If Luxembourg is to assist in the fight against climate change, it must support its forests and keep them in a healthy state. Each year, the Nature and Forest Agency updates its inventory of the country’s trees, in order to make predictions for the future and observe developments in the Grand Duchy’s flora.
This year, around 1,200 trees were examined closely at around 50 different locations, with just 14.5% of them considered to be “really healthy”. 18.2% are in “fair” condition, while the remainder are in extremely poor condition.
The agency’s Philippe Schmitz explains:
“We observed the trees from July to August, particularly looking at their crown development, comparing them in relation to a fully grown health crown. We found that the situation is largely the same, and in fact, somewhat worse, than it has been in previous years.”
The Ellergronn nature reserve in Esch-sur-Alzette is an example of a forest which is kept in good shape. Pol Zimmermann highlights the importance of humans and nature working together, rather than side by side.
“We try to section off the trees that are dying. We have to do our best to make the forest as resilient as possible, so we can benefit from it for many years to come.”
Forest maintenance naturally requires a certain budget. The Ministry of Environment is well aware of this fact, minister Joëlle Welfring explains:
“We have a number of measures in place, including financial support for municipalities and private owners. There’s the forest climate bonus for eligible private owners of woodland, provided they manage it according to nature. This is in addition to other subsidies.”
The Nature and Forest Agency also wants to encourage municipalities to protect their forests and promote biodiversity with the Nature Pact, while also spreading awareness of the diversity and importance of forests among citizens.
To date, 86 municipalities have signed up to the Nature Pact. Through its subsidies, the agency hopes to win over municipalities as partners to collectively protect the forests and slow down climate change at a national level.
