Presentation of Guillaume Lemoine

The coal exploitation that began in 1720 gave Nord-Pas-de-Calais its particular landscapes, urban areas and derelict lands with a very rich biodiversity. Aware of its unique patrimony, several groups are working together closely to change the negative perception inherited from the industrial past. The aim of the Département du Nord is to plan new infrastructure, both for public access and for the protection and development of biodiversity in these mining sites. Today the »coal story« continues with the candidacy of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais coalfield for inscription into the UNESCO World Heritage List.