{"title":"Sonian Forest - Belgium","id":{"prefix":"https:\/\/deims.org\/","suffix":"0fa0d44f-5314-405f-a647-a7dda423031f"},"type":"site","created":"2014-08-18T22:16:18+02:00","changed":"2025-06-04T16:30:28+02:00","attributes":{"affiliation":{"networks":[{"network":{"name":"GERI","id":{"prefix":"https:\/\/deims.org\/networks\/","suffix":"c3abdc60-49f1-49db-81fe-863b7dbb21d3"}},"siteCode":null,"verified":true},{"network":{"name":"ICP Forests","id":{"prefix":"https:\/\/deims.org\/networks\/","suffix":"4e44c094-f4f7-4882-bfe5-685b666a0dc7"}},"siteCode":"2_21","verified":true},{"network":{"name":"ILTER","id":{"prefix":"https:\/\/deims.org\/networks\/","suffix":"1aa7ccb2-a14b-43d6-90ac-5e0a6bc1d65b"}},"siteCode":null,"verified":true},{"network":{"name":"LTER Belgium","id":{"prefix":"https:\/\/deims.org\/networks\/","suffix":"735946e0-4e9e-484a-acee-85e31f4e2a2e"}},"siteCode":"LTER_EU_BE_02","verified":true},{"network":{"name":"LTER Europe","id":{"prefix":"https:\/\/deims.org\/networks\/","suffix":"4742ffca-65ac-4aae-815f-83738500a1fc"}},"siteCode":null,"verified":true}],"projects":[{"label":"FutMon","uri":"http:\/\/www.futmon.org\/"},{"label":"ICP Forests (Level II)","uri":null},{"label":"NEC Directive (2016\/2284)","uri":"http:\/\/data.europa.eu\/eli\/dir\/2016\/2284\/oj"},{"label":"Natura 2000","uri":"https:\/\/natura2000.eea.europa.eu\/"},{"label":"Teabag","uri":null},{"label":"UNESCO World Heritage Site","uri":"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/about\/"},{"label":"eLTER (H2020)","uri":"https:\/\/cordis.europa.eu\/project\/id\/654359"}]},"contact":{"siteManager":[{"type":"person","name":"Arne Verstraeten","email":"Arne.Verstraeten@inbo.be","orcid":null},{"type":"person","name":"Kris Vandekerkhove","email":"Kris.Vandekerkhove@inbo.be","orcid":null}],"operatingOrganisation":[{"type":"organisation","name":"Agency For Nature and Forest (ANB)","url":"https:\/\/www.natuurenbos.be\/","ror":"https:\/\/ror.org\/04wcznf70"}],"metadataProvider":[{"type":"person","name":"Ilse Vanderheyden","email":"ilse.vanderheyden@lne.vlaanderen.be","orcid":null},{"type":"person","name":"Koenraad Van Meerbeek","email":"koenraad.vanmeerbeek@kuleuven.be","orcid":null},{"type":"person","name":"Kris Vandekerkhove","email":"Kris.Vandekerkhove@inbo.be","orcid":null}],"fundingAgency":null,"siteUrl":[{"title":null,"value":"http:\/\/www.sonianforest.be"},{"title":"LTER-Belgium","value":"http:\/\/www.lter-belgium.be"}]},"general":{"abstract":"Large forest area, ancient woodland of beech forests, just south of Brussels.\r\nIn this forest, numerous research activities covering silviculture, forest history, biodiversity inventories, geomorphology, recreation etc... have taken place. Therefore, the complete forest is proposed as an LTSER-platform.\r\nWithin the forest, two active long-term ecological monitoring programmes are present:\r\n- one ICP Forests Level II intensive forest monitoring plot (permanent sampling since 1987)\r\n- strict forest reserve monitoring programme on an area of 100 ha (periodic sampling of 15 ha since 1986, extended to 100 ha in 2000)\r\nOn July 7th 2017, the strict forest reserve \u0027Joseph Zwaenepoel\u0027, together with 4 other unmanaged reserves in the forest, was added to the UNESCO Natural Heritage Site \u0027 Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe\u0027 (http:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/list\/1133).\r\nBesides these, a large number of former research projects, PhD research and a detailed management follow-up make the Sonian Forest one of the best mapped and documented forests in Belgium \/ Europe.","citation":null,"relatedIdentifiers":null,"status":{"label":"Operational","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/elter_cl\/10772"},"yearEstablished":1986,"yearClosed":null,"relatedSites":null,"siteName":"Sonian Forest","shortName":"Sonian","siteType":"Platform","protectionLevel":[{"label":"Category IV \u2013 Habitat\/Species Management Area","uri":"http:\/\/dd.eionet.europa.eu\/vocabularyconcept\/cdda\/IucnCategoryValue\/IV"}],"landUse":null,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/deims.org\/sites\/default\/files\/photos\/Verjonging%2520Gewone%2520esdoorn%2520omgeving%2520Level%2520II%2520proefvlak2%2520Zoni%25C3%25ABn.JPG","alt":"Natural regeneration of maple under old beech trees at level II plot in Sonian forest"},{"url":"https:\/\/deims.org\/sites\/default\/files\/photos\/LTER_EU_BE_02_Zoni%25C3%25ABn_lowres.jpg","alt":"litterfall trap and througfall precipitation sampling at the Level-II site"},{"url":"https:\/\/deims.org\/sites\/default\/files\/photos\/zonien_mei2010_kvdk%2520%25286%2529.jpg","alt":"old monumental beech trees (DBH\u003E130 cm) in the strict forest