LIFE Oak Processionary Caterpillar – the end is in sight!

The LIFE Project Oak Processionary Caterpillar is nearing its end. To celebrate, the team organized the LIFE symposia “Living with the Oak Processionary Caterpillar” on June 17th and 19th, at the Stadsschouwburg in Utrecht and the Herman Teirlinck Building in Brussels, respectively. In addition to a informative and interactive program, attendees enjoyed the premiere of the project film “A Community of Life.”

During the symposium, we presented the results of five years of research into ecologically sound methods for managing Oak processionary caterpillar peaks. These methods appear promising – the use of nest boxes for great and blue tits, the ecological management of roadside verges, and the presence of common ivy on the trunks of common oaks all have an impact on the number and size of caterpillar nests. We expect that the scientific evidence of the effectiveness of our methods will persuade managers on the ground to implement them more widely and avoid the use of harmful alternatives as much as possible.

At the same time, it’s also clear that no single method—neither the known active management measures nor our researched ecologically sound methods—will definitively solve the health problems of oak processionary caterpillars. More is needed. A shift in thinking—from control to management to coexistence—must ensure that less harmful biocides are used. To spread this message as widely as possible, we asked film director Rik van der Linden to make a movie about our caterpillar—read more below.

Finally, the team presented the new Toolkit, which should allow municipalities and other government bodies to not only to better manage Oak processionary caterpillar infestations but, more importantly, to help change attitude of mind toward the caterpillar. Learn more about this further in this article.

Afterwards, the participants took the opportunity to exchange experiences during the lunches.

If you missed the symposia or would like to watch them again, you can find a recording of the conference in Utrecht here: In the spotlight – Beleidssymposium Utrecht 17/06/2025 (Dutch only).

The presentations used can be found here: LIFE Beleidssymposium Utrecht of LIFE Beleidssymposium Brussel (Dutch only).

‘A Community of Life’ – our very own nature film!

During the symposia, we presented our film “A Community of Life.” Rik van der Linden is a passionate nature film director who makes documentaries that focus on the search for a fitting place for humans in the living world. Together with Mathijs Schouten, ecophilosopher and biologist, he journeyed through the universe of the Pedunculate oak and all its numerous inhabitants, including the Oak processionary caterpillar. The film evoked considerable emotion, as became clear during the discussion that followed.

The film will have its public premiere at the Wildlife Film Festival in Rotterdam from November 3rd to 9th, and will then tour Flanders and the Netherlands.

If you’re interested in showing the film in your community, organization, or for your association, be sure to read our upcoming newsletters. Below, you’ll find the film trailer. English subtitles will be added in the near future.

Our toolkit

Also on the symposia we presented our new toolkit. The purpose of this toolkit is twofold: first, we want to contribute to a shift in attitude toward the oak processionary caterpillar – from combating it to managing it to coexisting with it.

The film “A Community of Life” is an important tool for this and can serve as a catalyst for reflection and further discussion on the topic. A process package with discussion sheets can help you with this.

For internal and external communication with the general public (via websites, etc.), we offer a short awareness-raising video called “Living with the Oak Processionary Caterpillar.” This video provides basic information about the caterpillar, the nuisance it can cause, and how we can address it.

On the other hand, our toolkit also includes tools that (supra)local authorities can use immediately. Specifically for Belgium, we propose a new “Belgian guideline for oak processionary moth management,” based on the Dutch guideline (a publication of the Kennisplatform Processierups), but including the results of our research and adapted to Belgian legislation and reality. The attached template for an “Oak Processionary Caterpillar Management Plan” provides local authorities with an incentive to develop their own plan tailored to their local situation, needs, and resources.

The communication package provides tips for communicating clearly and effectively and engaging your target audience. Finally, there’s a practical video on how to control oak processionary caterpillars with common ivy.

The tools in our toolkit will be available on the website this fall. Want to stay informed? Be sure to read our newsletter!