On Tuesday 17 September, the Minister of Culture, Eric Thill, visited the Minett UNESCO Biosphere to see for himself the activities of this internationally recognised model region for sustainable development.

© Minett UNESCO Biosphere / Ministère de la Culture

On 28 October 2020, eleven PRO-SUD communes joined UNESCO’s “Man and the Biosphere”-World Network. Known as the Minett UNESCO Biosphere, the region is now part of a global network of 759 biospheres in 136 countries.

The Minister of Culture, Eric Thill, was welcomed to Ellergronn, the visitor centre and headquarters of the biosphere, by the board of the inter-municipal association PRO-SUD and the management team. His visit was an opportunity to review current projects and consider the Biosphere’s future activities.

During the visit, Minister Eric Thill emphasised: “The UNESCO Biosphere is an exemplary model for cultural and tourist offers in the different regions of the country. Thanks to a participatory and sustainable approach, the natural and historical heritage of the biosphere is presented to local residents and international visitors alike. Strengthening and further promoting such decentralised initiatives is one of my priorities.”

The projects of the biosphere reserve

Developing the cultural and tourist offer is one of the biosphere’s priorities. In close collaboration with the ORT and Visit Minett, a 90-kilometre hiking trail, the Minett Trail, and 11 cottages, called “Kabaisercher”, offer an original way to discover the region.

Significant importance is also attached to the educational aspect and the involvement of young people in protecting the environment. Support from the LIST and the FNR facilitates research and monitoring projects in the context of safeguarding biodiversity and climate impacts.

One early project resulted in the networking of local producers of local produce and raising awareness among local residents of the importance of local food production. The exchange also enabled cross-border collaboration on shared cultural and natural heritage to be stepped up.

Minett Biosphere: A driving force for transition

For Christian Weis, President of the PRO-SUD inter-municipal association, the region has benefited from UNESCO’s recognition: “The biosphere project has strengthened our eleven municipalities. It not only gives us the opportunity to promote the natural and cultural wealth of the Minett beyond the borders of our region. Thanks to our biosphere reserve status, as an industrial region undergoing major change, we can make a substantial contribution to our society’s transition to a more sustainable way of life.”

During his visit, the Minister for Culture was able to see for himself the industrial heritage and natural wealth of one of Luxembourg’s oldest nature reserves, the Ellergronn Nature and Forest Centre. He also had the opportunity to talk to the municipal officials responsible for culture in the local administrations of the Minett region.