Collaboration between EcoTree and Brussels Airlines addresses climate, biodiversity and water through restoring valuable peatland in Zwarte Beek

SQUAKE, EcoTree and climate-conscious airline passengers play a key role in enabling this Belgian restoration effort.

A new collaboration involving Brussels Airlines, SQUAKE, Natuurpunt, and EcoTree aims to mitigate CO₂ emissions and support environmental restoration efforts in Belgium. The project is the latest addition to the Lufthansa Group compensation portfolio that currently consists of 18 projects. The partnership enables Brussels Airlines' passengers as part of Lufthansa Group to address flight-related CO₂ emissions by contributing to the restoration of the Valley of the Zwarte Beek, a vital ecological area in Flanders, Belgium. The restoration project marks Belgium’s first certified initiative under the MoorFutures Standard¹.

‍

Through this initiative, Brussels Airlines' customers compensating for their flight-related carbon emissions will now also contribute to the restoration of a piece of Belgian nature. This approach connects passengers with an impactful local project designed to mitigate climate change and promote biodiversity.

‍

About the Project: Reviving the Valley of the Zwarte Beek
​The Valley of the Zwarte Beek is the largest peatland area in Flanders and is spread across four municipalities. Natuurpunt manages about 1,500 hectares of the area. As part of the European Natura 2000 network, the area has significant ecological value but has suffered from decades of intensive land use and drainage, turning it into a source of CO₂ emissions instead of a natural carbon sink.

The restoration project aims to:

• Mitigate CO₂ emissions: Rewet peatlands to preserve stored carbon and prevent further CO₂ emissions by raising the groundwater and slowing down decomposition processes. Waterlogged peatlands act as stable carbon sinks with relatively low net emissions compared to drained ones, which release vast amounts of CO₂.
• Enhance Biodiversity: Protect habitats for endangered species like the bluethroat and common snipe, and promote the recovery of rare peat-dependent flora and fauna.
• Improve water retention: Enhance hydrology, store millions of cubic meters of water, and reduce climate-induced flooding and droughts.

The project started in January 2025 with the restoration of 7 hectares of peatland at Lange Beemden in Meldert. This phase, supported by Lufthansa Group passengers, is expected to prevent approximately 72 tons of CO₂ equivalents from being emitted each year. Over the long term, it is expected to prevent more than 2,500 tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions.

‍

¹ MoorFutures ensures that the projects meet the criteria of additionality and permanence and promote other important environmental aspects.

‍

Key Partners and Roles:

• Brussels Airlines: A key participant in this initiative as part of Lufthansa Group, enables its customers to offset their personal flight-related CO₂ emissions through compensating or purchasing a Green Fare (compensation by purchasing Sustainable Aviation Fuel and a contributing to high-quality climate protection projects). These projects now include the Belgian initiative “Reviving the Valley of the Zwarte Beek”.
• EcoTree: A Nature company specialising in ecosystem restoration, such as reforestation and wetland restoration in Europe.
• Natuurpunt: This Belgian conservation organization is leading the on-ground work as owner of the project area and leveraging their expertise in managing nature reserves and protecting biodiversity.
• SQUAKE: Facilitates the integration of CO₂ mitigation solutions and provides access to verified carbon projects for Brussels Airlines and its customers. SQUAKE’s platform connects businesses and their customers with a transparent, high-quality portfolio of carbon partners.

‍

‍