reserve"},{"url":"https:\/\/deims.org\/sites\/default\/files\/photos\/LII21%2520soil%2520profile.jpg","alt":"soil profile at the Level II-plot"},{"url":"https:\/\/deims.org\/sites\/default\/files\/photos\/sonian-forest-belgium_4639.jpg","alt":"strict forest reserve (Unesco WH)"},{"url":"https:\/\/deims.org\/sites\/default\/files\/photos\/sonian-forest-belgium_4640.png","alt":"canopy height and gap fraction based on airborne LIDAR"}]},"environmentalCharacteristics":{"airTemperature":{"yearlyAverage":10.7,"monthlyAverage":null,"unit":"\u00b0C","referencePeriod":null},"precipitation":{"yearlyAverage":854,"monthlyAverage":null,"unit":"mm","referencePeriod":null},"biogeographicalRegion":"atlantic","biome":"deciduous_forest","ecosystemType":[{"label":"Deciduous Forest","uri":null},{"label":"Forest","uri":null},{"label":"Grasslands","uri":null},{"label":"Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests","uri":null},{"label":"Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands","uri":null}],"eunisHabitat":[{"label":"Beech woodland (G1.6)","uri":null},{"label":"Broadleaved deciduous woodland (G1)","uri":null},{"label":"Woodland, forest and other wooded land (G)","uri":null}],"landforms":null,"geoBonBiome":["Terrestrial"],"geology":null,"hydrology":null,"soils":null,"vegetation":null},"geographic":{"boundaries":"POLYGON ((4.376509 50.814605, 4.37874 50.81146, 4.38406 50.806795, 4.389209 50.801045, 4.39041 50.797791, 4.392641 50.797682, 4.394185 50.795403, 4.397275 50.79638, 4.399849 50.796489, 4.401908 50.793993, 4.403796 50.792799, 4.408258 50.793016, 4.408773 50.795078, 4.413063 50.794318, 4.413578 50.793125, 4.418898 50.794101, 4.420614 50.790195, 4.420786 50.788676, 4.423532 50.786614, 4.42542 50.785745, 4.425248 50.788024, 4.424218 50.790086, 4.421816 50.79345, 4.425934 50.79714, 4.427307 50.799852, 4.425763 50.801045, 4.429195 50.800937, 4.432113 50.803215, 4.439835 50.800069, 4.439835 50.803107, 4.441895 50.803975, 4.440522 50.805819, 4.443783 50.807771, 4.442753 50.809616, 4.433486 50.813629, 4.437604 50.816557, 4.441895 50.817316, 4.442066 50.821221, 4.474159 50.823715, 4.477244 50.820237, 4.496809 50.822623, 4.500927 50.814815, 4.49063 50.81091, 4.498868 50.810693, 4.510881 50.812211, 4.510538 50.815682, 4.519805 50.817201, 4.520492 50.815682, 4.525983 50.818719, 4.522894 50.821539, 4.515686 50.821105, 4.511911 50.824575, 4.505733 50.826527, 4.509165 50.831948, 4.517059 50.829346, 4.521865 50.830647, 4.537996 50.8339, 4.545891 50.833466, 4.554128 50.83455, 4.558247 50.832816, 4.548293 50.83043, 4.543145 50.82631, 4.544861 50.824575, 4.537996 50.823491, 4.530789 50.819153, 4.538683 50.816116, 4.535937 50.797458, 4.539026 50.797675, 4.542459 50.800279, 4.549323 50.799194, 4.543145 50.796156, 4.541429 50.79073, 4.535594 50.7929, 4.535937 50.790079, 4.519805 50.788343, 4.514313 50.7929, 4.515686 50.795505, 4.506419 50.796156, 4.501271 50.795505, 4.499898 50.793334, 4.492003 50.797241, 4.484795 50.793985, 4.463172 50.787257, 4.46935 50.780745, 4.45768 50.777055, 4.459396 50.766633, 4.449786 50.76533, 4.456987 50.760321, 4.464538 50.756846, 4.482386 50.756411, 4.491997 50.751633, 4.487878 50.746854, 4.510531 50.730341, 4.49131 50.728603, 4.489937 50.733818, 4.476208 50.734687, 4.474149 50.729037, 4.457353 50.719924, 4.452548 50.720576, 4.446713 50.717098, 4.441907 50.719706, 4.441907 50.715359, 4.435043 50.711446, 4.432983 50.709924, 4.414449 50.712315, 4.409644 50.715142, 4.411703 50.716881, 4.41136 50.722532, 4.413762 50.722749, 4.422 50.736875, 4.408271 50.74122, 4.388363 50.755123, 4.382528 50.766633, 4.381842 50.778575, 4.374627 50.79766, 4.367411 50.812862, 4.376509 50.814605))","coordinates":"POINT (4.4133 50.746)","country":["Belgium"],"elevation":{"avg":120,"min":80,"max":150,"unit":"msl"},"size":{"value":7437.65,"unit":"ha"},"relatedLocations":[{"title":"Sonian forest","id":{"prefix":"https:\/\/deims.org\/locations\/","suffix":"f59047b5-adef-40dc-a8a3-57985d666802"},"changed":"2024-05-07T14:23:35+0200"},{"title":"LTER_EU_BE_02_meteostation","id":{"prefix":"https:\/\/deims.org\/locations\/","suffix":"5b5f71ad-5fbe-4fe9-821d-3f7974bdbb88"},"changed":"2025-06-04T16:29:42+0200"},{"title":"Soil profile pit of the ICP Forests Level II plot","id":{"prefix":"https:\/\/deims.org\/locations\/","suffix":"60ace1f9-8a47-40e5-89f5-71422b70adfd"},"changed":"2025-06-04T17:08:20+0200"}]},"focusDesignScale":{"experiments":{"design":"partly experimentation","scale":"plot scale"},"observations":{"design":"partly observation","scale":"plot within catchment"},"observedProperties":[{"label":"above ground net primary production","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/10043"},{"label":"acid neutralizing capacity of