Valuing the Potential of Small-scale Nature in the Flemish Region: a Scan of the Legal Framework, with a Special Focus on Gardens

Abstract There is increasing evidence that small-scale nature has a significant role to play for achieving climate adaptation and mitigation, for safeguarding biodiversity and for fostering human wellbeing. The question arises, however, to what extent the law also recognizes that potential, rather than focussing primarily or exclusively on protecting ‘top’ (large-scale) nature. This article looks at the law that applies to the Flemish Region and offers a first and selective discussion of the most important avenues through which the law is increasingly supportive in mobilizing the contribution of small-scale nature and of the challenges that come with this. It also exposes a number of knowledge gaps, thus formulating suggestions for a research agenda. The article goes beyond mapping the contribution of nature protection law, but also considers planning law, and briefly looks at the potential of civil law and general administrative (subsidy) law. It ends with suggestions for future research.