Demo-Site 3

Tommelen, Hasselt

Pondscape description

  • Landscape area
  • 0.12 km2
  • Number of Ponds
  • 22
  • Ponds included in the stratified sampling (WP2)
  • 0
  • Pond sizes (m2)
  • 100-150
  • Pond depth (m)
  • 0.5 to 1
  • Pond age (years)
  • 76
  • Country
  • Belgium
  • Name of the Pondscape
  • Tommelen
  • Name of neighboring large zone town
  • Hasselt
  • Bioclimatic zone
  • Atlantic
  • Land use
  • Nature reserve

Leaflets

NBS for mitigation/adaptation to CC that can potentially be highlighted as a best-practice at the European or CELAC scale

The Tommelen pond complex consists of 110 bombcrater ponds that originate from the American bombing of the Hasselt train station in 1944 during World War II. Despite the fact that all ponds have a similar origin and are situated in the same geographical context, there is striking diversity in pond characteristics. The region is currently managed as a nature reserve by dredging of the ponds, annual grazing by cattle and mowing of vegetation to prevent forestation and natural succession.

Publications:

Reports from Natuurpunt (NGO)
EPCN. 2007. Tommelen. Scars of war contain a significant wildlife resource. The Tommelen-working group.