Belgium

C

Natural Resources

The natural resources of Belgium are almost entirely mineral. Coal was mined in abundance for many years, but most accessible supplies have been exhausted and most mines have closed since the late 1950s. Deposits of zinc, lead, copper, and manganese are also exploited but are of little commercial significance.

D

Plants and Animals

Small animals, primarily fox, badger, squirrel, weasel, marten, and hedgehog, are found in Belgium. Deer and wild boar are present in the Ardennes region. Abundant plants include the hyacinth, strawberry, goldenrod, periwinkle, foxglove, wild arum, and lily of the valley. Forest trees include oak, beech, elm, and stands of pine that have been planted as part of reforestation programmes.

E

Environmental Concerns

Belgium is heavily industrialized and experiences many of the environmental problems commonly associated with industrialization. The country is a significant producer of the greenhouse gases and industrial emissions that cause acid rain. Belgium's air quality has improved, however, and industrial emissions have steadily decreased since the United Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Sulphur Protocols were implemented, beginning in the 1970s. European Union (EU) directives expected to improve Belgium's environmental conditions concern water treatment and water quality; before these directives were issued, the Meuse, a major source of drinking water, had become polluted from steel production wastes. Other rivers were polluted with animal wastes and fertilizers. In 1995 the Flemish regional environmental minister attempted to restrict the widespread agricultural use of dung. His efforts were initially thwarted by a strong agricultural lobby but the legislation has since passed.

Belgium’s coastal lands are only separated from the sea by concrete defences and the land is especially threatened by flooding. Only 2.6 per cent (1997) of Belgium's land is protected in parks and other reserves. This is a small amount compared with neighbouring countries such as France (11.7 per cent), Netherlands (6.7 per cent), and Germany (27 per cent). Belgium is party to international agreements concerning air pollution and water pollution, biodiversity, ozone layer protection and climate control, endangered species, hazardous wastes, and wetlands.

III

Population

The people of Belgium are primarily of two ethnic groups: the Flemings (of Teutonic origin) and the Walloons (of Celtic origin, probably with an admixture of Alpine elements). The distinction is also a linguistic one; the Flemings speak Dutch (formerly known as Flemish), and the Walloons speak French. The predominantly Flemish provinces are in the northern half of Belgium, called Flanders, and the predominantly Walloon provinces are in the southern half, called Wallonia. A German-speaking minority lives in the east. The capital, Brussels, is mixed. Overall, 57 per cent of the population is Dutch-speaking and 32 per cent is French-speaking, about 9 per cent is classified as bilingual and 0.7 per cent as German-speaking.

A

Population Characteristics

The population of Belgium is 10,392,226 (2007 estimate). The overall population density, one of the highest in Europe, is about 343 people per sq km (889 people per sq mi). The largest concentrations are in the Brussels, Antwerp, Liège, and Ghent industrial areas, as well as in the narrow industrial region between Mons and Charleroi. In recent decades the Limburg city region has increased in population because of industrial expansion. Nearly 10 per cent of all Belgians live in Brussels. Almost 97 per cent of the population is classified as urban.