Lamb from the Altmuehltal (Altmuehltaler Lamm)

Best Practice

Topics

• Protected areas
• Regional value added, Protected areas

Short description

* Project updated on 25 April 2007 according to information from the project contact persons * The purpose of the project “Almühltaler Lamm” is the distribution of high-quality lamb from the nature park by butchers and gastronomy. While the shepherds and sheep-farmers within the nature park benefit they can maintain their businesses and preserve the unique gramine-ous formations which are so typical for the Naturpark Altmühltal.

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Project executive

Landschaftspflegeverein VöF e.V.

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Participants

Rural districts (Landkreise) Eichstätt, Donau-Ries, Neuburg-Schrobenhausen, Neumarkt, and the oraganisations "Landschaftspflegeverband Mittelfranken", "Verein der Hüteschäfer im Naturpark Altmühltal".

Objectives

The purpose of the project “Almühltaler Lamm” is the distribution of high-quality lamb from the nature park by butchers and gastronomy. While the shepherds and sheep-farmers within the nature park benefit they can maintain their businesses and preserve the unique gramineous formations which are so typical for the Naturpark Altmühltal.

Activities

By organising events and wide public relation activities together with all project executives publicity as well as team spirit was raised.

Process

In 1997 five rural districts (Landkreise) in four administration districts (Regierungsbezirke) developed this project to preserve gramineous grass formations in the nature park Altmühltal by supporting sheep farming. Together with sheperds, butchers, gastronomy and direct sellers this project was started.

Results

Development of a regional marketing network for lamb in cooperation with producers (sheperds), fabricator (butchers) and suppliers (gastronomy, butchers, cantines) in the nature park. Today 30 Sheperds, 31 gastronomy businesses and 5 butchers participate in the cooperation. Since the project start about 20.000 lambs were sold. Presently 2.500 per year.

Evaluation

No evaluation yet.

Difficulties

Missing personell for a professional and evective marketing.

Financial backer

Since the project start around 90.000 € have been used for project implementation and marketing. Presently around 10.000 € per year are invested in marketing and public events.

Source of information

other contact

Landschaftspflegeverein Kelheim (VÖF)

Competition

Participant at the 2005 Future in the Alps competition

Homepage

http://www.altmuehltaler-lamm.de

Comments

Impact on nature and environment

The project supports the preservation of open space. Thereby unique gramineous-formations and seldom plants are protected.

Economic value added

The project supports the income of sheep-farmers and shepherds.

Socio-cultural value added

Today the sheep-farmers have a higher reputation within the population. Inhabitants as well as visitors are aware of the need of preserving the cultural landscape in the Naturpark Alt-mühltal.

Innovative content

The innovative content of this project is the cooperation of clubs and associations who used to be more like rivals previous to the project.

Good governance

Responsible are the project executives of the five different administrations (Landkreise, the landscape conservation association(Landschaftspflegeverband Mittelfranken) and the sheperds association within the nature park Altmeuhltal (Verein der Hüteschäfer im Naturpark Altmühltal).

PR impact

High media presence. Since the project start in 1997 over 1.200 articles and notes were released in press, radio and television.

Multiplier effect / networking

By an increasing use of regional products in gastronomy also the private use of regional products increased. Because of excursions form inside and outside the country the project and the whole natur park gained publicity which also released multiplier effects in tourism. After each excursion single participants came again with ohter groups, according to experience. Ecological contents of the project were not only transfered to gastronomy and suppliers but also supported a sustainable tourism hin the region.

Transferability

The preservation of cultural landscape by supporting traditional agricultural businesses and their products can be transvered to any region.

Further information