2023-07-19 15:26:00
For an inauguration, it is, to say the least, unusual. On the water of the Virelles pond, at 5 am, Minister Céline Tellier’s canoe glides silently between nutria crossings, the flight of cormorants, storks or the taunts of disturbed terns. The calm is absolute, facing the sun which darts its very first rays towards the reed bed. A plenitude that the minister will salute later: “This experience sums up the philosophy of the national park well: an immersion in nature, by building a subtle balance between tourism and natural heritage…”
Two hours of calm and serenity, time to talk regarding a few files that are among the 91 project sheets for the Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse National Park: placing 25 stork nests, floating rafts for terns and nests for ospreys, in the five municipalities of the park, Viroinval, Couvin, Chimay, Momignies and Froidchapelle.
But that’s already the end of the zenitude! An hour later, Céline Tellier is joined by her tourism counterpart, Valérie De Bue. Elected officials from the five municipalities joined the ministerial convoy for a 5 km journey by bike. After a description of the works of the artist Jean-Claude Dresse, inspired by nature and placed here and there on the RAVeL, they listen to Michel Meuter, from Mobilesem, draw up a list of objectives in terms of mobility for the territory of the park national:
– strengthen the public transport network. He insists on the hot issue of the moment, the maintenance of the Express E86 line between Namur and Nismes.
– Fight once morest “auto-solisme” and promote carpooling.
– Develop stations and workshops for bicycles.
– Extend the experience of FlexiTec de Viroinval to the four other municipalities, but this cannot be done without regional authorisation.
– Create event carpooling.
Ponds, watchtowers and sheep
The whole delegation then sets out on the RAVeL, towards Seloignes, along a few ponds created as part of a project for a network of forest ponds throughout the south of Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse.
Between two pedal strokes, Véronique Riez, Momignian alderman for Culture, describes the original project sheet for a green theater, on the old loading dock along the slow lane: “A way of linking the art and culture with the forest. We will organize events there but the space will be freely accessible, to become a place of expression and exchanges.” The stage and bleachers will be designed with natural elements.
Further on, Patrice Wuine, from the Cercle des Naturalistes et des Astronomes de la Botte du Hainaut, details a project to build a watchtower, not far from there, which will make it possible to observe the sky from an unpolluted area.
From Seloignes to Dailly, everyone then takes their car back, except for the municipal councilor Ecolo de Couvin who has pedaled more than 50 km to complete the loop without a car. Arriving at a place called La Faligeotte in Dailly, the assembly discovers a superb view of the Fagne, from a limestone hill saved by DNF management. The opportunity to evoke another ambition of the national park: to double the surface of calcareous lawns released on its territory, that is to say 80 ha more. In Calestienne, we find 83% of the fauna present in Wallonia. The issue is therefore important for biodiversity, but also for tourism, given the interest of hikers in this area.
Another project, that of itinerant grazing, with two shepherds to hire. Their hundreds of sheep would make it possible to maintain the limestone lawns, while offering a significant tourist interest.
By June 2026
Valérie De Bue and Céline Tellier officially inaugurate the national park at Domaine Saint-Roch de Couvin, emphasizing the region’s interest in using nature to redirect its economic development strategies. To do this, the park has a great windfall of around fifteen million, but the projects must be carried out by June 2026. A sacred challenge, recognizes the president of the park, Philippe Chèvreumont, to which regarding fifteen are working. of people and a multitude of local partners.
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