On the 28th of October 2020, the Minett UNESCO Biosphere was officially recognised by UNESCO and included in the international network of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme.
As a post-industrial biosphere reserve, the southern region of Luxembourg, which includes all the municipalities of the PRO-SUD syndicate, is to develop in its entirety according to the standards of the programme created in 1971. In concrete terms, this means promoting the economic development of our region according to social, cultural and ecological criteria. In this way, together with the inhabitants of the biosphere reserve, it should be possible to preserve and protect the existing biodiversity, to cultivate and maintain the values and traditions of the Minett, while continuing to develop the economy.
Launch under Covid-19 conditions
Unfortunately, this important moment for our region could not be celebrated and appreciated as it was planned. Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, only a few guests were able to attend the official ceremony to confer the status of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The ceremony took place on 29 October 2020 in Dudelange.
Since last October, the team of PRO-SUD, which is in charge of the management of the Minett UNESCO Biosphere, together with all the partners who had already supported the candidacy of the Minett as a biosphere reserve, has started to work on the implementation of the goals of the “Man and the Biosphere” programme for the south of Luxembourg.
The results of the first year are positive and the momentum and energy to put the South of Luxembourg on the national and international map as an innovative, sustainable and (industrially) culturally interesting region should accelerate with the support of the whole region in the coming years.