Project objectives
The ongoing climate change leads to a growing number of extreme events such as drought periods resp. torrential rain. The viticulture on steep slopes suffers in particular: increased soil erosion and increased water stress are two main risks to deal with.
VinEcoS therefore will develop innovative and climate adapted viticulture methods which contribute to higher biological diversity and optimized eco-sytem services in the vineyard. The project will concentrate on following questions:
1. Which cultivation means lead to higher biological diversity in the vineyard?
2. How are eco-system services affected?
3. How could we optimize these services in a ecological resp. economic sustainable way?
The vintage vine area Saale-Unstrut in the very South of German federal state Saxony-Anhalt stretches across 770 ha The region is a traditional cultural landscape with vine yards on south facing slopes, old dry stone walls and picturesque river valleys. In the valleys of Saale river resp. Unstrut river the Heat Island effect creates a certain mild micro-climate with 1,600 hours of sunshine per year. With an annual precipitation of 500 mm the Saale-Unstrut region is to be considered as one of the driest areas in Germany.
The project activities will take place on three demonstration areas of Kloster Pforta vineyard (see orange marked places in the map below).
Project duration
01/07/2016 – 30/06/2020