water","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22029"},{"label":"air temperature","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22035"},{"label":"ammonium content","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/10071"},{"label":"ammonium nitrate concentration","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/10072"},{"label":"ammonium nitrogen content","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/10076"},{"label":"atmospheric parameter","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/20937"},{"label":"atmospheric pressure","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22060"},{"label":"base cations content in water","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/21208"},{"label":"biological parameter","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/20940"},{"label":"bryophytes cover","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/10117"},{"label":"bryophytes presence","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22206"},{"label":"bryophytes species coverage","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/10115"},{"label":"carbon-to-nitrogen ratio","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/21350"},{"label":"cation exchange capacity","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22084"},{"label":"chemical composition of water","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/21213"},{"label":"chemical parameter","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/10333"},{"label":"date of start of physiological maturity","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22098"},{"label":"deadwood decaying rate","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22101"},{"label":"dissolved organic carbon in water","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/10307"},{"label":"dissolved organic nitrogen","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/10125"},{"label":"disturbance pattern","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/21473"},{"label":"ecosystem parameter","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/20939"},{"label":"electrical conductivity","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/21552"},{"label":"exchange capacity","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/10036"},{"label":"floristic composition","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22121"},{"label":"forest structure","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/21477"},{"label":"fungal diversity","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22124"},{"label":"global radiation irradiance","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22125"},{"label":"groundwater level","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22126"},{"label":"inorganic carbon content","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22135"},{"label":"leaf area index","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22157"},{"label":"leaf nitrogen concentration","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22160"},{"label":"leaf nutrient","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22161"},{"label":"maximum temperature","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/21529"},{"label":"mean annual precipitation","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22166"},{"label":"mean annual temperature","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/21531"},{"label":"minimum temperature","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/21532"},{"label":"nitrogen content","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22174"},{"label":"pH value of water","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/21218"},{"label":"percent carbon","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22181"},{"label":"percent nitrogen","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22182"},{"label":"percent organic carbon","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22183"},{"label":"plant nitrogen concentration","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22193"},{"label":"plant nutrient","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22194"},{"label":"relative humidity","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/21579"},{"label":"seed mass","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22229"},{"label":"seed production","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22230"},{"label":"seed yield","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22233"},{"label":"snow depth","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22240"},{"label":"snow water equivalent","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22242"},{"label":"soil