Land use - Why care? (Luxembourg)

Luxembourg is a territory of 2 586 km². The maximum distance from north to south is some 82 km, from west to east about 57 km. It is composed of two different geological zones: ‘Ösling’ in the north and ‘Gutland’ in the south. Differences in the sub-soil composition of these two regions lead to dissimilar landscapes with distinctive vegetation types. As a result, agricultural practices as well as economic development have been, and continue to be, different in these two regions. Most of the national population and most economic activities are concentrated in ‘Gutland’ and the region therefore has higher population and industrial densities than the other region. Consequently, it is also in ‘Gutland’ that the highest share of built-up areas is recorded (housing, offices, commercial and industrial buildings, transportation infrastructures). Finally, with the significant population and economic growths that characterise Luxembourg, and mainly the ‘Gutland’ region, there is continuing pressure on biodiversity caused by fragmentation of the territory, urban sprawl, and transportation infrastructure.