“SCHLAMMENFELD” – AN OPEN-PIT MINE CONVERTED INTO A NATURE RESERVE, part 3

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:

  • Transition zone: areas with human activities, living and working space of the population (139 km2 or 69 % of the biosphere).
  • Buffer zone: Areas where use must not affect the protected areas. They have the task of reducing the negative impacts of human activities on the core areas as much as possible. There are 26 buffer zones: other nature conservation areas and NATURA 2000 areas in addition to the former opencast mining areas (42 km2 or 21 % of the regional area).
  • Core zone: Ecological conservation where only research activities or continuous monitoring are allowed. There are six core zones consisting exclusively of former opencast mining areas designated as nature conservation areas or NATURA 2000 sites (19 km2 or 10 % of the regional area). Some are directly adjacent to settlement areas. This is a feature related to the industrial heritage, as it was necessary to build as close as possible to the iron mines.

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:

  • Preservation: contributing to the conservation of nature and cultural heritage.
  • Development: promoting socioculturally and ecologically sustainable economic and human development, especially with tourism and regional products.
  • Logistic support: support/creation of projects and activities in the field of environmental education and scientific research on nature conservation and sustainable development.

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“:

  • Rocklines: illuminating the region from a new angle to discover it in a geopoetic way. The idea is to mix science (geography, geology) and literature (poetry, writing, emotions, creativity) according to one‘s walks in nature.
  • Geoheritage days: days of geological heritage during which the geology of our region as well as of the Mullerthal could be explored during a weekend of visits.

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.