Historical vineyards project -
winegrowing, heritage preservation and nature conservation in tandem

Sponsored by:

Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt

Bristol-Stiftung

Landkreis Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald

Regierungpräsidium Freiburg

The project framework

Historical terraced vineyards are an impressive testament to man’s capacity for design. They are also the sites of the production of high quality wines, and they provide a habitat for a rich variety of flora and fauna. In the past, these areas have often been the subject of ambivalent development practices. Radical reparcelling of agricultural land over time converted a number of them to high yield land, but also to dull monocultures. Many other terraced vineyards were abandoned gradually and left to disintegrate as rationalisation was not deemed worthwhile. Only a small proportion have retained their historical character. There are currently strategies in place for the development of a sustainable form of utilisation for these sites in order to secure their continued existence and their cultural-historical, social, economic and ecological value.

The objective

The aim of the transdisciplinary research project is to heighten both the users’ and the conservationists’ awareness of these values in order to counter an unsustainable intensification of land use on the one hand and the complete abandonment of management on the other. A guideline is being created for the conservation of the vineyards, elaborated on the basis of criteria accommodating both utilisation and conservation requirements. The aim of the guideline is to harmonise the interests of the winegrowers as well as those of nature and heritage conservationists, and to optimise the path to the integrated management of the cultural landscapes.

Practical relevance

Over the course of the project the knowledge and the perspectives of the relevant actors will be continuously drawn upon and incorporated into the project through interviews, working groups and local events.

The central questions

The research areas

The project stages

Public relations activities

Project partners