Kerstin is actively involved in creating the centre’s activities, like for “Bird Watching Day” where visitors can come and observe the feathered animals. Together with her colleagues she also developed a scavenger hunt to make tours even more exciting. Some of the questions are actually pretty tricky such as the “find the tiny metal birds up in the trees” challenge.

All of this is thrilling and educa­tional and requires a certain ped­agogical knack. In her previous job though, Kerstin Rose was a veterinarian, not a teacher. “But I’ve always loved this nature reserve,” she says. “It’s my favour­ite place in Luxembourg!” Her love of Luxembourg motivated her to move there. She now lives in Wintrange with her husband and their two children, not far from her job.

She applied for the “Biodi­versum” guide job without expecting to get it because her qualifications didn’t match. “I immediately realised that she is a motivated, dedicated and charis­matic person who is committed to her work and has great ideas,” says Steve Jungen.

He manages the “Centre nature et forêt Biodiversum Camille Gira” and is touring the reserve with Kerstin today to view sev­eral new sites. Thrilled to be part of his team, it is clear to see that Kerstin is a woman with a calling.

All of this takes place in and around the “Biodiversum”, a futuristic and sustainable build­ing that looks like an upturned wooden ship. Three floors depict the local environment and all its elements worth protecting. For example, one timeline illustrates how the Moselle riverscape has changed: It started as a naturally wide river with branches, islands, sandbars, gravel and reed beds.

Over time, it became a straight­ened waterway with controlled water levels and mostly developed riverbanks. “A former gravel pit has turned into an ersatz-hab­itat that we nurture and keep accessible artificially so it won’t become overgrown. In this sense, our nature reserve is not wild but tended by people to protect a diversity of species. Whether it’s reed, gravel or sand beds, we have to fight shrub encroachment and even fell the occasional tree to preserve these habitats and their biodiversity,” explains Steve Jungen. The goal is to mimic the dynamics of a natural river including water levels, erosion and sedimentation.

Of course the “Biodiversum” also presents all the different animal species living here. What do bitterns look like? Starlings? Cormorants? Permanent and temporary exhibits help chil­dren and adults grasp - in every sense of the word - it all. “Haff Réimech” is home to 76 percent of Luxembourg’s detected bird species and the most biodiverse local wetlands. Many migratory birds stop here on their way south.

Sustainability and conservation are the number one priority. “Every tour through our reserve begins with an overview of our rules,” says Kerstin Rose. Even as she guides tours, both she and visitors pick up trash along the way.

Luxembourg is currently home to 60 nationally established nature reserves. This ensures that 8.116 hectares, about 3 percent of Luxembourg’s land surface, are protected. Visitors will also enjoy Luxembourg’s nature parks: