Environmental activity

Fairtrade Gemeng

On April 6, 2011, the local council passed the following resolution in support of fair trade:

The Commune of Roeser participates in the "Fairtrade Gemeng" campaign and aspires to the title of "Fairtrade Gemeng".

With this resolution, the municipality has decided that coffee and at least one other fairtrade product will be used in the town hall, at meetings of the town council and other municipal bodies, and at receptions, events and town festivals.

The Commune of Roeser ensures that fair trade products are produced in accordance with the criteria of European Parliament resolution A6-0207/2006 on fair trade and development.

Roeser Certificate 2022-2023

www.fairtrade.lu

Biodiversity

Prix Biodiversité 2019

According to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), biodiversity or biological diversity refers to "the variability among living organisms from all sources, including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part". It thus encompasses diversity within and between species, as well as the diversity of ecosystems themselves. According to this definition, biodiversity also consists of genetic diversity.

The conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are considered important foundations for human well-being. The destruction and fragmentation of habitats is seen as by far the greatest threat to biodiversity on earth.

Unfortunately, a loss of biodiversity can no longer be denied in recent years. This can be clearly seen in the fact that summer after summer, fewer insects stick to car windscreens after driving at dusk. The trend towards front gardens laid out with stones and often sparsely planted with non-native plants also contributes to the decline in biodiversity.

But how can individual citizens make an active contribution to promoting biodiversity?

Dry stone wall

Dry stone walls are a fascinating habitat. In summer, the bright flowers of the white stonecrop peek out of the cracks between the stones, while the dense cushions of the yellow hot stonecrop adorn the top of the wall. In the shade, cinquefoil and saxifrage provide a splash of color.

It gets really interesting if you take the time to look out for the animal tenants: Birds can nest on the upper floor, where wind and weather have created a larger gap, while wasps have made a home in a cavity one floor below - as evidenced by the busy air traffic. Mice appreciate the protected, dry interior spaces. In the narrow cracks and gaps, wolf spiders wait for darkness to fall so they can go hunting for nocturnal insects. The sand lizards are easy to observe. For them in particular, which have become rare, dry stone walls are important survival habitats.

"Heck vun hei" initiative

If you don't yet own a hedge but are planning to plant one, you should take a look at the "Heck vun hei" initiative. “Heck vun hei" is a label from the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure. It ensures that only native hedges are planted. This prevents the import of shrubs that do not actually exist in Luxembourg and are not adapted to the conditions of the local flora.

Late mowing

Late mowing involves mowing various areas that do not necessarily require a short grass cut later in the growing season. This not only saves work and money, but also makes a significant contribution to biodiversity. Areas that are mowed later not only have a high aesthetic value with their numerous grasses and flowers, but also provide a valuable habitat for many animals, including a number of endangered butterfly species, for example.

Without pesticides campaign

The campaign "...without pesticides" is organized by a large number of actors from the environmental sector and aims to make the public and municipalities aware of the harmful effects of pesticides on nature and health and to demonstrate alternative maintenance methods for public and private areas in urban areas.

The main aim of the national campaign is to change existing perceptions, unrealistic ideals and naturalized working methods towards more biodiversity and less pesticide use, both on communal land and in private households and gardens.

Below you will find brochures on the subject of biodiversity:

Loscht op Natur - Ohne Pestizide
Nature et construction
SICONA - Méi Natur an Duerf a Stad - Deel 1
SICONA - Méi Natur an Duerf a Stad - Deel 2
SICONA - Méi Natur an Duerf a Stad - Deel 3
SICONA - Méi Natur an Duerf a Stad - Empfehlenswerte Sorten-Äpfel
SICONA - Méi Natur an Duerf a Stad - Empfehlenswerte Sorten-Birnen
SICONA - Méi Natur an Duerf a Stad - Empfehlenswerte Sorten-Kirschen
SICONA - Méi Natur an Duerf a Stad - Empfehlenswerte Sorten-Pflaume

Praxisratgeber Naturnahe Grünanlagen 2022

Use of indigenous or tropical wood with FSC certification for municipal projects

On April 18, 2005, the local council passed a resolution on the use of indigenous or tropical timber with FSC certification for municipal projects, which reads as follows:

The relevant departments of the municipal administration will be advised to comply with this decision for municipal projects and day-to-day decisions.

