The Minett became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2020. What actually is a biosphere you may ask? And what does this mean for the Minett region? All this and more will be included in this month’s episode! Luxembourg’s famous Freestyle Footballer and Filmaker, Sven Fielitz, pays us a visit. We discuss flying clothes, sheep, goldfish and even get to try out some freesytle tricks ourselves!
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Our “Minett Location” of the month
Centre nature et forêt Ellergronn & Musée de la mine Cockerill
6, Ellergronn – L-4114 Esch-Alzette – Luxembourg
Our guest: Sven Fielitz
Unlike the most of us, Sven Fielitz is a master of two trades and they couldn’t be more different. After starting out as a regular football player, the influence of other talented freestyle athletes, inspired Sven to take on Freestyle Football for himself and since has made it one of his two professions! As a freestyle footballer, Sven has competed in several international competitions and has also participated in several artistic collaborations. Along the way, Sven has always filmed himself and his freestyling, and during his studies, Sven’s career as a filmmaker took off organically. As a filmmaker, the young artist sets no limits for himself and produces many different videos, from weddings to events or even dance performances and promo videos for companies.
Instagram: @svenfreestyler @mise.en.sven
Site web: svenfielitz.com
Our quiz (questions and answers):
Biosphere: What is a biosphere?
- A nature reserve, with a focus on the conservation of biodiversity.
- An area where, through the commitment of its citizens, sustainable development, education and conservation of nature and historical sites, a harmonious coexistence between urban activities and nature are promoted.
- A UNESCO-recognised region with different zones, including nature reserves and urban infrastructure.
A UNESCO ‘Man and the Biosphere’ Biosphere is a defined region where people have influenced nature both in the past and today. The Minett region thus fits this description perfectly. On the one hand, the region has a rich mining history that has shaped nature and the environment and on the other, humans continue to influence the region today. People live, work and study here. They enjoy its nature through various hiking and mountain bike trails, recreational parks, museums and much more. The aim of a biosphere reserve is always to create a sustainable relationship between people and their environment.
1, 2 and 3 are therefore all correct!
Biosphere: In each UNESCO biosphere reserve there are three different zones. What are they?
- Core, buffer and transition zones
- Nature conservation, buffer and industrial zones
- Core, mixed and border zones
Core, buffer and transition zones. But do you know the difference?
Core zone: In these areas, nature and historical heritage are particularly protected. In the Minett UNESCO Biosphere, these are the former open-cast mining areas that are now nature conservation zones or Natura 2000 sites. Here, human activities are limited to research and monitoring.
Buffer zones: These zones are designed to ensure that activities in the transition zones do not negatively affect the core zones. There are 26 buffer zones in our biosphere. And they are all nature conservation zones and Natura 2000 sites where opencast mining has never taken place.
Transition zones: This zone covers the entire remaining area of the biosphere reserve. This is where the inhabitants of the biosphere live and work.
Biosphere: Every year a flock of sheep roam through the natural areas of the Minett – also through Ellergronn. What purpose do these sheep serve? (2 answers are possible)
- For training sheepdogs.
- Fertilising the protected dry grasslands of the biosphere reserve.
- To act as natural mowers in the biosphere’s protected areas.
- Promoting the conservation of vegetative biodiversity by spreading genetic material between the different protected zones.
The sheep act both as natural mowers and as spreaders of genetic biodiversity between different, otherwise poorly connected, protected areas in the Minett UNESCO Biosphere.
3 and 4 are correct here.
Why did people used to pull up their clothes in the laundry room?
To save space.
How many tons of iron ore were mined in Luxembourg in 1907?
- 177000 tons
- 100000 tons
- 190000 tons
177000 tons. 1907 was the year in which the most iron ore was mined in Luxembourg.
Various topics mentionned in this episode:
Minett UNESCO Biopshere – First and only UNESCO biosphere reserve in Luxembourg.
Déierepark Gaalgebierg – Animal park on the top of the Escher Galgenberg where 25 animal species can be found.
Sentier Norbert Theis – A hiking trail that starts in Ellergronn.
Escher Geschichtsfrënn -Local historians who deal with the past of Esch-Alzette.
Tëtelbierg – Archaeological site, with an important oppidium of the Treverians from the 1st century B.C.
Musée de la Mine Cockerill – Place where this podcast was recorded. Part of the Ellergronn Nature Conservation Centre.
Minett Trail – A 90-kilometre premium walking trail through the Minett region and across all of the 11 municipalities that together form the Minett UNESCO Biosphere.
Minetter Schof – A flock of sheep that graze throughout the region and thus contribute to the preservation of biodiversity.
Contact the Minett Mash-Up team: