MAB; Credit: UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) endorsed yesterday, at the 32nd International Co-ordinating Council (ICC) of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, Luxembourg's application “Minett UNESCO Biosphere” from the eleven municipalities of the PRO-SUD inter-municipal union.

While Luxembourg is present on the three UNESCO cultural programmes (World Heritage, Memory of the World and Intangible Cultural Heritage), it has so far not benefited from inclusion in the natural heritage programmes. Consequently, in 2016, the Luxembourg Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO began to reflect on a possible application by the southern region of the country to this prestigious programme created in 1971. 

With the logistical and financial support of the Department of Spatial Planning, a group of players from the political and cultural scene and civil society drew up a complete 400-page application based on the work, research and analyses of several working groups. The PRO-SUD union submitted the application in 2019.

On Wednesday 28 October 2020, the ICC-MAB recognised the quality of this application and the potential of the region concerned as a model for sustainable development and thus approved the “Minett UNESCO Biosphere” application. This recognition allows the project to join a world network of recognised prestige and quality comprising more than 700 biosphere reserves in 124 countries and brings international recognition of the rich biodiversity of reconverted lands.

This UNESCO label is not only an honour, but also a challenge. The south intends to pursue its efforts in various fields, such as tourism, culture, education, the conservation of its industrial and natural heritage and urban development, in order to strengthen the integration of a population in full growth and preserve biodiversity in all environments. This recognition is also an opportunity to become a source of inspiration for the whole region, but also for the country or even the French border region, by demonstrating the possibility of participating in the global paradigm shift for a sustainable ecology through a local contribution.