Place Dargent in Luxembourg city was heavily affected by the floods in July 2021 with restaurants and cafes taking months to reopen. Photo Matic Zorman / Maison Moderne archive

Place Dargent in Luxembourg city was heavily affected by the floods in July 2021 with restaurants and cafes taking months to reopen. Photo Matic Zorman / Maison Moderne archive

Environment minister Carole Dieschbourg (Déi Gréng) announced amendments to the nature conservation act, looking to provide security in the event of extreme weather conditions such as floods.

The changes in the legislation, voted in by parliament on 18 January, will allow the state first refusal to land parcels bordering on waterways. Residents living in certain zones will be supported in rebuilding their residences if they had been destroyed or damaged following extreme weather events.

The floods of July 2021 affected Luxembourg heavily. And although there were no resulting deaths, unlike in some neighboring countries, Luxembourg insurers have . Some of the debris and in the country required maintenance or repairs following the natural disaster.

The amended nature conservation act also takes into account the protection of “monumental” trees or so-called veteran trees. That will now be governed directly by the nature protection law rather than legislation on protection of monuments.

Under the modified legislation, people who have a side job in the field of agriculture and vegetable growing will be allowed to build small structures related to their activity on their plots.