ifestio

S.C.E.

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT & INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 2020

GREEN FUND

PROJECT:
“Restoration of degraded soil through its transformation into
an organic vineyard for the preservation of indigenous varieties”

IFESTIO ANEMOTIAS S.C.E.

Social Cooperative Enterprise of Collective
& Social Benefit of Anemotia Lesvos

Identity

Project: Restoration of degraded soil through its transformation into an organic vineyard for the rescue of native varieties

Program Name: “Natural Environment & Innovative Actions 2020”

Priority Axis: “Innovative actions with citizens”

Project budget: €50,000.00

Funding: Green Fund

Beneficiary: Ifestio Anemotias S.C.E.

In general

The “ANEMOTIA VOLCANO OF KOIN.S.EP.”
implements a pilot program of planting organic vineyards in western Lesvos, applying a modern and sustainable model of agricultural land management (soil preparation, selection of propagating material, cultivation methods), in order to achieve:

(a) the restoration of a degraded pasture;
(b) the conservation of native varieties and the conservation of biodiversity;
(c) the spread of sustainable agriculture; and
(d) the revival of the historical branch of viticulture.

All the above take place in collaboration with the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest.

This project concerns:

A. Creation of an organic vineyard, for a mild agriculture, environmentally friendly and adapted to the bearing capacity of the environment of the area, which achieves the optimal utilization of biotic and abiotic factors of agro-ecosystems. At the same time, we aim at the production of quality organic products, free of chemicals, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Utilizing renewable natural resources locally (eg organic fertilizer, dry stone walls), selecting appropriate cultivation techniques (eg drip irrigation, shallow plowing) and of course selecting locally resistant plant varieties, we achieve both environmental protection (biodiversity), protection of groundwater from pollution, soil erosion, etc.) as well as human health, by producing quality food.

B. Implementation of Precision Viticulture practices that start from the investigation of the heterogeneity and variability of the plot for the installation of vineyard and end in the subdivision of the plot into management zones. The degree of variability of the vineyard, as will be evaluated in the previous stage of the Geotechnical Valuation, will determine the need for its management by zones. In this way, the appropriate cultivation care will be applied in each part of the field according to its real needs (fertilization, irrigation, plant protection, etc.). It is a practice of Precision Viticulture, with economic and environmental benefits.

C. Cultivation in terraces and restoration of the retaining walls of the existing terraces. Until about 60 years ago, terraces were the special element that supported the functionality of the island environment and primary production, enhancing water potential, reducing soil erosion, and promoting local biodiversity. This is a special traditional technical configuration of the sloping soils that formed the man-made and natural environment of the islands (stone structures, biodiversity, cultivation methods, customs, etc.). Especially on the island of Lesvos, of the total upgraded land, about 40% has now been abandoned and turned into either barren land or pasture. This phenomenon is particularly intense in the NW of the island (wider project area). Studies have shown that the most important factor influencing the conservation status of terraces is the intensity of grazing as well as the type of animals that exercise it.

D. Implementation of a form of Land Stewardship, through voluntary agreements between landowners / users and the S.C.E, so that in the future, every piece of land that will “participate” to be upgraded, maintained and cultivated, by the members and in relation to the purposes of the S.C.E.

E. Organizing experiential workshops during the execution of works for the training of viticulturists in the area, in matters such as the construction and maintenance of terraces (dry stone method), planting and inoculation of subjects, the first cultivation care. It is now proven that knowledge is perceived by activating more and more mental processes and senses. The closer we get to methods that promote participation, interaction, experience, trial, experiment and experience as the axis of the learning process, the easier knowledge becomes the property of each learner – participant in the educational activity. In this sense, the above-mentioned stages of project implementation will also have the form of workshops (educational dimension), so that people involved or willing to work in the industry, landowners, primary sector actors have the opportunity to experience the processes and obtain the necessary knowledge from the experts on site, applying the specific methods. In addition, the learning process includes voluntary work, as the trainees will be actively involved in the implementation of the actions. In this way, the values ​​of collective action, cooperation, coexistence, communication and solidarity are experienced at the same time.

Actions

The planting of the new organic vineyard, with indigenous vine varieties, will follow a methodology, which consists in the implementation of the following actions, which are connected with each other in chronological and logical sequence:

Repair of uncultivated fencing, recording of land uses and historical overview of interventions that have taken place in the area, geotechnical assessment, landscaping of intervention in dry stone terraces, planting of local varieties of fruit trees, construction of experimental plan for selection of suitable varieties Phylloxera resistant, soil preparation, fertilization, application for organic certification.

Selection and phytosanitary control of propagating material, vineyard planting, planting of subjects, vaccination of subjects with selected biotypes of local varieties, first cultivation care (irrigation, fertilization, support, plant protection, management of wild vegetation, etc.).

Organizing experiential workshops and results presentation day, designing and producing short videos to promote the project, producing digital material for posts on social media and on relevant websites to promote the project, periodically sending press releases and announcements to mass media and posts on social networks.

Writing a final results report.

Keeping evidence files.

Objectives

Objectives of the project are the expected environmental benefits:

tackling the effects of climate change:
The N-NE area of Anemotia village was classified as a critical area for desertification, according to studies in Lesvos, within the European research program MEDALUS III, since it includes shallow, strongly eroded soils, with degraded shrub vegetation,

the most efficient management of natural resources:
Organic vineyard will be developed, in the absence of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. The soils will be studied, upgraded and finally cultivated with minimally invasive traditional methods,

the biodiversity conservation:
Through the preservation of local vine varieties (gene diversity), but also through the planting of other plant species (species diversity), the restoration of agro-ecosystem function

and socio-economic benefits:
by creating stable and decent jobs,
with the support of special groups, such as the long-term unemployed or women,
by training and upgrading local human resources,
by enhancing the participation of people, cultivators and / or landowners and the local community in general,
by strengthening local entrepreneurship,
by shaping “local identity” from social, environmental, cultural and economic elements.

Collaborators

Natural History Museum
of the Lesvos Petrified Forest

Anemotia Viticulture Association
“o Kampos”

Skalochori Environmental - Cultural Association “DRYS”

Contact

Phones: 2253099033 & 6974607224
E-mail: koinsep_anemotias@hotmail.com
Working hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9.00-18.00
Wednesday 9.00-16.00
Saturday 10.00-16.00

Anemotia Lesvou 81107, Location-Vrysara
Municipality of Western Lesvos

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