http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/regio/brussel/belga_20141030_sonienwoud_schiet_wort el_als_unesco

This is about a possible nomination of the "Zoniënwoud" (Forêt de Soignes) as WHS in 2017. Will this be an extension of the Primeval Beech Forest WHS?

I can't find it on the Tentative List either.

I'm actually fairly happy about that it adds a potential extra WHS to the run Solivagant picked out a few years back that enables you to visit 5.

Here is the route if anyone fancied breaking out their running shoes.

To answer my own question: yes it is. 33 forests in 12 countries are supposed to be added.
Not yet shown on the Belgian T List though, although this news link says it has been added before the January deadline

http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/regio/brussel/1.2236747

Lots of upcoming WH sites for a small country like Belgium:

2016: Le Corbusier (maison Guiette in Antwerp)
2017: Zoniënwoud as an extension for Primeval Beech forests
2017: Great Spas of Europe (Spa)
2017: Funeral and memorial sites of the First World War (Western Front)

For the last one, I think they will postpone it to 2018,to celebrate the end of World War I

This would make a total of 15 WH sites !

I would guess these (3) sites will not be easy inscriptions, no? Has IUCN ever mentioned or supported such a large extension of the Primeval Beech forests? It seems like such a scattered natural nomination with little pockets all over Europe is a unique/strange proposal with little precedent.

2017: Zoniënwoud as an extension for Primeval Beech forests
2017: Great Spas of Europe (Spa)
2017: Funeral and memorial sites of the First World War (Western Front)

The current Primeval Beech Forests WHS already is very scattered. It's the same story as with the Great Spas of Europe or the Corbusier sites. I do not see a particular problem.

Has there been many "scattered" natural nominations in so many countries before? I can't really think of any off the top of my head. Currently 3 countries are included in the inscription, but a rumored 12 others?

Its also interesting to consider the Primeval Beach Forests are inscribed on just the single criteria, which is (ix): to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals.

Els, have you visited the "likely" nominated area in Belgium? I can't speak of the merits of the WHS, having never been, but I am intrigued by this seemingly unusual nomination and its potentially very large extension. It could open up nominations all over the world of disconnected ecosystems.

No I haven't. But it may be a good idea to do so.

An interesting little fact about this forest is that it lies spread out over all 3 Belgian federal regions (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels). So it already has crossed a high bureaucratic hurdle in its own country to get nominated.

Oops - it seems that I have. The (gardens of the) Africa Museum in Tervuren (well worth visiting anyway) apparently lies within this park
http://www.zonienwoud.be/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/170412_Kaart_Zoniën.pdf

I've forgotten one:
2018: KOLONIËN VAN WELDADIGHEID (AGRICULTURAL PAUPER COLONY) There are two in belgiem too (Wortel and Merksplas)

Belgium seems to be doing quite well without actually leading on any nominations. That Beech forest extension isn't really setting my heart a-flutter but I may swing past next time I am there to pay it more of a visit than I did last time.

I called into Zoniënwoud over the weekend. It was a pleasant place to have a croissant on a bright sunny morning whilst watching locals out exercising, and you could really see the prevalence of the Beech trees.

However it is just a forest sandwiched in between stretches of motorways. Perhaps it is really important, but it didn't feel particularly outstanding, much like the forests around cities all across Europe.

Check the State of Conservation Report for the Primeval Beach Forest WHS, there is extensive information about the potential expansion in the later part of the document.

The map of Antwerp (Take Antwerp!) shows the Court of Justice at Bolivarplaats as UNESCO. I can't find any info on this so they have a misprint?