Having presented the opencast mine at the time of ore mining and its transformation into a nature reserve, now comes a more recent step: its designation as a Man and the Biosphere (MAB) site by UNESCO.
The Syndicate Pro-Sud, which brings together 11 municipalities in the south of Luxembourg, home to about a third of the national population, has in fact set itself the task of being included in this global network as of 2018.
The Unesco Programme on Man and the Biosphere (MAB) aims to provide a scientific basis for improving human-nature relations at a global level, across several disciplines (exact and natural sciences, social sciences, economics and education). Since 28 October 2020, the region has therefore joined this network to exchange with over 700 other protected areas in 124 countries.
With an area of 200 km2, the Minett Unesco Biosphere area is divided into three zones:
We met Ms Gaëlle Tavernier, an ethnologist by training and general manager of the Pro-sud union since 2018. She tells us about the three main tasks of her structure:
In order to fulfil these tasks, the union works closely with numerous partners such as the ANF, the Natural History Museum, the Ministry of Spatial Planning, the Ministry of Economy, the Southern Regional Tourist Board and the non-profit association IKCNCI.
Specifically, she mentions two examples of activities that took place this summer in the nature reserve „Giele Botter – Prënzebierg“:
Gaëlle Tavernier is not short of ideas. Among other things, she envisions a climate forum developed by and for young people. Because she rightly knows how important young people are for climate protection measures.
Many thanks to Gaëlle Tavernier for her valuable cooperation.