The project aims to halt the decline of rare and endangered plant species in the vineyards of the canton of Vaud. The project intends to promote the traditional flora of geophytes and therophytes by reintroducing annual, shallow tillage between the rows of vines. These plants are under threat from modern practices such as the use of herbicides and permanent grass cover.
In collaboration with Division Biodiversité et Paysage (DGE-BIODIV), Pro Natura and Action Lièvre & Cie, up to ten pilot plots with a high potential for the target species will be selected. In half of these areas, the soil will be tilled from the end of May to reduce competition from grasses and enable the target plants to propagate. Comprehensive monitoring over a three-year period will assess the effectiveness of this measure.
The ultimate goal is to integrate this soil cultivation into the direct payment scheme and the regional BrP catalogue as a biodiversity promotion measure by 2030.
FiBL has been commissioned to carry out mapping, field surveys and floristic follow-ups. The results of this work are the property of the Canton of Vaud and may not be published.
Project partner
