Optimizing Ecosystem Services in LIFE15 CCA/DE/000103 LIFE VinEco Viniculture facing Climate Change

Project background

Saale-Unstrut is a traditional wine-producing area of Beneficiary: some 770 ha in southern -Anhalt. Its picturesque Name of beneficiary valleys have a sunny and dry micro-climate that is suit- Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH ed to growing grapes for wine. Climate change, however, will increasingly lead to aggravation of land-use con- Postal address Große Diesdorfer Straße 56/57 flicts. Rising average temperature and decreasing annual D - 39110 Magdeburg rainfall are significant drivers for cultivation methods to be adapted. Viticulture on steep slopes is endangered Phone +49 391 7361730 and could be replaced by more efficient vineyards in the Fax +49 391 7361777 plains. These areas would then face scrub encroachment Email [email protected] and thus become less ecologically valuable. Name of contact person Project objectives Jorn FREYER Duration of project: The main objective of the project is to optimise ecosys- 48 months (01/07/2016 – 30/06/2020) tem services in vineyards by testing climate-adapted methods in viniculture. In the first part of the project, rel- Total budget in euro: evant methods will be implemented on demonstration 1,467,099.00 areas of the Kloster Pforta vineyard in the -Unstrut area of Saxony-Anhalt. The second half of the project EC contribution in euro: will see these methods tested in other commercial 839,447.00 ­vineyards in the region, as well as at the demonstration vineyard of the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences.

These trials will allow the project to evaluate the climate • Quantitative success indicators to measure erosion, change adaptation measures in relation to the added pest, fungi, water stress and biodiversity; value of the ecosystem services provided by the vine- • Guidelines for winemakers and related professionals yards. Ecosystem-based approaches, focusing on syner- outlining specific actions based on the project results gies between nature protection, climate protection and and the inclusion of recommendations of a cost- climate adaptation are more cost-efficient than techni- benefit-analysis of vineyards using resource-efficient cal solutions. In this way, the project aims to contribute methods; and to the EU strategy on adaptation to climate change by • Creation of six permanent jobs. supporting adaptation actions in vulnerable mountain areas with an emphasis on sustainable and resilient ag- ricultural, forestry and tourism sectors.

Expected results • Use of regional seed mixtures and planting of cover crops at 4 ha intervals to increase erosion control, preserve water retention and promote humidification; • Vine rows managed through sheep grazing to the benefit of threatened plant and animal species, as well as the vines; • Vine stocks given more space in order to foster the growth of leaves and root systems, leading to a high- er resistance against droughts; • The dense grape structures loosened to decrease ­disease susceptibility and to lower stress sensitivity;