Bioclimatic map of Wallonia (BIOCLIM)

This data layer includes the delimitation of climatic suitability zones for forest species present in Wallonia.

As part of the revision of the ecological file of species (FEE) and the afforestation guide, the two main tools at the disposal of the manager for the good suitability of species-station, a new division of the territory was carried out on the basis of updated climatic data and in the light of new knowledge in the autecology of species. The objective is to establish the degree of climatic compatibility of each species in the different zones in order to choose the appropriate species during renewal operations.

The crossing of these data with the ecological sensitivities of the species has led to a new division of the territory into ten bioclimatic zones. These ten zones replace ecological territories as the gateway to the Afforestation Guide. They also make it possible to propose maps of risk zones for the different species according to specific climatic parameters and according to the four suitability levels defined for the new Ecological Species File (optimum, tolerance, extended tolerance and exclusion).

These ten areas are referred to as follows:
- Scaldisian Plains and Valleys
- Hesbigno-Brabançon
- Sambre-et-Meuse and Condroz
- Fagne, Famenne and Calestienne
- Thiérache
- Low and medium Ardennes
- Central Eastern Ardennes
- Upper Ardennes
- Lower Lorraine
- Upper Lorraine

These areas are characterized by the length of the growing season, annual precipitation (mm), average, minimum and maximum temperatures and the Lang index (ratio between annual rainfall and annual average temperature).