It was a symbolic moment when people of all ages came together with Grand Duke Guillaume to plant a new tree at Schifflange's Um Brill nature reserve.
The location chosen for the young tree was no accident: the reserve stands as an example of how nature can reclaim space after past human intervention.
Recent renaturation efforts along the Alzette river have led to the creation of new wetlands and habitats for many animal and plant species.
To mark the occasion of Schifflange's 150th anniversary, the municipality is planting 150 new trees, representing around 40 native species.
In conversation with RTL, Mayor Carlo Feiereisen explained that the aim is to make local areas greener for years to come and underlined that the importance of preserving nature has become even clearer following this summer's weather extremes.
Official figures highlight the urgency of these initiatives. Only about 15 percent of trees in Luxembourg showed no visible damage in the latest 2024 inventory by the Nature and Forest Agency, with drought and heat continuing to take a toll on the country's forests.
The nationwide 'Planting for the Future' campaign is a concrete response to these challenges: By 2030, Luxembourg aims to plant an additional 1.7 million trees to make forests more resilient and better prepared for climate change.
The success of this effort depends on choosing the right species and planting them in suitable locations.
As part of the 'Day of the Tree' and Schifflange's anniversary celebrations, Grand Duke Guillaume also paid a visit to the southern town and received a guided tour of the nature reserve.
