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The European Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Poto_nik, paid a visit to the Kuifeend nature conservation area in the port of Antwerp on Friday, 21 May, on the eve of International Biodiversity Day. The redevelopment of the Kuifeend and Grote Kreek areas is a textbook example of how expansion of the Antwerp seaport area and protection of wildlife in accordance with EU legislation can go hand in hand. The Antwerp port area is not only one of the most important sources of growth for the Flemish economy, it is also one of the most valuable treasure stores of wildlife in Belgium protected by EU legislation. Because of this valuable wildlife large parts of the port area are designated as Special Protection Areas under the terms of the EU’s Birds directive and Habitats directive. Until the end of the last century this overlap between major ports and European wildlife areas was looked upon by many as a simple conflict between nature and industry, and European nature conservation policy in turn was viewed as a direct threat to the further development of the port and industry. Janez Poto_nik said: “I am very happy to visit the port of Antwerp on the eve of the International Day for Biodiversity. The port is an excellent example of how nature conservation and economic development can go hand in hand. Excellent co-operation has taken place between public and port authorities and nature conservation NGOs which has allowed for a high rate of nature recovery and truly sustainable development.” With the construction of the Deurganck dock, however, when port developers and nature conservationists initially came into direct conflict, an understanding gradually emerged among all parties which in turn led to a vision for a new approach based on consultation and dialogue instead of confrontation and legal disputes. The commitment entered into by the Port Authority and the Natuurpunt nature conservation organisation in 2002 played an important role here. The two parties signed a charter in which they adopted the joint objective of peaceful coexistence of port and wildlife. This charter was given operational form by the project entitled “The Port of Antwerp More Naturally,” with a network of “ecology infrastructure” being created within the port area. “Ecology infrastructure” is the term for small wildlife areas that can co-exist with other activities. A network of core areas, corridors and stepping stones is being created within the Antwerp port area, thus affording opportunities for wildlife without hampering the growth and operation of the port. The Port of Antwerp More Naturally is aimed at long-term conservation of all species protected under EU and Flemish legislation that are highly specific to the Antwerp port area, so that the port area is of crucial importance to their continued existence. The objective is to set aside up to 5% of the Antwerp port area – about 600 hectares – as suitable habitat for these species and to protect and manage it accordingly. The port of Antwerp currently has about several dozen hectares of nature conservation areas that provide opportunities for species that are frequently found in port environments, such as sand martins, black headed gulls, terns, natterjack toads and marsh helleborine orchids. A large-scale, site-oriented species protection programme is currently being developed and will be submitted to the Flemish government for ratification, under the terms of the new Flemish legislation on species protection. This in turn will create a new balance between economy and ecology within the port area, thus assuring the continued existence of fauna and flora that are specific to the port, without threatening the legal security necessary to further operation and development of port and industry. This site-specific approach also forms the main theme of the strategic plan for the port of Antwerp, in which the interests of port development are reconciled with long-term conservation and protection of the Special Protection Areas in and around the port. In the meantime this approach has been marked out on the ground, in the preferred alternative of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the development plan recently approved by the Flemish government. The approach in turn is a textbook example of how planned, proactive implementation of the EU Birds and Habitats directives can form the basis for a balanced compromise between economy and ecology. Although the entire strategic planning process for the further development of the Antwerp seaport area on the right and left banks of the Scheldt has frequently been difficult and time-consuming, it has ultimately led to social consensus on a number of sticking points. Antwerp Port Authority and Natuurpunt therefore call on the Flemish government not to delay any further but to translate this consensus into a Regional Land Use Plan and to approve accompanying action plans, so as to create facts on the ground in a final reconciliation of economy and ecology in the Antwerp port area. Antwerp is Europe’s second largest port and aims through sustainable development to become the port for general cargo in Europe. During the past few years the Antwerp port community has demonstrated that economic and ecological interests can coexist within a process of dynamic growth. Indeed, the port of Antwerp plays a pioneering role in this respect.