Background The Stropers area of woods and sandy heaths is situated in Flanders. It has a mix of both coniferous - mainly Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) - and broad-leaved forest, arable land and grasslands. The diversity of land use and the rare plant species that grow here mean the area is of high botanical value. The main habitats include a mesotrophic alder swamp forest - a subtype of priority habitat type 91E0*: alluvial forests with alder (Alnus glutinosa) and common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) - European dry heaths and inland dunes that consist of small areas of Corynephorus and Agrostis grasslands. The main threats to these habitats are fragmentation and the knock-on effect to species diversity, low groundwater levels, a lack of proper nature and forest management, lack of public involvement, uncontrolled recreational land use and modern agricultural practices. An eco-hydrological study of the area had been conducted in 2002. Objectives The main objectives of the Stropersbos project were the protection, restoration and development of the different habitats of the Stropers pSCI. This aimed to benefit the flora and fauna of each habitat type and increase the area’s biodiversity in general. The priority action of the project was to expand the mesotrophic alder swamp forest habitat by increasing groundwater levels and groundwater upflow to induce spontaneous development. The project also aimed to restore and develop other habitats such as European dry heath, Northern Atlantic wet heaths, inland dunes with Corynephorus and Agrostis grasslands, species-rich Nardus-grasslands on siliceous substrates and Moor-grass meadows on peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils. The managers planned to convert coniferous forest to mixed deciduous forest and heath to create a wasteland-type landscape characterized by a high diversity of open and tree-covered habitats. Planned actions to achieve this were: thinning out of trees; cutting of non-endemic species; removal of acidic humus layer; formation of grazing units and construction of fences, cattle-grids, gates and watering places. It was hoped that habitats with old acidophilous oak woods that grow on sandy plains would increase in area as a result of coniferous forest conversion measures. An increase in forest edges and forest diversity should boost insect life, leading to a consequent increase in numbers of bats living in the Stropers area. Results The Stropersbos project successfully implemented habitat restoration measures, leading to durable results which provide a good base for ongoing future management. After much difficult negotiation with local landowners, the project purchased a total of 15ha of land - 6.5 ha of agricultural land and 8.5 ha of degraded habitat. This was less than had been hoped, but meant that strategically important sections that linked up land already owned by the regional authority were brought within the scope of the project’s planned restoration actions. The project implemented actions to optimise the hydrological regime of the project area. These were based on the existing eco-hydrological study, hydrological modelling and consultation with local stakeholders. A planned dam at Linie was replaced by a series of dams forming a stair in order to allow the migration of fish. The project constructed 39 earth dams and cleaned out ditches to restore micro-topography. A management plan for coppiced wood management was developed for approval. The following habitat restoration actions were successfully implemented: Selective cutting and eradication with herbicide of black cherry (Prunus serotina) on 6.5 ha; 19.6 ha of forest were cut and spontaneous encroachment removed on 1.5 ha - whilst still leaving areas of trees for important bird species, such as European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus), black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) and northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis); 7 589 m of internal forest edges were created; Installation of fences to define two grazing blocks and the necessary facilities such as a drinking pond; Grazing by sheep and ponies; Pathways were created between banks to enable access for mechanical mowing after the restoration of water levels.Additional measures included the removal of top soil and cleaning of ditches. This combination of infrastructure works and specific habitat restoration actions strongly improved the hydrology of the Stropersbos habitat area as demonstrated by higher groundwater levels. This will enable the long-term natural restoration of mesotrophic alder swamp forest. It also improved forest diversity. Seedlings of common heather (Calluna vulgaris) were seen to naturally develop on the heath and plant species typical of wet heath, such as festuca ovina grassland (Juncus squarrosus), marsh pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris) were seen to prosper. This is a positive indication for future evolution of these habitats. An after-LIFE management plan guarantees durable heath and deciduous forests in the area. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).