Open door farms of the Biosphere Reserve Grosses Walsertal (Landwirtschaftliche Exkursionsbetriebe)

Region

Vorarlberg

Term 2004-01-01

Short description: * Project updated on 9 May 2007 according to information from the project contact persons * The Biosphere reserve „Grosses Walsertal“ has an extension of 19.200 ha. For 28 alpine farms nature management plans were developed in 2002. 9 farms are participating at an open door programme, that means the farm is open to the public. The farms are trained to receive visitors to provide them an insight into farm life. The objective of the programme is to conserve the cultural landscape, to intensify ecological agriculture and creation of ecological consciousness. In workshops and excursions knowledge and cultivation advices were distributed and different types of pastures explained. An own brochure of the vegetation and animals of all farms was created. Ecological farms have to follow certain guidelines, which are closed to the approach of the biosphere reserve. For the participation the farms get subsidies.

Projekt Executive Mr Josef Türtscher
Regio Obmann
Buchboden 35, 6721 Sonntag-Buchboden, Austria
josef.tuertscher@landtag.cnv.at
+43 / (0)5554 5533

Ansprechperson Mr Kurt Stark
Contact person for alpine diaries
Türtsch 14, 6733 Fontanella, Austria
+43 (0) 55544104

Participants: 28 farms (including 9 farms participating at the opendoor programme) and 4 alpine dairies.

Objectives: The objective of the programme “open door farms” is to conserve the cultural landscape, to intensify ecological agriculture and creation of ecological consciousness. To sensitise the farmers and visitors for ecology. No use of fertilizer, silage or genetically modified feed

Activities: For 28 alpine farms nature management plans were developed. In workshops and excursions knowledge and cultivation advices were distributed and different types of pastures explained. An own brochure of the vegetation and animals of all farms was created. No use of fertilizer, silage or genetically modified feed.

Process: Ecological farms have to follow certain guidelines, which are closed to the approach of the biosphere reserve. For the participation the farms get subsidies.

Results: Nine farms are participating at the open door programme and are trained to receive visitors to provide them an insight into farm life. 3 alpine dairies are producing cheese under high quality restrictions.

Difficulties: Only a few not so relevant difficulties. "Chat in regular's table", fear of new constraints, lot of critic but no activity and participation, small finance capacity, dependent on volunteer activity

Financial backer: EU-Project LIFE Umwelt "EcoMonte" with cofinance by the country, state and AMS

Source of information

Publication: Landwirtschaftliche Exkursionsbetriebe - Biosphärenpark Grosses Walsertal

Comments

Impact on nature and environment: Shaping environmental and ecological awareness, advanced training on sustainable meadow management. This leads to more protection of the cultural landscape.

Economic value added: For the farmers it means a second income. Guests are coming directly to the farms and have the possibility to buy farmproducts.

Socio-cultural value added: More contact, information-exchange and collaboration between the farmers of the different towns. More self-confidence.

Further information

One of the participating farms
A sustainably managed meadow
Broschüre Exkursionsbetriebe - brochure open door farms (in German): Landwirtschaftliche Exkursionsbetriebe (seit 2004): Mit dem Projekt „Gesamtbetrieblicher Naturschutzplan“ der Vorarlberger Landesregierung wurde versucht, sinnvolle Lebensmittelproduktion und optimale Naturschutzleistung auf den Bergbauernhöfen zu verbinden. 28 Betriebe im Großen Walsertal nahmen daran teil. Acht der Naturschutzplanbetriebe öffnen sich auch für Exkursionen, um die praktische Umsetzung der Biosphärenpark Philosophie auf ihrem Hof interessierten BesucherInnen zu vermitteln: Die Vielfalt der Wiesen und Weiden, Alp- und Maisäßwirtschaft und die Zusammenhänge von Wirschaftsweise & artenreicher Kulturlandschaft werden dargestellt.