New: Priority map for combating the Asian hornet in Flanders
To combat the Asian hornet, a comprehensive approach offers the best guarantee of reducing its local impact. If resources are limited, prioritisation for management is necessary.
INBO published a prioritisation map for combating the hornet based on the risk to biodiversity. This map provides a scientifically underpinned tool for optimising the approach to this invasive alien species in Flanders.
Our primary aim is to protect areas that are important for wild pollinators. The following factors are taken into account:
- the habitat type and its importance for pollinators
- the flowering period and overlap with the hornet's predation period
- the presence of Red List species of butterflies, moths and hoverflies in the area
The potential impact on public health and agriculture (beekeeping) is outside the scope of this prioritisation map.
Purpose of the map
This map allows you to assess the potential ecological risk of an Asian hornet nest that has been found. Because animals from the same nest have a range of up to 2 km (average 800 m), you can consider combating multiple nests within a certain radius around an area that is important for wild pollinators.
The map is available and can be used in Geopunt maps, allowing local authorities, researchers and other stakeholders to integrate this information into their land-use planning and control measures.
Example: the dunes in De Panne are an area with a high ecological risk. Combating this is a priority.