Our cider pear trees are part of a 30-year research project
30 years ago, 2500 orchard trees in the Lavanttal valley were surveyed according to variety. Most of them were cider pears, which were located on 108 farm sites, including the Leitenstocker, which is part of the KlimafitWald. Of the cider pears, 70 varieties were preserved in the gene bank of the LK Kärnten Fruit and Winegrowing Center. Our cider pears are over 150 years old and unique. Our task is to preserve them in the best possible way and prevent them from being crowded out by other tree species. They stand on an extensively farmed pasture area.
The cider pear and cherry trees in our oldest orchard are exceptionally old and also amazing because the rootstock of the pear trees is hawthorn. The oldest trees are probably even 200 years old. The Leitenstocker is unique, both in terms of its microclimate and its vegetation. 30 years ago, fruit variety expert Dr. Katharina Dianat-Vahradi surveyed the orchards throughout the Lavanttal and recorded the varieties.
Condition of the trees checked again after almost 30 years
In the new project, which has not yet been officially approved by the state of Carinthia, the surveyed areas will be revisited after almost 30 years and the location of the mother trees will be checked again. Molecular biology will be used to check the authenticity of the varieties once again and the condition of the trees will be assessed. The research team assumes that the orchard population is declining by 8% every year and will try to at least halt this trend.
From one million to less than 50,000 trees
The number of orchard trees in the Lavanttal has decreased from around 1 million in 1938 to 50,000 at best. This is accompanied by a loss of biodiversity, variety, scenic beauty, food self-sufficiency and CO₂ sinks.
This is why the new "Blühendes Unterkärnten" project is also being financed by the regional development and nature conservation departments of the state of Carinthia as well as with EU funds.
Contact: Blühendes Unterkärnten. Contact person: Stefan Stückler.
The project is supported by:
Click here to go to AT.INTERMODAL
Click here to go to fussballreisen.com
Click here to go to TREVISION
