Preserving Species-Rich Cultural Landscapes Through Orchard Use

Species-rich cultural landscape preserved through use

13. May 2023 – Baden-Württemberg is the number one region for orchards. To keep it that way, on Saturday (May 13) many orchard stakeholders will come together for the 17th State-wide Orchard Day to discuss “new goals and ways of preserving through use”. Local activists from nature conservation and fruit-growing associations, but also from politics, science, administration and the wine industry, meet to exchange views on sustainable solutions so that the orchards that characterize the landscape remain in place. NABU has been a partner of this specialist congress from the start, as many NABU groups are committed to preserving orchards. This exchange of expertise offers a good platform for discussing new developments and solutions to problems in a practical way.

“Baden-Württemberg has a Europe-wide responsibility for the preservation of orchard stocks in the state. Many areas are designated as Natura 2000 areas due to their importance for animal and plant species. In order for them to have a future, they urgently need better prices for fruit, money for tree pruning measures and creative minds for new marketing ideas, but also a quality mark for orchard products. Last but not least, meadows must be effectively protected from overbuilding. The municipalities in the state must learn to appreciate the value of the meadows for climate adaptation and local recreation and act accordingly,” warns NABU state chairman Johannes Enssle.

Meadow orchards are all-round talents

Meadow orchards are unique in their diverse functions. Because they bring different habitat types together in a small space, they offer a home to countless, sometimes highly specialized, species. They ensure a favorable microclimate, provide shade for paths, provide insect food and food, store carbon dioxide and are an important local recreation area for many people. But this traditional form of agroforestry with its high biodiversity is threatened and has been dwindling for decades. “The protection of this unique landscape is a demanding but important joint task for which our state government must do even more,” Enssle demands.

Although the state has placed the meadow orchards under protection under the Biodiversity Enhancement Act (Section 33a NatSchG), areas are still being planned for development, often with the help of the concrete section, Section 13b BauGB. Since paragraph 33a came into force, applications for the clearing of 62 hectares of orchards in Baden-Württemberg have been approved. NABU is opposed to further clearing of meadow orchards. “The clearing contradicts the goals of the state government and the municipalities for species and climate protection and to achieve net zero land use in the state,” Enssle clarifies. NABU wants to continue to take a close look and, if necessary, have the courts stop the development. “We can all save the meadow orchards – through active care, buying orchard products and by concentrating on inner-city areas when building and recycling areas that have already been sealed.”

Signing the popular motion “Let Ländle live”

Together with a broad alliance, NABU is calling on all citizens in the state who are entitled to vote to support the popular motion “Let the state live” that was launched recently. “Our goal is legally binding upper limits for the new use of land, so that we can preserve our beautiful nature, biodiversity and agricultural orchard use, but also fertile arable land and valuable grassland locations and can really achieve net zero in land use by 2035. Since 2005, the orchard area alone has decreased from 116,000 hectares to currently only around 89,000 hectares. It is now a matter of preserving this treasure.”

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