Luxembourg

Luxembourg

Background Information: Luxembourg is about half the size of Delaware and lies between latitudes 49 and 51N and longitudes 5 and 7E. Its surrounding countries are France, Belgium, and Germany. The government is a Constitutional Monarchy and The Grand Duke Henri has been in powerv since 2000. Luxembourg is seperated into seperate regions. The northern 1/3 of Luxembourg is called Oesling. It is mainly composed of schists and sandstone. Another region is called Forested Highland. It is deep valleys of a river network organized around the Sauer River. The southern 2/3 of Luxembourg is called Bon Pays and/or Gutland. It is a more varied topography. It is densely populated and contains the capital, Luxembourg. In the center, runs the Alzette River which forms an axis which the nations economic life is organized. German and French are the 2 main languages. The popualtion of Luxembourg (in the 2001 census) was 439,539.

Biodiversity: Luxembourg has typically a Marine West Coast climate with high precipetation. Many areas are covred in smog between April and August. The country has many carnivores including Badgers, uropean Polecat, Brown Bear, Artic Wolf, Wildcat, ross Fox, etc. Some herbivres ibclude; European Mole, Hedgehog, and Canada Goose. Rodents that live there are Yellow-Necked Field Mouse, Field Vole, European Pine Vole, etc. There are no regions in the countries that are considered Hotspots of Biodiversity. An invasive species that lives in Luxembourg is the European Rabbit. It spread from Australia due to lack of natural preadtors. The Polecat and Beech Marten have interspecific competition. They both eat small rodents, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. A parasite in Luxembourg is a watermite. It is brought it the water by flying insects and it lives in the water. The host to is unknown. A predator is a fox which preys on rabbits. The bimoes that are associted with Luxembourg is Temperate Decidous Forest. A species that hasd become extinct in Luxembourg is the Toblas Caddifly. It lived in the rivers in Europe. It was last seen in 1938. Very little is known about this animal. The Garden Mouse, Pond Bat, and Barbastelle are all vunerable animals. There are not any endangered animals in Luxembourg, only vunerable.The Garden Mouse is vunerable because their popualtion as a whole is so low, that they are not capable of large-scale reproduction. The Pond Bat is vunerable because of habitat destruction and the Barbastelle lived in ancient or old growth decidous woods. Damaged or dead trees are ideal for these animals. They are also protected under European Habitats Directive. The Canada Goose was becoming a pest in many areas and the populations were rising, so they were introduced to Europe. The Egyptian Goose is a large terrestrial species and also introduced into Luxembourg,

Resource Managment: Luxembourgs prosperity was origanally based on the iron and steel industry. With the exception of water and timer, there are no energy resources. The main exports are chemicals, plastics, rubber products, steel and other metals. The main imports are machinery and other manufactured equipment, raw materials, chemicals, and food products. Some attractions are Luxembourg City, Moselle Valley, Chateau de Boursched, Musee d'Histoire de la Villa de Luxembourg, St.Martins Winery, Grand Dukes Palace, etc. Most farming is mixed and includes both animal raising and gardening. Livestock and their by products account for the majority or agriculutral. Wheat, barley, and other cereal grains are next important. Statistics on the Luxembourg water are hard to find, but water is generally provided by Service des Eaux. Some areas of the country, water supply is subcontracted to a private supplier. Ground water provides 57% of drinking water. They must draw from water table of the Luxembourg Sandstone Aquifer and also from the Esch-sur-sure reservoir. The main groundwater pollutants are nitrates and pesticides. 189 farmers in Luxembourg recently signed an individual declaration that says NO cultivation on GE crops.

Human Population: The current rate of growth in Luxembourg is 3.2% and the doubling time is approximately 22 years. The birth rate (last recored in 2008) was 11.5 and the death rate (also in 2008) was 7.4 (both crude, per 1000 people). The last immigration rate that was recorded was in 2007, that total was 8.4 and the last emmigration rate was recorded in 2000 which was 7.2. Luxembourg is seen as a diversified industrilized nation. Family planning in Luxembourg in somewhat the same as it is here in thae United States. The only way to have an abortion is under these circumstances: to save the life of the mother, to preserve the physical or mental health of the mother, rape or incest, fetus is physically, mentally, or economic or social reasons. Before having an abortion the mother must have a 7 day reflection period. The morning after pill can be obtained from many FP clinics