Genesis and alteration of historical vineyards, current perceptions and perspectives for their developmentHistorical vineyards are terraced with dry stone walls that are no longer being established in this form. They reflect the cultural achievements of our ancestors and the history of viticulture in an impressive way. Furthermore, they are a habitat for numerous rare plant and animal species with a primarily Mediterranean distribution. However, they are highly endangered. Land consolidation measures and abandonment with subsequent reforestation are leading to a constant decline. To counteract this trend it is necessary to develop strategies for their conservation.
The objective of the study is to glean new knowledge about the genesis and alteration of these vineyards, the current perceptions of them, and perspectives for their development, in order to promote their conservation and value. Methods from historical geography and the social sciences are combined in an interdisciplinary approach. The creation and development of the historical vineyards will be examined on the basis of a historical landscape analysis. The landscape elements, such as dry stone walls and steps, will be inventoried and characterised. The analysis of vineyards with contrasting conditions (e.g., geology) in Central Europe facilitates the transfer of the results.
As part of the social scientific investigation, the attitudes and perceptions of adolescents to the landscape are examined. Adolescents represent the next generation of adults but it is often claimed that they have no interest in nature and landscape conservation. The survey of young people from various winegrowing villages should also reveal whether the quality of the surrounding landscape has an influence on perception. The study creates a basis for the development of guidelines on how the experiences from the two investigations can be applied to other vineyards. The knowledge gleaned will serve in the protection and conservation of cultural landscapes taking into consideration the views of all stakeholder groups (winegrowers, heritage conservationists and environmentalists).
|
Kernen-Stetten, Germany
|
DBU)
