Marie-Françoise Godart

Traditional Management of the Rural Areas in Wallonia (Belgium)

The study presented is based on an investigation conducted among rural participants concerned with nature and landscape. They belong to the scientific world, administration, the social and political world, and local management such as farmers or foresters. Information provided by this investigation has been supplemented by a bibliographical survey, while the evolution of biodiversity and the rural areas in the past is being characterized by an historical approach. These various methods show the spatial continuity of rural areas. This continuity also exists in the way in which the various functions recognized for rural areas are taken into account. The integration of nature, landscape and environment by the producer can be remunerated by the society, in order to compensate for the loss of earnings due to practices more respectful for the environment. In certain extreme cases, one can consider that the function of production is additional while the service to the community is the principal activity. Various levels of nature’s integration in production functions of the rural areas imply compensations adapted to the effort provided and to collective et patrimonial interest. Most of the actions of interest for landscape and biodiversity result in the support of ecotones, particularly rich in species diversity. Their maintenance or restoration makes it possible to materialize continuity of the rural areas, to recreate a mosaic of landscapes and to support the special environments.