Island of Bohan

The King Baudouin Foundation owns three islands on the Semois thanks to generous donors who established the "Semois Islands Fund". This Fund's mission is to ensure the preservation of the islands of Bohan, Vanne Cunin, and Montclar Poète. The first two islands are located in the municipality of Vresse-sur-Semois, and the third in Poupehan in the municipality of Bouillon. The Semois has no less than 80 islands, with areas ranging from a few square meters to more than 2 hectares. These areas continuously vary with the floods (erosions in some areas, deposits of sediments and gravel in others).

"By giving the river its freedom, shouldn't we accept that it is constantly evolving, both in terms of the shape of its meanders and the islands and oxbows?"

2022, Rosillon, Semois nature „Une rivière pas comme les autres“, Volume 2

History

Since the origins of Bohan, it seems that the island has been associated with the history of the village and its inhabitants.

On the maps of the Count of Ferraris (1770), the island is depicted as pastureland. The dam was built around 1850. Its function was to channel the water into a pipe running from the presbytery to the mill located near the cave downstream of the bridge. The water was used to make the mill wheel turn, functioning as a sawmill. During the first half of the 20th century, the island of Bohan was mowed. A row of fruit trees occupied the center of the island.

In the 1950s, a campsite was established on the island, which was accessible during the summer season by a metal footbridge. In the early 1990s, the camping activity ceased, and the island was transferred to the King Baudouin Foundation in 1996 with the support of the Fédération Sportive des Pêcheurs Francophones de Belgique. This acquisition was intended to preserve the islands in their natural state, as they constitute remarkable breeding areas for fish as well as nesting sites for birds.

Management

Since 2014, the King Baudouin Foundation has been working on a project to restore the island to its historical state, linked to the mowing and grazing practices that were once carried out there, as desired by the local residents. Restoring these practices in the alluvial meadows helps control invasive species, including the abundant Himalayan balsam. Late mowing boosts the return of species with greater biological value (such as bistort knotweed). The pastureland restoration project required extensive forest clearing on the island in 2016. Only certain trees were preserved.

Grazing by Ardennes red sheep has been taking place from June to October since 2017. These hardy sheep are satisfied with lean forage and are not sensitive to the cold. They do not require water supply, as morning dew is sufficient for them. The ewes lamb alone and without difficulty. These natural mowers reduce the need for mechanical mowing and help curb brush encroachment, limit the proliferation of invasive plants, and facilitate the return of herbaceous plants that have real biological interest. A row of fruit trees has been planted in the center of the island to reproduce the landscape of the early 20th century.

Raising awareness

Each year, the arrival of the sheep is coupled with educational activities for children from the Bohan school and neighboring villages. These activities raise students' awareness of biodiversity and the preservation of natural heritage.

Sources

1. Monique De Wolf et Pascal Grandjean, L’île de Bohan ; Centre de Documentation sur Bohan
2. Peter Lenain, Communication personnelle.
3. N.-H. Balzat, Le Pêcheur Belge