Festive launch for the UNESCO human and biosphere site the Maasheggen
On Thursday, March 7, it was party time at Maasheggen. The Maasheggen form the oldest cultural landscape in the Netherlands and are currently in the spotlight due to the newly acquired 'UNESCO man and biosphere' status. Together with the area partners, local businesses, organizations, press and other stakeholders, this milestone was celebrated together in the middle of the Maasheggengebied in Oeffelt. The status was finally awarded by UNESCO in the summer of 2018.
The event was opened by Mayor van Soest (Boxmeer) and Mayor Hillenaar (Cuijk) with a look back at the start of the UNESCO adventure. Three years ago the Vereniging Nederlands Cultuurlandschap and the municipality of Boxmeer, with support from the Postcode Lottery, started the procedure to get recognition for the Maasheggen Landscape. An intensive cooperation between the area partners municipality Boxmeer, municipality Cuijk, Staatsbosbeheer, Vereniging Nederlands Cultuurlandschap, Brabants Landschap, waterschap Aa en Maas, SlaBox, ZLTO and province Noord-Brabant, led to the award. That was reason for an official celebration.
After the welcome address by Mayors Hillenaar (Cuijk municipality) and Van Soest (Boxmeer municipality) and a characterization of the area by Sylvo Thijsen, director Staatsbosbeheer, attendees were led outside for a walk in the Maasheggengebied. The walk was provided with great enthusiasm and knowledge by foresters from Staatsbosbeheer and local IVN guides. The rain and dark clouds kept only a few from putting on their hiking boots. The walk ended with a spectacular rainbow. A demonstration of the famous mesh hedge braiding followed. Honorary guests Andrée van Es, director of the Dutch Unesco Commission, Donné Slangen of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and Sylvo Thijsen, Staatsbosbeheer were allowed to experience for themselves what it is like to braid. The subsequent program focused on the intensive cooperation between parties on themes such as agriculture, nature, recreation, tourism and water safety. The closing drinks featured regional products from local entrepreneurs, with a Land van Cuijk hamburger from Boertel De Lamperse Hei, arugula from Duurzame Kost from Vortum Mullem and Maasheggenthee from De Meerstoel from Sambeek.
Biosphere status
The Maasheggen is the only biosphere reserve in the Netherlands and, with this status grant, is part of a global network of more than 650 UNESCO biosphere reserves. These are not natural areas that humans should leave alone. Rather, they are about finding ways for humans and nature to coexist. Smart methods of nature conservation and biodiversity protection go hand in hand with socioeconomic development. According to UNESCO, there is no area in Europe where nature, landscape, economy and culture are so visibly and long-term intertwined as in the Maasheggen.
The photos were taken by photographer Ed van Alem.
The video was made by Ecce Productions.