The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is a non-governmental, community-based organization created in the wake of the 1993 Rio Earth Summit. The FSC is committed to the ecological and socially responsible management of the world's forests.

FSC Luxembourg

GMO-free commune (genetically modified organism)

By resolution of the local council of February 26, 2008, the Commune of Roeser formally joined the "Réseau luxembourgeois des Zones sans OGM":

1- The Commune of Roeser declares that it will not plant or use genetically modified organisms, in particular genetically modified seeds and plants, on any land belonging to it.

2- The Commune of Roeser will include a clause in each new farm lease contract to the effect that tenants undertake to refrain from growing genetically modified plants on their land for the entire duration of the farm lease contract, i.e. six years. Clauses of this type must also be negotiated when renewing old farm leases.

3- The Roeser local authority must ensure, within the scope of its decision-making powers, that establishments and services under the authority of the Roeser local authority (schools, kindergartens, social services, etc.) exclude, when purchasing foodstuffs and any other contracts entered into by them, food labelled as containing or having been produced from GMOs.

4- In view of the importance of the role played by the agricultural sector in the debate on the cultivation of genetically modified plants, the Commune of Roeser will, within the limits of its resources, take all appropriate steps to encourage farmers on its territory to voluntarily renounce the use of GMOs in their fields, and to sign individual declarations to this effect. At the same time, efforts will be made to raise the awareness of the population of Roeser through targeted, one-off actions.

5- With this resolution, the Commune of Roeser formally joins the "Réseau luxembourgeois des Zones sans OGM".

What is a

A "GMO-free zone" is an area in which the use of transgenic seeds and plants or food labeled as "GMO" has been excluded on a voluntary basis and officially declared as such.

Wasp nests

Useful information about the appearance of a wasp nest

The municipal administration regularly receives telephone calls concerning the removal of wasp nests.

In this context, we would like to remind you that the elimination of hymenoptera (wasps, hornets, bumblebees, bees...) is not one of the fire department's missions, except in cases of real and imminent danger to the population.

If you need help, call a wasp consultant:

natur & ëmwelt (Tel: ) or
Emweltberodung Lëtzebuerg (Tel: )

We would like to stress, however, that wasps are useful insects and do not sting, as long as they are not threatened. In the vast majority of cases, the appearance of a wasp nest poses no problem if people adopt a few basic rules to avoid being stung. Please refer to the leaflet below (in French and German) for information on how to live with wasps.

Infographique_Guepes_FR.pdf
Infographik_Wespen_DE.pdf

Proppere Pabeier

On February 12, 2008, the municipality of Roeser signed a declaration of commitment in which it pledged to use only recycled paper for its daily paper needs. In addition to Roeser, 12 other municipalities in the country followed the call of the "Lëtzebuerger Natur- a Vulleschutzliga" and want to do something effective against the destruction of huge areas of primeval forest for paper production.

Paper consumption worldwide now stands at 320 million tons. In Luxembourg, per capita consumption is above the European average at over 300 kg per person per year. To meet this demand, virgin forests in Scandinavia, Canada, Brazil and Indonesia are being cleared without restraint to produce pulp, the raw material for paper production. Many animal and plant species are thus deprived of their livelihoods in order to produce as much cheap paper as possible, most of which later ends up in the waste bin.

Although many people recycle paper, it still seems to be a problem to use recycled paper. Technically, today's recycled paper can no longer be compared to that of the 1980s; it is available in all colors from super white to grey. The new generation of printers and copiers have no problems whatsoever with recycled paper.

With this voluntary commitment, the municipality of Roeser wants to set an example and encourage everyone to use paper as a raw material consciously and sparingly. In addition to the "Lëtzebuerger Natur- a Vulleschutzliga", the idea of the voluntary commitment is also supported by the Ministry of the Environment and the "Emweltberodung Lëtzebuerg".

The municipality of Roeser is committed

- to use predominantly recycled paper for its daily office paper requirements, thereby contributing to sustainable management and climate protection.
- to use the raw material paper consciously and sparingly.
- to educate employees in all departments and administrative areas about the ecological benefits of recycled paper and to inform them about this obligation.

- to use recycled paper as far as possible when printing brochures, flyers and the like.

Kockelscheuer, February 12, 2008
The Mayor

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