Background The high Hautes-Fagnes Plateau, located in the northeast of the Ardennes, consists of acidic and nutrient-poor soils developed on old sediments. It is a region of great ecological value. Heaths, fens and bogs occupied between 15 000 to 20 000 ha at the end of the 18th century, but at present occupy just 5 000 ha. These habitats are often in a degraded state, mainly as the result of drainage, widespread spruce plantation and the abandonment of traditional agricultural and pastoral use. Most areas of special interest are recognised as state nature reserves and are in addition protected as Council of Europe biogenetic reserves. The area also forms part of an international natural park that crosses into Germany, the Natural Park Hautes-Fagnes – Eifel, which occupies 65 000 ha in Belgium. The main economic activities are forestry, hunting and tourism. Two-thirds of the land is publicly owned, local communities own nearly a fifth, and just over an eighth is in private ownership. Objectives The LIFE PLTHautes-Fagnes project aimed to restore some 1 800 ha of endangered peat and wet habitats including peat moss (Sphagnum) and birch woods, raised bogs, damaged or inactive bogs, wet heathlands, transition mires, wet acid peat with white beak-sedge (Rhynchospora alba), old acidophilous oak woodlands on sandy plains, as well as other habitats including dry heathlands, mat-grass swards, mountain hay meadows, rivular alder woods, transition mires, tall-herb communities of humid meadows and watercourse fringes. The project focussed on a 9 724 ha working zone located in six Natura 2000 sites. Planned actions included purchasing coniferous forest for habitat restoration, negotiating with forest owners to abandon forestry speculation for nature conservation, restoration work such as deforestation, and the introduction of extensive grazing to ensure the sustainable management of open landscapes. Results The PLTHautes-Fagnes project was part of a series of six LIFE-Nature projects implemented on the plateau of the Ardenne region. The project aimed to restore open habitats on peat soils, to restart the activity of peat-accumulating vegetation, and to improve the connectivity of similar habitats between six Natura 2000 sites on the plateau to enhance species mobility. Forestry speculation was abandoned in a number of areas to promote nature conservation. Within the framework of the PLTHautes-Fagnes project, 141 ha of privately-owned land was purchased and its use changed to state nature reserve. The cultivation of exotic conifers (spruce) was stopped by agreements on 262 ha of privately-owned (150 ha) and of municipalities-owned land (112 ha), and 341 ha of state-owned land. Conifers were removed by cutting from 941 ha and spontaneous encroachment by spruce was prevented on 480 ha; 22 ha of exotic deciduous trees were also removed. The land was cleared and vegetation restored after tree cutting. Many habitat types were restored during the PLTHautes-Fagnes project. Around 2 800 ha of peaty habitats, and wet and dry heath, was restored; of which 1 300 ha received a strong restoration, involving top soil removal and the cutting of groves of exotic conifers, while 1 500 ha were submitted to lighter restoration, such as the cutting of isolated trees. The first 30 cm of top soil was removed from degraded peat bogs in order to restore peat-building vegetation over 8.5 ha (332 basins), while mulching (5 cm deep) on 156 ha of degraded peat bogs and heath helped restore open habitats. Mulching (5 cm deep) was also carried out on 22 ha in the vicinity of sub-intact raised peat bogs. The project restored water regimes to increase water availability, including sod-cutting and the creation of small ponds in several locations. The filling of 178 km of drains ensured wetter conditions on peat bog and wet heath, while 8 km of dams were built to flood 23 ha of degraded peat bogs in order to restart peat-accumulating vegetation. The project restored 98 lithalsas, by building dams on breaches in these natural walls. The project also completed a comprehensive hydrological impact study. Fences were established on 373 ha by the project to manage grazing, including the enclosure of 126 ha for sheep to maintain open habitats. A further 125 ha was protected from deer by fences to encourage birch and oak woodland regeneration. The restoration work also involved the mowing on 50 ha of Molinia caerulea and Pteridium aquilinum. A monitoring programme set-up during the project will continue as part of the After-LIFE Conservation Plan: botanical monitoring in 405 permanent quadrants, bird monitoring along nine pathways, dragonfly monitoring on 44 water bodies, and butterfly monitoring. Target bird species, for which the project aimed to raise population numbers, included black grouse (Tetrao tetrix), hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia), European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) Northern shrike (Lanius excubitor), grey-headed woodpecker (Picus canus) and black stork (Ciconia nigra). The project results were widely disseminated, through publications, two films, educational materials, information panels on project sites, field visits, and the final project congress. A socio-economic study concluded that the project will have positive impacts on biodiversity, recreation use of the land, CO2 emission reductions, and well-being in seven local communities. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).