Bierbeek: where we start

KURBI could have started in many places. Yet Bierbeek was chosen deliberately. The municipality brings together much of what KURBI stands for: a distinctive agricultural landscape, a strong connection with nature, a rich network of walking and cycling routes, and a community in which open space remains an essential part of the living environment.

A landscape that invites biodiversity

Anyone who walks or cycles through Bierbeek immediately notices how special the landscape is.

Open fields alternate with hedgerows, sunken lanes, small woodland fragments and stream valleys. The municipality forms a transition between agriculture, nature and recreation. This variety makes the area valuable for numerous plant and animal species.

Biodiversity does not arise only in large nature reserves. Field margins, flower strips, ponds, hedges, pollard trees, nesting boxes and small landscape elements also contribute to a healthy ecosystem. This is precisely where KURBI wants to act.

A municipality where agriculture and nature meet

Agriculture has shaped Bierbeek. Generations of farmers have formed its landscape. KURBI wants to build on that: not by replacing agriculture, but by offering farmers additional opportunities to integrate biodiversity into their operations in an economically sound way.

A flower meadow attracts pollinators. Birds of prey help control rodents. Ponds create new habitats. Grazing contributes to nature management. Wild areas provide a safe winter refuge for insects and small animals. When integrated thoughtfully, nature and agriculture strengthen one another.

Our first local implementation

The first projects and partnerships are being developed in Bierbeek. By starting concretely in one community, KURBI can carefully develop its cooperation, implementation, monitoring and reporting in practice. Companies can visit projects, local partners know the land, and residents and visitors can see what is actually happening.

Bierbeek is therefore not a geographic boundary, but the starting point and testing ground for the concept.

A local model that can be adapted elsewhere

The lessons from Bierbeek are intended to provide a credible basis for cooperation in other municipalities, cities and regions. KURBI does not aim to be active everywhere at once. New locations will be explored step by step, together with local companies, farmers, landowners, organisations and authorities.

The practical form may differ from one area to another. The principle remains the same: connecting local resources with visible biodiversity projects that are professionally implemented and monitored.

Would you like to help develop KURBI in your area?

Companies, municipalities, organisations, farmers and other local partners from Bierbeek and elsewhere are welcome to contact us.