like this don't just appear," they say. The students point out that historic marshes are protected. They say the environment application takes too little account of this.

The environment department confirms that there is no mention of historic 'wetlands' in the permit. "If historical wetlands still exist today, this area would not have been zoned for public utilities and community facilities. The area has no special ecological value, the soil has been highly disturbed."

The students collect their findings on a Wikipedia page. "We want to keep everyone up to date" they say. There is also a Facebook page 'Students4BloemekenswijkBos' where the students post photos and videos of their observations.