The mammalian fauna of the Brussels Region numbers 55 species, of which 9 are extinct or probably extinct. It is exceptionally rich in bats, with a presence, at least probable, of 16 of the 18 species recorded in Belgium. This chiropterological richness is explained by the very high biological worth of the Forêt de Soignes and by the existence of favourable feeding grounds on its periphery, in particular, above and around the lakes of the Woluwe River hydrographic network. Also interesting, within a European context, are the urban populations of Fox and Hedgehog, and the suburban population of Roe Deer. Mustelids, on the contrary, seem relatively rare. Among the important pressure factors bearing on the Brussels fauna are the shrinking, fragmentation and degradation of habitats, particularly of open habitats and wetlands, but also of wooded habitats in spite of a recent stabilisation. Disturbance, mostly provoked by dogs, is also significant. Management measures to maintain or improve the status of the fauna rest mainly on forestry practices in the Forêt de Soignes and in the large wooded parks, notably the keeping of old or hollow trees and the management of forest clearings. Also important is the management of lakes and watercourses and the perpetuation or creation of open green spaces devoted to shrubby or grassy formations. Solutions need to be found to the problem of disturbance.

Keywords: conservation biology, mammals, urban ecosystems, Brussels, habitats, pressure factors, habitat management

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