Belval commits to ecological compensation on several fronts

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In Luxembourg, all urban development must be accompanied by compensation measures to ensure the protection of biodiversity, by way of restoration actions or the creation of biotopes or habitats. . In Belval, an exciting agricultural project using innovative market gardening techniques will be added to the existing parks and various green initiatives in 2024. AGORA colleagues Frank Wallenborn and Alexandre Londot are here to unpack the issues at play, accompanied by partners Margaux Radici, from ArcelorMittal, Simone Asselborn-Bintz, mayor of Sanem, and Christian Batting, farmer.

Is ecological compensation a necessary measure in Luxembourg?

Frank Wallenborn, architect and project manager at AGORA: “It is a legal obligation, as per the law on the protection of nature and natural resources. This law requires that compensation measures are taken, and the results must equal or exceed any biotope destroyed. These measures could include the renaturation of a river, the creation of a wetland, or the planting of a forest, for example. Ecological compensation is an essential step, balancing the need for economic and demographic development with the necessity of protecting nature and ecosystems. In Luxembourg, there is a lot of development, which has put the country under environmental pressure and led to the destruction of many biotopes. In this context, compensation is a priority for us. The compensation is structured according to a point system1. In our first biotope assessments, Belval had a debt of 2.7 million points. We have therefore undertaken to integrate compensatory measures into our landscaping projects. And the work is well underway!” »

What specific measures have already been put in place by AGORA?

Alexandre Londot, operations director at AGORA: “While some neighbourhood developers contribute to the compensation system through monetary donations to a common fund, known as the “eco-pool”, AGORA has not chosen this path. Instead, we decided to carry out green projects directly on the Belval site. Various crucial developments have been in progress since the start of the neighbourhood design process, including Um Belval Park, the Waassertrap, and Plateau Saint-Esprit. As a reminder, Plateau St-Esprit, which is still under development, is a green space where land recovered during the work will be revitalised using avant-garde techniques. We are now implementing measures to promote local involvement, and are particularly keen to connect with farmers in the region. Maintaining agricultural activities on the Belval site is one of our main priorities. These practices have cemented AGORA’s commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly development practices.”

Avant-garde market gardening practices are also being tested as part of a preliminary project with a farmer in the sector. Christian Batting, you are that farmer. Can you tell us about this unique adventure?

Christian Batting, farmer/owner: “The project is being developed in close collaboration with the Nature and Forest Agency, and is one of the first of its kind to be carried out in Luxembourg between three partners: the organiser, the landowner and the farmer. Currently, I am raising a herd of Limousin cattle, so I am mainly focused on grazing land, but I also have a lot of experience growing cereals. We are now planning an extensive agricultural project on land belonging to me and ArcelorMittal. The project is intended to reconcile agriculture with environmental protection, all while remaining economically viable. It includes the establishment of orchards, the renaturation of watercourses, and an agro-environmental approach based on late mowing on different lands located in more urban areas. I will also recommend suitable sowing choices for these sustainable agriculture techniques, including appropriate soil preparation.”

How is the practice of “late mowing” innovative?

Christian Batting : “By mowing only once a year, at the end of the season, plants have better opportunities to develop, flower and produce fruit. The flowers attract large numbers of foraging insects looking for pollen and nectar, which is good for biodiversity. This conscientious management of agricultural land is part of an adaptive approach to climate change. We plan to gradually introduce other innovative practices and techniques as the project progresses.”

ArcelorMittal has made around a dozen hectares available for this compensation project. Does this land have any particular qualities?

Margaux Radici, Head of Real Estate at ArcelorMittal Luxembourg & Germany: “The land runs along a path for pedestrians and cyclists. Thanks to the compensation, we can ensure that this recreational area is surrounded by a pleasant natural landscape long into the future. Mr Batting has already been engaged in sustainable agricultural activities on this land for several years, and the agreement we signed allows us to extend his operations for the next 25 years. We are committed to leaving these plots available, because ArcelorMittal wants to foster an approach in which urbanisation, or even densification, is carried out in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. This undertaking is a new and unique addition the Luxembourg model of revitalising industrial wastelands in which we have been involved for over thirty years.”

How is this biotope compensation project being supported by the Sanem local government?

Simone Asselborn-Bintz, mayor of Sanem: “We have been playing a mediation role between stakeholders, among other actions. Given that Sanem, in conjunction with the Minett region, has been recognised by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve since October 2020, we see supporting this initiative as absolutely essential. As a result, we are committed to promoting the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development, in addition to raising citizens’ awareness of these topics. Sanem is also an active member of Pro-Sud, which oversees collaboration between eleven communes on sustainability issues. This is particularly important now that urbanisation is yielding increasingly dense results. Even though Sanem is still a small commune, we can contribute significantly to sustainable development on a national scale by collaborating with other communes. The whole country – and the whole of Europe – must come together in these times of climate transition. We are determined to play our part in this collective effort.”

1: A system of eco-points is used to establish an ecological inventory before any development measures are implemented, and the results are reported on an “ecological balance sheet”. This balance sheet illustrates the relationship between the initial state and the final outcome. If the relationship is negative, the project has a negative balance that must be offset by way of compensatory measures. To find out more, we invite you to consult the Luxembourg environment portal. Please note that AGORA does not calculate its points according to the eco-pool system established by Luxembourg law in 2018, because the discussions regarding Belval compensation began with public authorities and design offices well before the law was implemented. AGORA nevertheless works within similar parameters, which have already been in force in Germany for some time.

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