acidity","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22243"},{"label":"soil base saturation","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22244"},{"label":"soil bulk density","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22245"},{"label":"soil carbon storage","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22246"},{"label":"soil classification","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/21909"},{"label":"soil depth","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22247"},{"label":"soil dry bulk density","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22248"},{"label":"soil nitrate leaching","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/10053"},{"label":"soil nitrogen","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22259"},{"label":"soil nutrient","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22260"},{"label":"soil organic carbon","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22261"},{"label":"soil organic residual","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22262"},{"label":"soil pH","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22264"},{"label":"soil parameter","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/20944"},{"label":"soil particle size","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22265"},{"label":"soil profile water content","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22268"},{"label":"soil salinity","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22270"},{"label":"soil solution concentration","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22274"},{"label":"soil solution pH","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22276"},{"label":"soil temperature","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22278"},{"label":"soil texture","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22279"},{"label":"soil volumetric water content","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22280"},{"label":"soil water content","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22281"},{"label":"soil water retention","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/30034"},{"label":"soil wilting point","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/30036"},{"label":"thickness of soil horizon","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22295"},{"label":"total carbon","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22296"},{"label":"total organic carbon","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22297"},{"label":"tree basal area","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22301"},{"label":"tree condition","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22302"},{"label":"tree diameter at breast height","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22304"},{"label":"tree distribution","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/21587"},{"label":"tree height","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22305"},{"label":"tree mortality","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/21052"},{"label":"water alkalinity","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/10303"},{"label":"water parameter","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/20945"},{"label":"wind direction","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22317"},{"label":"wind speed","uri":"http:\/\/vocabs.lter-europe.net\/EnvThes\/22319"}]},"infrastructure":{"accessibleAllYear":true,"accessType":"dirt road  (4WD)","allPartsAccessible":true,"maintenanceInterval":15,"permanentPowerSupply":false,"operation":{"permanent":true,"notes":"operational costs involve mainly sample collection and maintenance and laboratory analysis of samples","siteVisitInterval":15},"notes":null,"collection":[{"label":"Cable based","uri":null},{"label":"Camera traps","uri":null},{"label":"No data transmission from site","uri":null},{"label":"No lodging possible","uri":null},{"label":"No tower on site","uri":null},{"label":"Other data services","uri":null},{"label":"Relational database","uri":null},{"label":"Spatial database (GIS)","uri":null},{"label":"Vehicle 2WD","uri":null}],"data":{"policy":{"url":null,"rights":["Co-authorship on publications resulting from use of the dataset"],"notes":null}}},"relatedResources":[{"id":{"prefix":"https:\/\/deims.org\/dataset\/","suffix":"4f4b5fab-7347-4daf-86d0-a5bd14b68aa9"},"title":"Meteorological_data_Sonian_2011-2016","changed":"2025-10-15T10:18:41+02:00"},{"id":{"prefix":"https:\/\/deims.org\/dataset\/","suffix":"b5cd274c-031b-4528-a645-c63ca3d399e4"},"title":"Ground vegetation data ICP Forests Level II plot Sonian forest","changed":"2023-04-05T11:27:24+02:00"}],"projectRelated":{"lter":{"lterSiteClassification":"Regular Site"}}}}